[iPhone] - 'Baby Shaker' Controversy

[Johan]

After just two days on the App Store, Apple has pulled a game called Baby Shaker (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/biztech/04/24/cnet.apple.baby.shaker.app/index.html) and apologized for its approval.

The company refused to comment on the process that led to the approval of Baby Shaker as an iPhone application. The day it revealed the software development kit for the iPhone last year, Apple said it planned to review every single iPhone application submitted for inclusion on the App Store, and reject applications that violated certain guidelines for porn, spam, or other offensive content.

However, in practice, Apple has chosen to wield its rejection stamp in confusing and sometimes contradictory ways.

Interesting features of this story, to me at least:

* The approval process for getting on the App Store is apparently inconsistent and affected by how closely connected you are to Apple.
* The number of apps on the store now totals 35,000!!! How Apple can monitor/approve that many with consistency is beyond me. This reminds me of the "Nintendo Seal of Quality" for its inherent irony.
* There is apparently a company, Sikalosoft, that considers shaking a baby to be a good premise for an application/game. Interesting...

[Telefrog]

This part of the article is hilarious:

Macworld noticed that Sikalosoft has posted an early candidate for Understatement of the Year on its new Web site. "Okay, so maybe the Baby Shaker iPhone app was a bad idea."

[Panthera]

I like my martinis like I like my infants.

[quidmonkey]

So what, you shake a baby? Be still my beating vulgarity.

[Smoof]

Just the name cracks me up. Call me dark/disturbed, but I want to play this game and have myself a good laugh.

Oh and when does it come out for Wii?

[Panthera]

...drowning in gin.

[Scaryfaced]

Seem about as offensive as the old frog in a blender flash game. While we're at it, lets raise a stink about that Drug Wars game on every high schooler's calculator.

[BlackPete]

You can still do the same thing with iJiggles. Just take a pic of a baby, add jiggle points, then shake it around.

[Sl1pstream]

Seem about as offensive as the old frog in a blender flash game. While we're at it, lets raise a stink about that Drug Wars game on every high schooler's calculator.


Someone obviously isn't thinking of the children...

[SilentScreams]

More proof that people are too damn sensitive.

[OUX]

So, I just should stop working on my app iAbort?

[Codicier]

So, I just should stop working on my app iAbort?

At least take out the coat hanger upgrade.

[Khrymsyn]

At least take out the coat hanger upgrade.

No, you can leave the coat hanger in.


It's the "superkick!" to the stomach upgrade that should really be removed. It does, afterall, promote domestic violence.

[Narradisall]

I saw the video of this a couple of days ago. Looked like a boring app to be honest, and apple were right to pull it.

Still I can't help but roll my eyes at the indignation of some people. They're acting like their child was taken outside by the company and personally shaken to death.

Yes, its bad, yes it should have been removed after complaints, it was, they apologise, ITS OVER.... but noooooo, it won't be until you've had your crusade, people are held accountable and BLAMED, then flogged in the street. Glad we have such good people protecting us from public violence.

[Purple Santa]

The game title keeps reminding me of a Stephen Lynch song...

[lucklesswonder]

I guess I should rethink my new ad campaign for Snapple.