Developer pulls 'Hottest Girls' pornographic app [u]
updated 03:15 pm EDT, Thu June 25, 2009
Porn app removed
The controversial Hottest Girls, pornographic app has been pulled from the App store. Although the removal initially was blamed on Apple, the developer claims to have discontinued further downloads due to server usage. The title is said to be the first to include full or partial nudity, with a 17+ rating for "Frequent/Intense Sexual Content or Nudity."
The app developer Allen the Geek and Apple were blasted by organizations such as MediaMarch, a group that believes pornography inspires crimes such as rape and murder. "It is being packaged in a tempting way and will be disastrous for youngsters who are not equipped to deal with such content," MediaMarch co-founder Miranda Suit told MailOnline.
Media coverage following the app's release likely contributed to a flood of downloads. ATG claims the removal was necessary to prevent the servers from crashing, although the app should still work for any current users. "To answer the question on everyone's mind: Yes, the topless images will still be there when it is sold again," the developer says.
Apple is expected to loosen restrictions on App Store content, as the iPhone 3.0 firmware integrates parental controls. The company has rejected a number of apps due to offensive language. A Tweetie update was halted due to foul language in the search results, while the e-book reader Eucalyptus was initially rejected because of links to Project Gutenberg which offers the Kama Sutra. Apple eventually reversed course and approved both titles.
Despite Apple's tight control over App Store content, critics argue that users can easily reach offensive content from Safari. A number of pornographic sites are optimized specifically for the iPhone's browser, with content such as images or videos that could be considered more offensive than the topless photos contained in Hottest Girls.
Despite the new parental controls, the first apps containing nude images are still testing the waters. It remains unknown if Apple will react to family groups and place limits on pornographic content.
Professional Poster
Joined: May 2000
Wrong.
The developers requested a temporary hold on new sales of the app, because its popularity was overwhelming their server (where the app pulls its images from).Journalism occasionally requires fact-checking. You might want to look into it. http://www.pcworld.com/article/167383/updateapplepullshottestgirlsp***appfromitunes