Apple approves 'Baby Shaker' for App Store

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10225016-37.html

If you needed any further proof that Apple's App Store approval process is horrifyingly out of whack, consider one of the latest additions to the App Store: Baby Shaker.

A company called Sikalosoft is currently selling a $0.99 iPhone application called Baby Shaker, as of Monday. The object of Baby Shaker is to stop the incessant crying of an infant pictured on screen by violently shaking the iPhone, at which point two red "x" marks appear over the baby's eyes. "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!" reads the sales pitch for Baby Shaker.

<snip>

When the App Store was first announced in March 2008, Apple said it would vet every single application submitted to the App Store and approve or reject applications based on its internal standards. So, as Apple approaches the one billionth download of App Store applications, let's review what Apple has decided you're allowed to do, and what you're not allowed to do, with iPhone applications.

You are not allowed to have swear words in your application.

You are not allowed to develop applications that could potentially harm existing or future Apple businesses.

You are allowed to develop applications that break App Store rules if you work for one of the most important companies on the planet, whose CEO happens to sit on Apple's board of directors.

You are allowed to simulate infanticide.
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More at link, including a picture of the App.

There is no harm in shaking an iPhone, so far as I know.

:thumbsup:

:yoiks: X X

Because it's not so uncommon for something to come out and then be removed (or vice versa) a few days later. The app description might read something like 'have fun with a bouncing baby' and seem trivially superficial. I seriously doubt this one will be available for long.

I know you're quoting Cnet here, but I don't think much of Cnet's journalistic standards. They're the daytime TV of the internet/tech world.

where you wail on her till she brings you a beer and a mac&cheese tv dinner.

yay, apple- not.

Maybe the publicity will get them to can this App.

(does not support wife beating or baby shaking)

mac&cheese! :spray:

32 years after a baby that screeched 24 hours a day sleeping 10 min at a time from day 2 coming home until 4.25 months I would have welcomed this as a safe stress reliever but not as a kids game. (Doctor claimed over and over there was nothing wrong.)

How bad was it? 24 month old brother had to be watched constantly because he was going to get rid of "that thing" since Mom and Dad couldn't seem to do anything about it. NOBODY would babysit, not even the Grandmas. Dad took a second job mostly to be out of the house.

Disclaimer:Both kids grew up and have families of their own.

On another note: perhaps if they had an app where you had an ejection seat you controlled for fighting children in cars, that mother would not have been put in jail.
Just sayin.

Ah, those magical moments of motherhood.

Somehow I don't think Apple gave their seal of approval to this latest application, but I wonder how frustrated the person was who invented it.

Hekate

:evilgrin:

As expected. I'm beginning to think that the submission process is somewhat automated. This is not the first tasteless app to be toasted.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10225184-233.html

What the...what? Is this for real?