Sikalosoft’s Baby Shaker app made its way, however briefly, onto the App Store earlier this week - though not, one would argue, into our hearts. On Thursday, Macworld spoke to an Apple spokesperson, who issued the following statement of apology:
This application was deeply offensive and should not have been approved for distribution on the App Store. When we learned of this mistake, the app was removed immediately. We sincerely apologize for this mistake and thank our customers for bringing this to our attention.
The application featured a drawing of a baby accompanied by audio of a baby crying; the goal was to shake the phone until the baby stopped crying. Some groups have called the application offensive, especially in relation to the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Defenders of the program, meanwhile, have said the application is clearly humorous in intent.
While the app's developers, Sikalosoft, have not commented on the situation, the Web site at www.sikalosoft.com now reads:
Okay, so maybe the Baby Shaker iPhone app was a bad idea. You should never shake a baby! Even on an Apple iPhone Baby Shaking application. No babies were harmed in the making of Baby Shaker."
The site goes on to feature a description of the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Apple’s uneven and obscure approval process has been a matter of dispute and discussion since the App Store’s debut last July, though the questions have often revolved more around apps that were rejected from the store rather than those that Apple erroneously let through.
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Comments received
Outstanding said on Fri, 24 Apr 2009
Good quality checking there.
Neil Hardie said on Fri, 24 Apr 2009
Not wishing to be po-faced about alleged humorous intent, but I am amazed that anyone would try to defend this.
Kevin said on Fri, 24 Apr 2009
Come on, ok not good taste for a game I agree, but they are doomed if they do, doomed if they don't. They block an application people go crazy, they let one through people want it banned. It's a game!! I have a game where I can if I wish walk upto a stranger and shoot them in the back of the head on my PS3 and drive 100mph down a street running over man, woman & children. Have I ever done it in real life....no!!!! In real life I have a 6yr & 4mth baby and if I owned a shake baby game whould I do it to them...no!!! I don't want this game it does not appeal to me, but it should be my choice.
Kevin said on Fri, 24 Apr 2009
How is it ok for someone to play a game like GTA where you can do untold amount of illegal things, but not shake a photo with a sketch of a baby on it. I feel for any parent that has lost or had a child injured but banning a game is not going to help them or anyone.
J Bain said on Fri, 24 Apr 2009
If it was an app that infringed on Apple's monopoly it would never get considered, so why are they not watching everything with the same greedy eye?
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