Apple pulls adult-content app from App Store, anyone surprised? Updated

And just like that, the iPhone App Store is once again safe for children, people at work, and those who enjoy the iron fist of an anonymous application reviewer gently controlling their hardware / software ecosystem. Yep, the "Hottest Girls" application has been yanked after just a few hours of availability, and it's no secret why: although the app was clearly labeled and approved under iPhone OS 3.0's app rating and parental control guidelines, naked-ladies-on-the-iPhone was quickly becoming too much news for Apple's squeaky-clean image to bear. Of course, that once again prompts us to remind everyone that this exact same content is easily accessible through any number of applications on the iPhone, like, say, Safari, and that the App Store's arbitrary and capricious review procedures are an incredible liability to an otherwise dominant platform, but honestly, no one's listening because they'd rather talk about boobs. Good work.

Update: Interesting -- the dev's site now says that Hottest Girls has been "pulled" because their servers were "reaching their limits" and that the app will be back up soon, naughty pictures intact. We're guessing that means their image servers are cracking under the strain, but we'll see if this app or others like it make a reappearance anytime soon.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Az1Z @ Jun 25th 2009 1:31PM]

im getting sick and tired, I WANT MY PRON!

[Wwhat @ Jun 25th 2009 1:45PM]

Mothers? erm, no thanks.

[PGP-Protector @ Jun 25th 2009 1:47PM]

if you want your porn, then use the built in browser.

[darkmax @ Jun 25th 2009 1:55PM]

See... this is why they are fan bois, not fan or fan boys

[DR House @ Jun 25th 2009 3:35PM]

I LOVE PORN "Anyone amazed here?"

[go seki @ Jun 25th 2009 6:51PM]

One Fruit to rule them all! .. Really feel sorry for people living under such an authoritarian regime .. Iran is mild in comparison

Hmm Nokia could do a nice line in "Comes with Pr0n" .. Oh yeah anywhere but the US ..

[Will @ Jun 25th 2009 9:38PM]

Good, they should censor it. If they let more explicit stuff like this in the app store, they'd be wildly popular, and it wouldn't be long before say 15 of the top 25 apps were all titty apps. Would you really want that?

[Michael @ Jun 26th 2009 9:00AM]

@Will Yes

[Josh @ Jun 25th 2009 1:32PM]

hooray for boobies!

[drumdbeat @ Jun 25th 2009 1:49PM]

Bloodhound Gang

[wtfx @ Jun 25th 2009 1:54PM]

That band is pretty bomb.

[DirtyVegas @ Jun 25th 2009 2:03PM]

"Jiggly bits" are serious business.

[Blackstar @ Jun 25th 2009 10:10PM]

iJubblies

[desseptable @ Jun 26th 2009 12:16AM]

Is it me or is there something with TEH boobs? I mean, why the hell we like boobs so much? I have no idea, It's not like THEY have anything to do with us besides feeding our children when they were too young to digest our junky food. and in general, boobs are all alike, and............ boring, but not our gadgets that changes shapes, sizes, colors, weight in a daily basis.

less boobs, less boring, more gadgets. more exciting!!!

[Jack @ Jun 26th 2009 3:36AM]

I fap to this

[Shig @ Jun 25th 2009 1:33PM]

Apple.. what a bunch a dicks.
Let the flaming commence.

[Az1Z @ Jun 25th 2009 1:35PM]

BURN IT DOWN(you said let the "flaming" begin:))

[Templarian @ Jun 25th 2009 1:35PM]

Nice job Apple, you finally do something right and then f' it up a few minutes later.

Watch this all be just a marketing ploy.

[Templarian @ Jun 25th 2009 2:22PM]

Or as it turned out, a case of them not expecting this kind of demand. Silly developers pron is for people.

[Zak @ Jun 25th 2009 3:24PM]

Hey jackass: The developer said its THEIR servers (not Apple's) that can't handle the load, and that's why the app was pulled temporarily. At the developer's request.

Anything else you'd like to blame Apple for? Global warming maybe?

[Templarian @ Jun 25th 2009 3:30PM]

@Zak, calm down man. That was edited in as an update way before our comments were written.

[Templarian @ Jun 25th 2009 3:30PM]

*after

[poke @ Jun 26th 2009 5:44AM]

He can't calm down - he has apple in his blood.

[BuddyBoy @ Jun 25th 2009 1:36PM]

Since the App pulls pictures from the web, it's quite likely Apple approved it under 3.0 but before the pictures were added.

They could have just as easily made an app that pulled pictures of LOLcats off the web, got it approved, then added these "porn" images.

[Wwhat @ Jun 25th 2009 1:49PM]

Yeah and then they'd be visited by cops for exposing kids to porn and by lawyers for lying under contract, but sure.

[ash chapman @ Jun 25th 2009 1:37PM]

Whoa ho ho!

[TJ @ Jun 25th 2009 1:38PM]

This is what I use installous for, apps that are discontinued. See, its not a completely illegal app.

[redcard @ Jun 25th 2009 2:04PM]

No, you use it cos you blew a full years allowance on an iphone and now you can't afford to splash out 99c every other week

[Tsing Tao @ Jun 25th 2009 2:38PM]

What he said. Also cause you’re a greedy bastard.

[Andrew Timson @ Jun 25th 2009 3:01PM]

That's still illegal. Just not immoral (to some).

[Kris @ Jun 25th 2009 1:38PM]

Wow, nice research there Engadget. Didn't even bother to go to the app's website?

[SimbaDogg @ Jun 25th 2009 1:38PM]

and this is exactly while i'll never have an iphone...dont want the gestapo telling me what i can and can't do w/ my phone. but i guess u could always jailbreak.

[Brian @ Jun 25th 2009 2:38PM]

they try to get rid of that too.

[OneLove @ Jun 25th 2009 1:38PM]

You know, I've loved the iphone since its first release and still lust for it from time to time, but there are 2 things that keep me from getting one:

1. AT&T (...is da devil)
2. Apples tight grip on my nuts.

[connorcam @ Jun 25th 2009 1:39PM]

Whoa, don't let facts get in the way of a dig at Apple!!

[Josh @ Jun 25th 2009 1:40PM]

hahaha

Update: we posted a lot of hearsay and conjecture...here is the true story, which in fact, isn't really news.

[OneLove @ Jun 25th 2009 1:41PM]

I read that as "massive stain...". lol.

[Mahesh @ Jun 25th 2009 1:41PM]

does apple pay back money who purchased it,,(out of curiosity)

[skv @ Jun 25th 2009 5:39PM]

They dont need to. They only took the app away from the market. Those who had already bought it are still allowed to use the app. Apple is not forcing anyone to remove the app from the iPhone/iPT.

[Alex D @ Jun 25th 2009 1:44PM]

You better check out the app's web page. Wasn't Apple that took it down. Seems the image servers were overloaded.
-AlexD

[To: Hell @ Jun 25th 2009 1:45PM]

Handheld electronic boobies hee hee

[kal326 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:55PM]

Hand held real boobies > Handheld electronic boobies

[DonatoM3 @ Jun 25th 2009 1:45PM]

What a blog posting an innacurate story because they are more interested in getting news out first rather than make sure they have the real facts?

I have never heard of such a thing.

[primetime4 @ Jun 25th 2009 1:45PM]

Good news... Hottest Guys app is still available!

[Super-sic @ Jun 25th 2009 1:45PM]

You know... On one hand I'm surprised they pulled it because they are protected under their new parental controls.
On the other I'm not because... Well hello it's Apple. They don't want any bad publicity. Even though it was good publicity in my book. :)

[Mike @ Jun 25th 2009 1:46PM]

"Update: Interesting -- the dev says that Hottest Girls has been "pulled" because their servers were "reaching their limits" and that the app will be back up soon, naughty pictures intact. Of course, it's Apple's servers that do App Store distribution, so we're a little confused by this explanation -- we'll keep you updated."

Apple's server's distribute the APP - but the images themselves are pulled from the DEVELOPERS server.

[Josh @ Jun 25th 2009 1:47PM]

third time's a charm...

[Wwhat @ Jun 25th 2009 1:48PM]

I believe it, no really I do.
Funny how whenever any app gets pulled it's always a few hours/days later announced it was the owner of the app, same thing with youtube, at first it's pulled because some company or government complained then later it reports 'user removed content'.

[Neil @ Jun 25th 2009 1:49PM]

flip, flop. flip, FLOP.

[kohrtoons @ Jun 25th 2009 2:32PM]

try reading the WHOLE article before you comment, its been retracted.