Apple's quick recall of a baby-shaking iPhone application in response to an uproar by consumers shone a spotlight on the company's opaque review process.
Apple has enjoyed a stunning success with its iPhone App Store, which recorded its 1 billionth download Thursday since opening for business in July. The store boasts 35,000 programs and is the undisputed leader in mobile apps.
But the baby-shaking app episode raises questions about how Apple deals with the flood of programs that are submitted and how it separates the approved apps from the ones that get rejected.
Apple said Thursday that Baby Shaker was a regrettable mistake. The 99-cent app encouraged users to quiet an onscreen baby's cries by shaking it to the point where Xs appeared on the eyes of the infant.
"This application was deeply offensive and should not have been approved for distribution on the App Store," said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris.
However, Kerris declined to explain how the program made it through or whether changes are planned for the approval process, which screens apps for offensive content, copyright violations or technical problems. That review system has been frustrating for developers, who are often confused about where the line is for offensive material and are left to test the limits through trial and error.
Erica Sadun, an app developer and author of the iPhone Developer's Cookbook, said the baby-shaking app was a clear mistake by Apple. But she said she hopes that if Apple maintains its right to be gatekeeper for apps, it will be more transparent in its review process.
Developers now submit their apps to Apple, and within about a week, they are informed whether their apps have been approved. The rejections are often blanket statements about objectionable content, and developers are left to ponder what exactly the problem is. FULL ARTICLE