Good to see Apple's Social Concerns of banning obscenes and dirty words.
Cheers,
-Kathiravan Manoharan
http://kathyravan.blogspot.com
http://paisamechanic.blogspot.com
Apple changes mind over dirty words
Summary
Apple has apparently had a change of heart about a Twitter iPhone app that sometimes presents users with language some might find objectionable.
Topics
Apple has apparently had a change of heart about a Twitter iPhone app that sometimes presents users with language some might find objectionable.
The popular Twitter app for iPhone and iPod touch--called Tweetie 1.3--was apparently rejected because it gives users access to the Twitter Trends section, which displays the most frequent topics or words on Twitter at any given moment. This list sometimes list swear words--including a particular four-letter word that begins with the letter F--that apparently raised Apple's disdain.
In an e-mail earlier Tuesday, app developer Loren Brichter said Apple quoted this part of the company's guidelines as a reason for the decision:
Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive, or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple's reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod Touch users.
However, Apple relented Tuesday, according Brichter.
"Great news! 1.3 has now been approved! Alright Apple!," Brichter tweeted late this afternoon.
It's not the first time Apple has washed an app maker's mouth with a bar of soap. In February, the company rejected--for a second time--an application designed to let iPhone owners watch clips featuring the exploits of Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny on the often-irreverent TV show "South Park."
In the past, the company has also banned a book from the App Store for using dirty language, yet approved a fast-growing category of fart-related applications, leaving many to wonder exactly what sort of standards are used to evaluate iPhone applications.
However, even before the reversal, Tweetie's developer seemed to be willing to give Apple the benefit of the doubt.
"This could have been just a goof on Apple's part," Brichter told my colleague Dong Ngo earlier Tuesday. "The App Store is still very young, they're working out the kinks."
This article was originally published on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 17 Talkback(s)
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kmzdnetone11th Mar 2009 -
What language people choose to use...
...is none of Apple's damned business. If you don't think you'll like what you'll see in an iPhone app, don't use the app, but it's highly inappropriate that either you or Apple attempt to censor that app.
Henrik Moller11th Mar 2009 -
There is a difference.
Applications that use profanity is different from applications that can
access content that contains profanity. You shouldn't see bad words in
the UI of Safari, for instance, but what content a user browses is
completely up to them, as it should be.
Apple should control the way apps look and offer specific types of
content which could be offensive to people. Like an app that finds video
stores should not have category labeled "Porn" even though some people
would be fine with it, most wouldn't. I would rather Apple take a the
hardline on this tricky stuff, than be too freewheeling.
CowLauncher11th Mar 2009 -
That makes Apple...
...the arbitrary arbiter of "offensive," which is a thoroughly subjective and personal thing. One man's porn is another man's great art: http://theabysmal.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/botticelli_birth_venus1.jpgHenrik Moller11th Mar 2009 -
Wrong, you are.
Should there be over 18 apps? yes, but you can't lump all apps together when there are kids who own and use iPhones. But I am guessing you didn't think about that before you spouted off. I am thinking Apple would pay big time if they gave 12 year olds free porn apps. Keeping of course the whole "locked" phone argument and what Apple should or should not control out of this.
proadventurer11th Mar 2009 -
They already did. It's called "Safari".
I am thinking Apple would pay big time if they gave 12 year olds free porn apps.
The app in question isn't a "porn app" any more than Safari is a porn app.
ye11th Mar 2009 -
12-year-olds cannot make a legal contract...
...and thus any iPhone used by a 12-year-old, de facto and de jure, is the property of some adult. By extension, the use of that phone is the responsibility of that adult. and any illegality pertaining to the use of the phone will be answerable by that adult.
In English, if a 12-year-old illegally accesses pornography with an iPhone app, the adult owner of the phone may face consequences; Apple certainly will not. (If you don't believe me, read the fine print of the paperwork that comes with an iPhone.)
And, by the way, I don't "spout off."
Henry Miller11th Mar 2009 -
What language people choose to use
Agreed, the censors seem to pay mure attention to swear words than they do to violence. Just look at film rating standards: two f words make it an 18 whereas blood & guts need to be pretty graphic to edge past PG.
What Politically Correct planet do they live on. Time to retire, you old farts, and let reasonable guidlines be steered to where they matter most.
JOHN_TUOHY11th Mar 2009 -
Good to see Apple's Social Concerns!
Let the Bible Bashers stay in the midwest while the rest of the world moves on.JOHN_TUOHY11th Mar 2009 -
Apple's Social Concerns
Apple's Social Concerns? lollollollollollol
spinin12th Mar 2009 -
RE: Apple changes mind over dirty words
that SMS text app on there is evil! i get all kinds of vile four letter words that aren't fit to print! they should remove that app! what's worse is it comes out of the box installed with NO user intervention!
troutsoup11th Mar 2009 -
SMS text ap
Yeah, lets disable SMS texting on all mobile phones. In fact lets ban Microsoft Outlook altogether, and cut off all thumbs in case we offend our Christian Taliban.
Roll on Torquemada.JOHN_TUOHY11th Mar 2009 -
RE: Apple changes mind over dirty words
What about the voice calling app - that's preinstalled and I hear all kinds of rude words on that too - it's way past time Apple did something to control this method of spreading vile filth too. Lol, perhaps iPod Touch is the future version of iPhone
alec.wood@...17th Mar 2009 -
Apple changes mind over dirty words
So let me get this straight farting is OK but South Park is not. OMG
Hanover Phist11th Mar 2009 -
RE: Apple changes mind over dirty words
Twitter is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen anyway.
VoiceOfLogic11th Mar 2009
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