Rumour: Apple preparing 'Adults Only' section for App Store

by Stevie Smith - Feb 25 2010, 06:46

Prompted by mounting complaints regarding “degrading and objectionable” content available through its App Store, Apple has recently culled some 6,000 software apps built on titillation or sexual suggestion.

However, the iPhone maker may be about to throw disgruntled software developers a lifeline by assigning such contentious content a specific App Store registration category of its own.

More pointedly, reports began emerging this Wednesday that Apple had briefly added a new ‘Explicit’ option to the list of defining categories developers must highlight when seeking to gain software approval and gain a place on the App Store’s virtual shelves.

Apparently spied by diligent industry watchers such as Cult of Mac and 9to5Mac, reports claim the category addition didn’t stick around for very long.

Yet, if news of its brief existence is genuine, the ‘Explicit’ option could be an indication that Apple is preparing an ‘Adults Only’ section for the App Store proper, which would help it maintain a healthy (read: profitable) relationship with the development community while also staving off complaints from customers.

As is Apple’s way when it comes to speaking with the press regarding rumour and speculation, the Cupertino-based gadget giant is remaining predictably tight-lipped on the subject.

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