With recent acquisitions such as Beats By Dre and Swell, Apple is continuing its reign as king of the telecommunications world. Equally impressive is the company’s stint as the ruler of the App store with more than 700,000 apps empowering the tech giant’s marketplace.
From the popular “Flashlight” app, which is used to light dark rooms around the country, to “Subway Surfers,” the Apple App Store has countless options that may be of interest to users around the globe. Interestingly enough, there’s a healthy contingent of censored apps that will never see the light of day because of the contention they cause. BlackEnterprise.com takes a moment to list the 10 most controversially banned iPhone apps you should know.
Herb Converter
For the marijuana advocate, this tool allowed weed heads to convert ounces to grams with the swipe of a finger. While the true stoner complained about lack of features such as marijuana availability, Apple had a larger complaint about the proliferation of an illegal drug and promptly removed it from the App Store.
Swear Port
For those living in a major metropolis, you hear a lot of profanity flying around at any given time. According to this app’s website, you’ll become an instant swearing master with knowledge of curse words from around the globe. Through translating offensive words, Apple considered this one a violation of its rules, and banned the iOS version immediately.
Slash
iPhone excelled in giving its users some augmented reality games and applications. Yet, this one, appropriately titled “Slash,” allowed its fans to simulate a stabbing motion with a knife while it plays the theme from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Days after it appeared in the App Store, a wave of teen stabbings occurred in the United Kingdom that forced Apple to slash the “Slash” app from being available.
My Shoe
Parody is a strong force on the interconnected Webs. People will take trending topics and turn them into content that others
will purchase. Such was the case with “My Shoe,” an app created after the moments a protester threw footwear at then-President George W. Bush. Created by a Pakistani developer, the app allowed users to sling an assortment of footwear at the Commander-in-Chief. Steve Jobs wanted no parts of it and had it removed from the App Store.Ghetto Tweets
The iPhizzle got a lot cooler fa-shizzle when this app hit the store. Many thought that it was a fun and hilarious way to turn one’s tweets into “ghetto” slang. Fortunately, the thinking masses saw right through that and quickly rallied to show just how stereotypical and ridiculous it was for the masses. When those complaints reached Apple, it was banned on the spot.
Pocket Girlfriend
Marketed for those who had trouble talking to women in real life social settings, “Pocket Girlfriend” promised virtual love and happiness. A simulated woman allowed users to believe they were talking, acting, and in a relationship. The digital cutie’s responses to most comments were sexually suggestive and really raunchy, so Apple, not wanting a lawsuit, quickly broke up with the risqué app.
Baby Shaker
Wondering how an app that allowed users to shake a baby on their phone made it onto the store? Apple was probably wondering the same thing. The disturbing app promised users the opportunity to stop an infant from crying until two red “x” marks appeared over the child’s eyes. Apple didn’t appreciate an app that promoted infanticide, so it promptly pitched the crappy product into the trash bin like a dirty diaper.
Obama Trampoline
What better way to show your disdain for the first African American president than by making him hop around like a lost kid in a bouncy house. Users were able to choose one of 18 politicians and have them jump around the Oval Office popping different colored balloons. Apple’s policy against ridiculing public figures led to the app’s removal from the App Store.
Relapse
Controversial rapper Eminem courts calamity wherever he goes. So, when the Detroit MC was making his return to the charts, many were on high alert. What surprised many was the development of “Relapse,” an app that allowed users to take to the streets and go on a murderous rampage with several different weapons. The company Steve Jobs invigorated did not like the methods and manner featured on the app and made sure the “Shady One” was rejected from being consumed by the masses.
Buzzed
For the social drinker who loved texting while driving, this app would allow you to find out where the police were holding their DUI checks. Helping people to get away with driving drunk doesn’t seem like something Apple should be associated with. It quickly gave “Buzzed” and compatriot app “Tipsy” the boot.
What are some other controversial apps that you’ve stumbled on that we might’ve missed?