Apple Briefly Approved 'Baby Shaker' App, Issues Apology
The Associated Press reports that Apple issued a statement apologizing for approving the application and stating that its approval had been an error.
Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said Thursday that the game was "deeply offensive" and said it should not have been approved for sale. "We sincerely apologize for this mistake," Kerris said in a statement.
The incident has put Apple's approval process in the spotlight again. Though in the past, Apple has been criticized for being too restrictive with publishable content in the App Store. They have previously rejected a number of apps from the App Store for a variety of reasons. SF Gate suggests that the incident may even make Apple become more conservative about App approvals in the future.Top Rated Comments
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Apple Inc. pulled a 99-cent iPhone game called "Baby Shaker" from its iTunes store Wednesday after its premise — quiet a crying baby with a vigorous shake — prompted outrage.
According to screen shots posted on several Web sites, "Baby Shaker" displayed black-and-white line drawings of a baby. The iTunes description included the line, "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!" Once the iPhone owner finishes shaking the device, the on-screen baby is depicted with large red X's over its eyes.
Public outcry ensued, with organizations including the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation condemning Apple for approving the game's sale.
The application was designed by Sikalosoft, which also makes a 99-cent "Dice Mosaic" iPhone program that converts digital photos into black and white mosaics made from dice.
Sikalosoft did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment, but "Baby Shaker" was deleted from its Web site Wednesday afternoon.
Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said "Baby Shaker" went on sale Monday, and confirmed that Apple removed it Wednesday. She would not comment when asked why the program was initially approved for sale. Apple itself screens each iPhone application, a process some prospective iPhone application developers have complained can take weeks or months. Others have said Apple gives little feedback when it accepts or rejects a program.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has rejected apps that let iPhone users throw virtual shoes at President George W. Bush or watch clips from the "South Park" cartoon. It has accepted numerous programs that simulate flatulence.
Edit: it is what it is. :\
Wow, how did this App even get approved in the first place?!?
Excellent question. There is no way in hell this app should have even been made, much less approved by Apple.
Excellent question. There is no way in hell this app should have even been made, much less approved by Apple.
I dunno, maybe I'm crazy but if someone wants to make something they should, then the market will determine if they should have or not. It sucks that Apple pulled it. Part of that whole being free to make our own decisions thing.
What's worse? The don't shake a baby app or the fact that dontshakeababy.com exists because people actually have to be told not to shake a baby. I personally don't need dontstickanoliveforkinyoureye.com to know not to do it, it's kinda sad actually.
needs to revamp their approval/screening process...this APP has out done
all the Fart APPs.
I dunno, maybe I'm crazy but if someone wants to make something they should, then the market will determine if they should have or not. It sucks that Apple pulled it. Part of that whole being free to make our own decisions thing.
That's exactly what happened. The market did determine it, as Apple is a for profit company, not a governmental body. Your having free speech doesn't mean that a newspaper is obligated to publish you.
It's not to anyone's benefit for Apple to make these approval and disapproval misjudgments, nor to delay apps getting to market, so I hope they take care of whatever the problem is.
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