...to the App store, that is.

In the aftermath of the mass-removal of thousands of racy and somewhat-racy iPhone and iPod Touch applications from the App Store, there's word that the company might allow the naughty bits back on to the store under an 'explicit' label.

Several reports have suggested that developers who upload their products for approval are being given the option to list their software as 'explicit', though later reports claim that the option has since been removed. Perhaps a slip from Apple on future plans for the store?

No word on how such a feature would be used, or how it could integrate into the App Store, but it could be used to create a special 'adult' section for the App Store. Given the huge market for such content that the web has brought about, I'm guessing that more than a few developers would be very happy with such a decision.

There are, however, concerns that Apple should have. Adult content is one of the most popular ways to spread malware. It seems that people are willing to install just about anything on their phones and computers when there's the promise of dirty pictures and movies. By keeping overtly sexual content out, Apple may be doing iPhone security a huge favour.

There's also the question of decorum. As we all know, Apple as a company is a big bunch of control freaks. It carefully manages the image of both the company and its products, and it's quite likely it doesn't want a bunch of crude content on its online software service.

25 Feb 2010