Ipod Porn App - A go or no?

[Bec]

Posted on Wired http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/...nes-app-store/

Apple has finally allowed pornography into the iTunes App Store. The application, called Hottest Girls, costs $2 and includes “2200+ images of topless, sexy babes and nude models”.

UPDATE: TechCrunch is reporting that Apple has pulled the app from its App Store, stating, “it appears someone over at Cupertino [has] ultimately decided to reject the first such app.” However, the removal of the app is only a temporary one, according to the app’s developer, who states the he made the decision to stop distributing the app himself.

Allen Leung, developer of Hottest Girls, posted on his web site that his app is “temporarily sold out” due to overload on his image server.

Why has Apple, a company which banned an e-book application from the same store because it could be used to download the Kama Sutra, suddenly started selling smut? Because the 3.0 iPhone software update now allows age restrictions for applications. Also, when I downloaded the application to test it, a new alert popped up asking me if I am over 17. I said yes.

The application itself is terrible. Four photos are shown on screen at once and tapping one will pull a full sized version from the server. From here you can look at it or save it to your photo-roll. There is no slideshow to display a progressive striptease of the same model, so you are limited to one picture at a time before you have to navigate back to the main screen, which shows a lack of understanding as to how a porn app should work. You could of course just use the application for downloading and view the pictures later in the Photos application.

You can, however, pick a category. On offer are Popular, Asian, Blonde, Brunette and Swimsuit. This is a little less specialized than what you will find on most porn sites, and it is also distinctly softcore: while there are nipples to be seen, that’s about it. A smartly-worded Google image search would do better if you’re looking for titillation.

The most interesting part is the social media aspect, or at least a crowd-sourcing one. When you view a picture full-size you are asked to rate it as either good or bad. Supposedly these ratings will steer future updates, which will be free and pushed directly to buyers.

This is certainly an interesting move from Apple. One of the main reasons for not buying porn on the internet (apart from the vast range of free content) is fear that the purveyors will rip you off if you give them a credit card number. With the Apple Store, your stimulation is just an easy, automatically-billed click away. This first foray is quite awful, but you can be sure that there will be more, and better, very soon.

[Lee]

The most worrying thing in that news peice for me is the age warning was 'are you over 17' what are some people thinking? :eek:

Im still trying to find an app programmer myself and it seems these guys are few and far between when it comes to 'adult' which is a shame

Regards,

Lee

[Bec]

Well, Wired has posted a followup on the Porn App story, and for now, it looks like it's a no go.

"Apple will not distribute applications that contain inappropriate content, such as pornography,” an Apple spokesman told CNN Thursday afternoon. “The developer of this application added inappropriate content directly from their server after the application had been approved and distributed, and after the developer had subsequently been asked to remove some offensive content. This was a direct violation of the terms of the iPhone Developer Program. The application is no longer available on the App Store.”

Leung then updated his web site to remove his false explanation.

It’s not surprising that Apple chose to deny the app, and it’s unlikely we’ll see a porn app again in the App Store — lest developers wish to be banned. When Steve Jobs introduced the App Store on June 9, 2008, porn was at the top of the list of content that would not be allowed in apps.

“There are going to be some apps that we’re not going to distribute,” Jobs said. “Porn, malicious apps, apps that invade your privacy.”

Read the Full Report: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/...nes-app-store/

[Seth]

You beat me to it Bec. I posted the same story on GD last night and said this:

I personally think that's a crock of shit. I guess they can do what they want but didn't they just enable parental controls in their latest update?

What's the big deal? Oh lemme guess, they don't want to piss off or alienate the hate mongers of the religious right?

I love this part:

“There are going to be some apps that we’re not going to distribute,” Jobs said. “Porn, malicious apps, apps that invade your privacy.”

I understand the malicious apps and privacy parts, but if I want a porn app on my mobile device, I should have that choice. Shouldn't I as an adult be able to decide what is appropriate for me, not some corporation or bible thumping political group?

The truth is, I actually wouldn't want porn on my phone. No need... But I should have that choice.