And whats with the women watching it because of the guys? Making money that way is ok?
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Apple Adds 'Explicit' Category for New App Store Submissions
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And whats with the women watching it because of the guys? Making money that way is ok?
GoodWatch
macrumors 6502a
kresh
macrumors 6502a
This alone does nothing to cure the problem.
If Apple still leaves the rating determination up to the developer, then it defeats the purpose of parental control!
Some of these apps were rated 4+, which breaks the parental control lock. There are developers who could care less about parents trying to keep their children from it, and actively market these apps to under eighteener's.
I will have zero problems with this if Apple sets the rating during the approval process, better yet they could even form an independent ratings board, answerable only to the board of directors at Apple and a council elected by developers. The board could be paid for by the developer fees.
To leave the application rating in the hands of the developers, whose main incentive is to reach the largest market possible, is pure madness!
If Apple still leaves the rating determination up to the developer, then it defeats the purpose of parental control!
Some of these apps were rated 4+, which breaks the parental control lock. There are developers who could care less about parents trying to keep their children from it, and actively market these apps to under eighteener's.
I will have zero problems with this if Apple sets the rating during the approval process, better yet they could even form an independent ratings board, answerable only to the board of directors at Apple and a council elected by developers. The board could be paid for by the developer fees.
To leave the application rating in the hands of the developers, whose main incentive is to reach the largest market possible, is pure madness!
dejo
Moderator emeritus
But they don't. The App Review team is quite involved in making sure apps carry the proper ratings, based on their "perspective".
fleshman03
macrumors 68000
Very True. I think it is much better than the censorship Apple had no problem committing.
I think it's the best of both worlds. People who want to look at boobies, can now find their app. People who want to "think of the children," can rest assured. Timmy will not be subjected women in bikinis or jiggles.
A place for everything and everything in its place.
giosaccone
macrumors regular
charlituna
macrumors G3
Actually this will remove a layer. Because now they can block the whole category from all views and downloads if you have parental controls activated and/or a 'child account'. Or they could even make a new term that the category also will not be visible if you do not have a credit card on file for an account under your name (if there's a way to verify that this is true versus a card on Daddy's account)
And hopefully they will be banned from all top lists. Or we are given an option to 'ignore' them on said lists.
I disagree that they don't know what they are doing. or that they need to stop playing gods. They are the sellers so they have the legal right to control what they sell. Don't like it. Tough cookies.
that said, I do agree that now is a good time to sit down and clear the clutter out of the terms and make sure that all the do and do not rules are in there and make everyone agree to the new list. That way everyone is on the same page. and also to do as Microsoft did with their rather lengthy bullet list and make it public before you sign up for the program. That way no one can say they didn't know. If they agreed without reading, that's on them.
kresh
macrumors 6502a
That is not so. When Apple relaxed their standards a while back an app appeared in the RSS feed of appshoppers.com.
The tag line was "Touch the girl in the bikini and hear her moan", it was rated 4+. I emailed Apple 20 times before somebody responded telling me that the ratings are set by the developer and to take it up with them.
I snail mailed Apple about it and it was pulled.
Remove them all...
I think allowing porn apps into the iTune App store damages Apples brand integrity. I think they should remove them all.
I think allowing porn apps into the iTune App store damages Apples brand integrity. I think they should remove them all.
May be a sign of further changes to come
This is a good move, but only if it's the first of several steps. Adding an EXPLICIT category by itself does nothing to stop the unscrupulous developers out there from adding their nudie-pic app to the games, entertainment, lifestyle, or even business categories. Even if Apple forces it into the explicit category automatically before release, the developer can go back in and change categories at any time without submitting it again. Tired of lack of visibility in the porno section of the App Store (which will quickly rival games and entertainment in size)? The dev moves it elsewhere so he can rank in the Top 100 of a smaller category.
Developers are doing this spammy crap every day. Take a look at the Top 100 Role Playing Games in the app store. It's a damn mess. Probably half the stuff listed there does not belong in RPGs. This hurts the growth of real RPGs even further. Why create a new RPG if it'll be spammed out of the top 100 by crap that does not even belong there?
Basically, Apple needs to take control of categorizing ALL apps and games away from the developer. It's the only way to give categories any real meaning going forward. I've brought this up with Apple directly, and I think others have too. It'll be interesting to see if they do it. 😀
This is a good move, but only if it's the first of several steps. Adding an EXPLICIT category by itself does nothing to stop the unscrupulous developers out there from adding their nudie-pic app to the games, entertainment, lifestyle, or even business categories. Even if Apple forces it into the explicit category automatically before release, the developer can go back in and change categories at any time without submitting it again. Tired of lack of visibility in the porno section of the App Store (which will quickly rival games and entertainment in size)? The dev moves it elsewhere so he can rank in the Top 100 of a smaller category.
Developers are doing this spammy crap every day. Take a look at the Top 100 Role Playing Games in the app store. It's a damn mess. Probably half the stuff listed there does not belong in RPGs. This hurts the growth of real RPGs even further. Why create a new RPG if it'll be spammed out of the top 100 by crap that does not even belong there?
Basically, Apple needs to take control of categorizing ALL apps and games away from the developer. It's the only way to give categories any real meaning going forward. I've brought this up with Apple directly, and I think others have too. It'll be interesting to see if they do it. 😀
Only the scammers/spammers do this. They have the most to lose by doing this. Apple will continue to improve their app review process and will continue to watch more carefully for this type of methods. They'll just ban any developers doing this.
dejo
Moderator emeritus
Well, your example just highlights the inconsistencies with the review process (and how they respond to complaints) but trust me, I know first-hand that if the reviewer disagrees with the ratings that you have set, they will reject your app and ask you to make adjustments either to the app or to the ratings. The continued problem is that this usually depends on the reviewer.
Winni
macrumors 68040
What happened to Freedom of Speech?
Tolerance is one of the main foundations of Freedom, because Freedom is not only about your own right, it's mostly about the rights of others -- and most of the time you will find yourself disagreeing with the rest of the world.
I, for once, completely disagree with your "just take 'em off for good" statement. Still, I believe in Freedom, so I must accept that this is your position, but I also absolutely and firmly believe that you have no right whatsoever as to limit or restrict ME or anybody else in what I think, believe, or in this case, might want to purchase or use.
Apple adding an "explicit" section is overdue. It should have been there from the very beginning, and Steve should never have said a childish thing like "obviously, no porn". This is only obvious for a prude American. It certainly is not obvious for the rest of the sexually liberated and more mature rest of the world.
Do I want that teenagers or children have access to it? Certainly not. But that is what we have an EXPLICIT rating for. I'm an adult, and I do not need Walt Disney or anybody else to tell me what I am allowed to watch.
And if Apple does not want to sell or provide such content, then they should allow other AppStores to provide that content.
Or will they also install web content filters in their next software updates so that Safari can no longer surf to Jenna Jameson's homepage? It would be the consequent next step, but how ridiculous would that be?
I'm not a fan of these apps myself but this is the right thing to do, it's a shame it wasn't done earlier.
Unless you are a stock holder I don't see why you care about Apple's brand integrity and even then you should be happy because Apple will still earn 30% out of each explicit app sale.
Unless you are a stock holder I don't see why you care about Apple's brand integrity and even then you should be happy because Apple will still earn 30% out of each explicit app sale.
ToroidalZeus
macrumors 68020
firestarter
macrumors 603
Good - glad that Apple is sorting this out.
I can't think of anything I particularly want to buy in that category, but I'm opposed to the internet/app store being directed at just children and prudes.
I can't think of anything I particularly want to buy in that category, but I'm opposed to the internet/app store being directed at just children and prudes.
charlituna
macrumors G3
Likely not. Some developers might not want their apps in said place and would rather just drop it. By making them make the changes they can also make that decision. That list that Mr Wobble got was likely the rules of what must be tagged Explicit (hey he had a vested interest in tweaking the facts since he was the one scorned)
Because they have passed the obscenity test. Some of those apps have not and probably would not. And distributing Obscenity/Obscene materials is a legal violation. This is likely why the first move was to simply yank them. To avoid lawsuits and perhaps even criminal charges.
Don't count on an official one. So you will just have to jailbreak and hope nothing ever breaks to the point of needing the replacement Apple no longer has to give you.
You make a list of conditions (and hopefully nude breasts isn't the only conditions they are looking at) and if it falls under such you must label it Explicit. If you don't it won't be approved. If you are caught changing said category on an app that must have it, good bye. Not just that App but all of your apps and your membership. No rebuttals, no appeals, etc. You are out of the game. Risk of a lifetime ban will stop a lot of folks from playing games.
kresh
macrumors 6502a
Why is it even in the hands of the developer to begin with. The developer should submit the app, Apple approves it, and an impartial board should set the rating.
Like I said it was broken because this stuff was all over the appstore, all all different ratings.
I don't care what other people do, but don't hamper my efforts to keep my kids from it.
kresh
macrumors 6502a
I will gladly take that honor, because I absolutely HATE that filth being pandered to my kids.
Do I get a trophy or something?