There’s no mistake Apple is in hot water with their App Store inclusion/rejection process but some of the rejected were just painstakingly bizarre. The most recent one that’s got the FCC investigating Apple, is the Google Voice app but before then, Apple had faced criticism from the public on various other apps that were included and/or rejected. Let’s look at 10 of them.

Baby Shaker Why?: “Deeply Offensive”

Who screens iPhone Apps? Yet, the better question definitely is: Who is sick enough to write an App like this? Sick, sick, sick people!!

Booty Call Why?: Sexual content

I must admit that I rolled on the floor laughing at Jamie Fox in his film debut of Booty Call (1997), but Apple does not allow any form of sexual content in their collection of Apps. Booty Call was far from being X-rated (it gave tips on ‘hooking up’), so I wonder if the creators would have named it something more out of the 1950’s, like How to Get to Second Base Before Marriage, it wouldn’t have been peeled from the app list?

Drive Train Why?: 3rd party copyright infringement

This was a remote control for a BitTorrent client, and Apple was afraid Drive Train could infringe on 3^rd party copyright. Probably a wise move of CYA for Apple.

Eucalyptus Why?: Sexual content

This app was rejected by Apple because it allowed users to download copies of the classic book on sexuality, Kama Sutra. So, this is where the conflict between Apple’s refusal to allow sexual content and 1^st amendment rights (specifically CENSORSHIP of books) come head-to-head. Think of Eucalyptus as a mini-digital library, and that’s what the public did. After some controversy, Apple allowed the app to enter the store.

Freedom Time Why?: Making fun of public figures.

This was obviously a countdown until George W. Bush left the Presidency. Yes, it makes fun of a public figure, but don’t editorial cartoons do the same thing? Rumor has it that Steve Jobs personally sent the developer an email saying it would offend half of their customers. I would argue that HALF was QUITE a stretch!

Google Latitude Why?: Confusion with Google Maps

Many had anticipated the release of this app, but Apple rejected it anyway. Fortunately, there is a web version of Google Latitude. So, why can’t iPhone users just go through Safari or the Google app to access it from there? I haven’t actually tried it, but it does make sense.

Google Voice Why?: AT&T told Apple to? (rumors)

This has caused the most controversy among all the rejected apps by Apple. It has led to government inquiries as well as the resignation of an Apple Board Member.

I am Rich Why?: No reason other than stupidity

This was a dumb app to begin with. It’s just a red gem that glows but cost a whopping $999. Yup, that’s nine hundred and ninety nine dollars. Apple removed it in August 2008, but not before 8 people bought it. I wonder which idiot would buy such an app. I don’t know why Apple yanked the app. They could have left the app and laughed at the idiots who buy it, they still get 30% of the cut.

Netshare Why?: Tethering wasn’t (and still isn’t) allowed on the iPhone

This was a wonderful app that allowed tethering, something many iPhone users clamored for. Unfortunately, AT&T pressured Apple to remove the app because it was taxing their network. Hmmm…I wonder what jailbreaking, the current way to tether, is doing to the AT&T network?

Slasher Why?: Offensive

This app had a picture of a knife and when shaken it played the Psycho theme. Folks in the UK were in an uproar that Slasher could increase crime. As much as I called Shaken Baby (above) sick, I can find the humor in this. But, I suppose research comparable to that done on the behavioral effects of violence on television will be picked up by some graduate student soon. Not to sound absolutely corny (well, maybe I’m guilty), I can see the title now: Increases in Adolescent Violence: There’s an App for That!

The lack of Flash support on the iPhone and iPod touch has made it rather difficult for Flash-based video sites to penetrate the ever-expanding smartphone video-consuming market. While YouTube has implemented a workaround for this problem by encoding each uploaded video in both Flash AND as .mp4 files, other sites have been much slower to rollout a fix while waiting for Adobe to get this mess straightened out.

That was, until today. Blake Whitman, Vimeo’s director of community, told CNET News earlier today that the popular video sharing site is rolling out support for the iPhone and iPod touch, yet on a limited basis. More specifically, Vimeo has re-encoded all of its staff picks and HD video showcase for playback on iPhone/iPod touch handset.

According to Whitman, “[Vimeo has] been working on it for the last few weeks. This is sort of the prelude of offering Plus members iPhone support; and in the future, an app.” At the moment, Vimeo’s editors handpick which members’ videos will get the mobile “treatment,” but over time the site will slowly allow its Plus users the option to transcode their videos to an iPhone/iPod touch version.

Clearly, this is not an end all, be all solution, but it is nice to see Vimeo make an effort to accommodate the iCommunity. The mobile-friendly site was rumored to become available for iPhone/iPod touch users today.

{Source: Cnet}

Apple released an update that addresses performance, stability, and security: Safari 4.0.4.  Additionally, the software update helps users by doing the following:

• Improving JavaScript performance
• Providing easier searching through large browser histories
• Enhances the stability of 3^rd party plug-ins
• Aids in the stability of Yahoo Mail

Safari 4.0.4 is available in Software Update, or directly from Apple’s Website.

Joe Hewitt, the developer who saw the Facebook App for iPhone and iPod touch to version 3.0, and the cusp of 3.1 (which promised/threatened push notifications), has thrown us the Twitter-equivalent of a curve-ball:

Time for me to try something new. I’ve handed the Facebook iPhone app off to another engineer, and I’m onto a new project.

Just to be clear, he’s staying with Facebook, just no longer working on their iPhone app. Does it have anything to do with his dissatisfaction with the iTunes App Store approval process?

According to the quote he gave TechCrunch, it did:

My decision to stop iPhone development has had everything to do with Apple’s policies. I respect their right to manage their platform however they want, however I am philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process. I am very concerned that they are setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer. The web is still unrestricted and free, and so I am returning to my roots as a web developer. In the long term, I would like to be able to say that I helped to make the web the best mobile platform available, rather than being part of the transition to a world where every developer must go through a middleman to get their software in the hands of users.”

Hewitt’s move is a big deal, because he has essentially been the one-man show behind the iPhone’s most popular application of all time. Hewitt has been quite vocal about his opposition to Apple’s ridiculous App Store approval policies — in a post last August, he wrote that “the review process needs to be eliminated completely.” And to be clear, Hewitt is still at Facebook, though he can’t talk about the next project he’s working on.

Hewitt joined Facebook in 2007 when it aquired Parakey, the company he co-founded with Blake Ross. Hewitt is also known for helping create the Firefox web browser as well as the popular Firebug development plug-in.

Lets say that you have an iPhone, and are just bored with that drab black or  white case…  You are far too sophisticated to just put a sticker on your phone.  What?  Are you 19 and pledging SAE this semester?!?  Well, if you happen to have an extra $1,899-$7,279 just burning a hole in your pocket, head on over to www.republica-fashion.com and take a gander at their selection of genuine Python and precious metal clad iPhones.

The days of decency are over.  Republica makes it a point to tell us that the Python that is used is legitimate and of Indonesian origin as if that admonishes the currier of this show of haute couture impracticality of all social responsibility.  But hey, who am I to cast judgment of anyone that has the discretionary income that could get me out of credit card, auto, and financial aid debt with the simple scripting of a few little numbers and their mark.  In fact, I wonder if I could get a hold on Republica’s email list…  Let the scheming begin.  Does anyone know of a rare incurable disease that is easy to fake?

Texans think Dallas has just about everything. Let’s see, there’s the 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (located in the supposed shooter’s originating spot of the JFK assassination); South Fork Ranch (where the 80’s hit TV show Dallas was filmed); and The State Fair of Texas (no explanation needed there). Well, Dallas id about to get something just as big and significant as the three previous mentioned attractions: AT&T’s HSPA 7.2.

This rollout is a significant upgrade to company’s 3G network that will nearly double the wireless network’s capacity. Dallasites can expect better 3G connectivity and performance, improved in-building coverage, and an upgraded wireless experience. This is indeed the right time for AT&T to give their network a boost, especially with image the latest Verizon “map for that” commercials portray.

With these upgrades, you should have a better wireless experience with more capacity on our network and improved coverage inside your home and other buildings throughout the DFW area. Look for improved coverage in area communities like Allen, Arlington, Carrollton, Colleyville, Dallas, Denton, Ft. Worth, Frisco, Garland, Grapevine, Grand Prairie, Irving, Keller, Mesquite, McKinney, Lewisville, Plano, Richardson, Rockwall, Southlake and more. We updated nearly 1,000 cell sites in these areas! The fastest gets faster! AT&T has the fastest network in Dallas/Ft. Worth* and we’re excited to announce that Dallas will be among the first 6 major U.S. cities in which AT&T plans to upgrade its existing 3G technology to HSPA 7.2. This new upgrade will provide considerably faster mobile broadband speeds, and we plan to make it available by the end of the year.

AT&T claims to have spent 50 million to improve their 850 mhz network in Dallas alone. That should mean pristine service for those enough luck enough to be a resident of the Dallas area. At least you that’s what one would hope…

{Source: TheiPhoneBlog.com}

Ashley Towns, a 21-year-old unemployed programmer from Wollogong, Australia had a “Rickrolling” good time as he released the initiatory iPhone worm. “It was supposed to be a small prank i definitely wasn’t expecting it to get as far as it did,” Towns said during an instant-message interview.

The worm (CODENAME: Ikee) is only a threat to users who have jaibroken their phones to let them run unauthorized software, security experts say. In fact, Ikee doesn't do anything particularly bad—it changes the victim’s wallpaper to a photograph of ’80s singer Rick Astley and then seeks out other phones to infect—but it could be modified to do something more dangerous such as stealing sensitive information from the iPhone. Towns stated he didn’t really consider the possible legal ramifications of releasing the code, something he said was “quite naive of me.”

If you are feeling naïve yourself, the following video explains it all. And, if you haven't been Rick Rolled yet, you probably will be. It's the biggest prank in the online world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmPmIJyi0sc&NR=1

So, here’s how the Ikee worm works. You are Rick Rolled; the worm adds adds a Rick Astley wallpaper; your iPhone’s SSH daemon is disabled; Ikee looks around and then heads to the Internet for other vulnerable iPhones to infect.

News of the worm first started spreading several days ago, when users on an Australian technology discussion board complained that their iPhone wallpaper had been changed without authorization. The worm’s code was published Sunday by Joshua “JD” Davison, managing director with Australian ISP reseller JelTel, who earlier published a technical interview with Towns. There are no confirmed reports of the worm spreading outside of Australia.

Towns was reported as telling Ikee “I’m Never Gonna Give You Up”. Rumors of “Ikee 2” give those infected a more positive consequence. Sequencing, although still in the works, would go something like this: You are Rick Rolled; the worm adds adds a sexier Rick Astley wallpaper; Ray-Ban Wayfarers are automatically shipped to your physical home address; then, you are offered “The Ultimate Whiteboy Dance Moves” in DVD or Blueray formats.

A preview of “The Ultimate Whiteboy Dance Moves” can be seen here.

Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.2 on Monday, the latest update to its Mac OS X operating system. It contains a number of fixes and feature enhancements and is recommended for all users running Snow Leopard.

General issues addressed by the new release include:

• A well-publicized, yet unusual bug, that could result in data loss when using a guest account
• A problem that caused systems to logout unexpectedly
• Spotlight search results not showing Exchange contacts
• The reliability and duration of VPN connections
• VoiceOver performance and video playback
• Performance issues that could crop up for the latest iMacs when AirPort is active.

Apple also improved functionality by resolving font issues, providing graphics fixes, and patching Mail problems. Additionally, they improved the reliability and performance during Syncing via MobileMe, iTunes, or iSync.

As always, there are new features. Users can now send faxes to numerous recipients at once. There is an improved trackpad capability, and screenshots received a new shutter-click sound effect.

Patches and fixes to security were also made. Users will no longer have breech problems with the Apache web server software, CoreMedia framework, Launch services, or QuickTime.

The 10.6.2 update is available via Software Update and Apple’s support downloads site. The size of the download in Software Update may vary depending on your computer.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the first-ever screening of Wallace and Gromit, Titan Publishing has announced a range of comics for iPhone and iPod touch.
Wallace and Gromit: The W Files is the first of the new releases and is being offered free for a limited time.

Further installments include the following:
Wallace and Gromit: Parts And Labour; Wallace and Gromit: Big In Japan! ; Wallace and Gromit: Where There's Muck, There's Brass. They are a mere 99 cents each and require the iPhone 2.1 Software Update or later.
Each comic is a complete Wallace and Gromit adventure and is packed with bonus features on the inveterate inventor and his faithful canine companion, insist the makers.
“It’s really exciting to see Wallace and Gromit at the forefront of such a cracking new technology although I secretly suspect that Wallace would be more comfortable with the type of apple that comes with cheese,” said Wallace and Gromit digital comic editor Ned Hartley.
Wallace and Gromit has produced several acclaimed animated shorts including A Grand Day Out (1989), The Wrong Trousers (1993), A Close Shave (1995) and A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008), along with the feature film The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005).

Note: The following article is reprinted from Macworld UK. Visit Macworld UK’s blog page for the latest Mac news from across the Atlantic.

I promise this will be my last post dedicated to the sport of hunting, but I just couldn’t leave this App out because I can almost bet that this one little App will be the non-iPhone carrying hunter’s greatest persuasion to move with the technology wave and purchase an iPhone.

During turkey season, I usually would have a vest full of plastic and wood mouth calls plus a few of the “scratcher” kind – although I could never get any of them to “scratch” properly (but my 4 year old could). This year, I left all of my vest accoutrements at home and headed to the ranch with just my iPhone containing Smart Wire LLC’s Free Turkey Call App. It worked like a charm.

Well, now that the hunt is on for multiple types of game, I thought I would bring along my iPhone to the ranch again. This time, I invested under $4 for K Solution LLC’s Hunting Call. This App has authentic sounds to call most small and big game animals. A smattering of Hunting Call’s growing list of sounds that left me with less baggage AND less hassle include: bear, bob white quail, buck, Canadian goose, cottontail rabbit, cow elk, doe, buck, javalina, owl, and turkey. The list continues to grow as requests are made.

With Hunting Call, I spent only 4 hours scouring the ranch, and the rest of the afternoon cleaning my ducks, doe, and 4 javalina. Once again, the iPhone has brought caveman times and the 21st century together. I KNEW there was an App for that!