Top 10 Banned iPhone Apps
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Developing an iPhone App? Here’s what not to do:
1. Baby Shaker
Without a doubt, it may be the most tasteless, most ban-worthy banned iPhone app of all time. It involved a badly drawn crying infant, a lot of shaking, and (eventually) a quiet–but mostly dead–little tike. Tech Crunch’s MG Siegler called it horrifying and eventually Apple did too.
2. I Am Rich
It didn’t last, but German developer Armin Heinrich did get 8 buyers before Apple shut down his $999.99 application, which was nothing more than a shiny red gem glimmering in the middle of your iPhone screen. The pricey app would, Heinrich proposed, prove to all your friends that you really are that rich. And stupid.
3. Podcaster
Alex Sokirynsky’s podcast application was banned by iPhone, not for being obscene or otherwise offensive, but for seeming a little too much like competition–i.e. Podcasts on iTunes. Sokirynsky’s iPhone version of Podcaster allows users to download podcasts via Wi-Fi or EDGE. (Read a defense of Apple’s decision here.) Sokirynsky–with a lot of techies rooting for him–has found a way around the ban though, by sending potential buyers here.
4. NetShare
Before it was unceremoniously banned, a tethering application called NetShare from Nullriver allowed iPhone users’ 3G access to extend to their laptops and get them on line. This ban can’t be blamed entirely on Apple, however. It was all about AT&T, money and territory.
5. iBoobs
Well, folks, it was exactly what it’s name implied, and demonstrations are still available. These almost life-like boobies/breasts/hooters would jiggle just for fun, until Apple gave them a proper bra and sent them home. Since iBoobs’ banning, an app called Wobble has allowed users to simulate an almost identical scenario on real pictures, however Apple has been up in Wobble’s grill since day one. Its jiggling days may also be numbered.
6. SlingPlayer
Using your 3G iPhone to get television from your SlingBox would be uber-convenient. However, AT&T was ultimately terrified of the bandwidth, congestion, etc. that could have resulted when untold masses tried to watch television on their iPhones at the same time via 3G. For now, its 3G banning is a bummer, but the Wi-Fi use is still available.
7. Murderdrome
One of the oddest iPhone app bannings was that of Murderdrome, a graphic novel app from Infurious. The banning was due to the content of the specific Murderdrome series, however the app itself would’ve allowed other–less offensive–Infurious graphic novel releases via iPhone. Never fear, in the end Infurious got their app back in the store for a different comic: EyeCandy.
This iPhone game from Hardy Macia at Catamount Software had all the drug fun that made John E. Dell’s ’80s version (Drug Wars) such an addictive–no pun intended–success. Apple didn’t see the irony or the fun, so Macia had to go with a candy prohibition game instead.
Swamiware was simply not ready to back down when its iPhone app was banned due to cartoon graphics of politicians jumping up and down on a trampoline in the Oval Office. So, they stuck to their guns … sort of. You can now get the app from the iPhone store, but you’ll have to play it with paper bags over the politicians’ heads. (Let’s face it, Apple, we all know who’s in the tight red skirt.)
10. Freedom Time
This last app–banned for reasons similar to #9–makes the list for one reason and one reason only: Steve Jobs himself took the time to give creators Alec Vance and Court Batson a response. This app was meant to give those anxious to get Bush out of office a fun way to count the days in 2008; but in the end, even Democrat-leaning Steve Jobs didn’t see the point in firing up the potential controversy.
Mahmud Ahsan
May 20th, 2009 at 12:55 am
very interesting…
Tamara
May 20th, 2009 at 9:50 am
It is interesting. And is it just me, or is Apple a tad over-sensitive when it comes to politicians? If a game featuring the killing of a politician, I can see the problem. But “The Shoe” (not mentioned here) and “Trampoline” and “Freedom Time” seem pretty harmless to me.
Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup - May 20, 2009 | I Love iPhone
May 20th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
[...] has put together their list of the Top 10 Banned iPhone Apps. And hey, one of our articles made the cut! The good folks at oDesk obviously appreciate quality [...]
Bunny
May 20th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
As an independent smartphone app developer, Apples stranglehold grip on their software/content market means that iPhone is the last platform that will see my projects, if ever. I doubt that the iPhone can remain relevant as a mass market product while Apple refuses to let the end user use their hardware in the way they see fit.
My current app is not risque, does not breach any sort of social contract with Apple, but for it to be functional, it needs to behave more like SaaS, and I can not see any way of working with Apples online store in my case.
Tamara
May 20th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Bunny, I totally see where you are coming from. While we start using our cell phones more and more as our portable computers … I don’t know how many people will continue to put up with the iPhone’s tight fist. It will be interesting.
In my research, “jail-breaking” personal iPhones was a common theme. =)
Hire Iphone Developer
May 20th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Very interesting article on iphone application, keep writing and inform us thank you.
iPhonefootprint
May 21st, 2009 at 8:53 am
Hey Tamara, you’ve made Apple humbled once for good. Nice write up… well compiled! Come up with more of this kind of compact content.
Tamara
May 21st, 2009 at 9:39 am
Why thank you, friends. I appreciate the love.
And now … I must go jail-break my husband’s iPhone, so that I can make it a hand-held PC/smartphone.
Don’t tell him.
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May 27th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
[...] 17. The Zune officially enters the gaming gauntlet. Bedroom developers immediately start making games that will eventually be banned. [...]
Mark
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 am
Can’t imagine why someone would make an app like baby shaker.
Mustafa
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Thanx! GOD I didn’t have iPhone :p
Mark
June 5th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Can’t belive someone would pay $999 for an app I’d like to see what they payed for the phone.
Mark
June 10th, 2009 at 3:51 am
Iwabble is good I have that app
Tamara
June 11th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Apparently one of the people who bought the $999 iphone app thought the price was a typo. They were expecting to pay much less. Why they would still click to buy it … I don’t know. Maybe they thought their bank would “know” it was a typo somehow and pay up the “correct” amount. =) It takes all kinds …
Quang Ly
August 5th, 2009 at 10:06 am
The I Am Rich app gave me quite a few good laughs. LOL
Jessie
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I honest to God just got sick to my stomach when I saw the baby shaker app. Seriously. I’ve never sent anything like hate mail but geez, that made me want to sent the app developer a pretty harsh email. Ugh, my stomach still hurts.
mengembalikanjatidiribangsa
September 26th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I didnt have iphone, btw thanks for your post its very interesting
qrturo
November 7th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Some of these are quite imaginative but quite useless too…
I like Amazing Tips better :p
offshore iphone application development
November 11th, 2009 at 1:01 am
thanks for listing all banned apps… nice information…