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http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/04/23/apple.pulls.baby.shaker/

Apple apologizes for approving 'Baby Shaker' app

updated 05:40 pm EDT, Thu April 23, 2009

 

Apple pulls Baby Shaker


Apple has publicly apologized for approving an iPhone app, "Baby Shaker," that was developed by a company called Sikalosoft, according to Yahoo. The game requires users to silence a crying infant, pictured on the screen, by violently shaking the iPhone until two red "X" marks appear over the baby's eyes. "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!," the description read.

Apple representative Natalie Kerris acknowledged that the game was "deeply offensive" and should have been rejected during the review process. "We sincerely apologize for this mistake," Kerris said.

Jennipher Dickens, founder of a national organization for Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention, contacted Apple after seeing the app on the review site Krapps. Dickens informed the company that, as a mother of a child who was violently shaken, she was horrified by the acceptance of the app. She is also the communications director for an organization that provides assistance for children with brain injuries.


by MacNN Staff

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Comments

  1. arrannen

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2003

    +16
    04/23, 05:52pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    horrible!

    its amazing, developers who are creating useful, safe and sane applications wait huge amounts of time for their applications to be accepted...

    and yet THIS trash makes it through the process

  1. panjandrum

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2004

    +9
    04/23, 06:14pm | report spam | Reply |

    Sick

    I've got a heck of a liberal, extremely odd and irreverent sense of humor, but it still sometimes amazes me what some people think is humorous. This is just plain sick and suggests that the persons responsible for creating it are almost certainly in need of serious therapy.

  1. JeffHarris

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 1999

    -6
    04/23, 07:15pm | report spam | Reply |

    JOKE ALERT

    Sure, it's tasteless. So what.

    If everything that ever offended anyone was banned, it would be a pretty bland existence. But, of course the nannifiers of the world seek just that!

    Personally, I find the existence of religion-themed apps in the Education, Reference and Lifestyle sections inappropriate and downright offensive. Clearly, such potentially harmful apps should be put in the Mythology section, or at least a Religion and Spirituality section.

    A LOT more people, animals and the planet herself have been harmed in the name of the all the various gods than have been harmed by a few crazy baby shaking b*******.

  1. Athens

    Addicted to MacNN

    Joined: Jan 2003

    +6
    04/23, 07:46pm | report spam | Reply |

    ...

    This app crosses the line for me, so I wouldn't download it, in fact I find it disgusting. Should it be banned... No. Would I defend it for being banned, nope.

  1. ptkdude

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2006

    +7
    04/23, 07:48pm | report spam | Reply |

    -

    Here's a tip to everyone: you do not have the right to not be offended.

    If you think the app is offensive, don't buy it. It's certainly not something I would buy, but I don't think it should be banned.

  1. 010111

    Junior Member

    Joined: Aug 2002

    +8
    04/23, 07:53pm | report spam | Reply |

    radio.

    the radio story i just heard said "critics of the application are concerned it would lead to cases of shaking a real baby".

    seriously?

    f*** apps don't make me what to f*** all the time. beer drinking apps don't make me want to drink beer all day. lighter apps don't make me go pyro.

    just like Doom had nothing to do with Columbine. and the VT dude didn't "train" on Counterstrike.

    the app sounds and looks like c*** anyway. if no one got their knickers in a bunch it is unlikely anyone would have ever even noticed it.

  1. nat

    Junior Member

    Joined: Mar 2002

    +19
    04/23, 08:05pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    seriously

    geesh, they couldn't have used bush or cheney talking? i'd shake the bejesus out of that thing.

  1. WiseWeasel

    Junior Member

    Joined: Apr 1999

    -2
    04/23, 08:12pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    weak

    Personally, I thought this app was hilarious (and deliciously offensive), and it's sad to see Apple bow to church lady pressure, ban the app and apologize. God forbid there be any edgy content in the App Store; we demand blandness. This, along with Drug Wars, are simply examples of humorous poking at social mores, and artists should be free to express themselves this way. Here's longing for a day when Apple no longer gets a say as to what can and can't by installed on my iPhone, as we obviously don't share the same tastes. Down with censorship and bowing to pressure from "pro-family" political groups with no sense of humor.

  1. carloblackmore

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2005

    +3
    04/23, 09:12pm | report spam | Reply |

    censorship vs trust

    censorship isn't a bad thing. Every second of our lives, our brains CENSOR inappropriate or undesirable thoughts and words that we consider to be contrary to our individual personality. A prudish person censors shocking language; a crass person will censor overly-polite language. Nature CENSORS certain compounds from certain systems every millisecond of the day. Censorship has its place.

    Apple got its current reputation and popularity from building a specific image that people have come to TRUST and even LOVE. ANYTHING that goes contrary to that image of greatness should get axed. Most people see Apple as champion of style and beauty banishing clunkiness and ugliness whenever it raises it's head. Make sure you walk the talk Apple.

  1. Terrin

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2006

    -3
    04/23, 09:13pm | report spam | Reply |

    Funny Application

    I wouldn't buy the application, but I thought it was funny. If it were free, I'd download it. Further, so what if it offends? People shouldn't have to live their lives in fear of offending overly sensitive people. It isn't my fault some lady had her baby shaken and can't see the humor in shaking a video game baby.

    Does Apple have the right to remove the application? Certainly. However, this is why I think jail breaking iPhones and iPod Touches should be legal. Apple shouldn't be allowed to act as the moral police over a product I bought just because it manufactured it.

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