Apple Removing Apps Left And Right

There is a big difference between Android Market and Apple App Store. Both are growing fast. Android fans always point at Google’s more open policy with Android apps to make the case for the platform. Not all apps deserve to be included in app stores though. Apple has a more strict policy. For instance, the company does not like developers creating apps that mention Android or cover Android related topics. Many critics consider that content censorship. So far, Apple has not backed down from this approach.

Android related apps are not the only ones getting the axe from Apple. Apple does remove controversial applications from its store on a consistent basis. That seems to be the case with Manhattan Declaration. It was an application that advocated “the sanctity of life, the dignity of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and religious liberty.” Change.org organized a movement to get Apple to remove this app from iTunes. Apple obliged in the end.

We removed the Manhattan Declaration app from the App Store because it violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people.

The people behind this controversial app have not given up hope. They have contacted Steve Jobs to figure out why the application was removed. It is not clear whether Apple plans to reconsider accepting this application to its App store. No matter what Apple does here, it is going to upset a group of people. Apple does have a strict policy on apps that contain sexual or violent material too. While some may argue that these restrictions are holding the App store back, an Android Market type approach may not work for most iPhone and iPad owners.

There were rumors that Apple was removing single station radio applications from iTunes. That seems not to be the case at this point. Steve Jobs and co. have eased up some of App Store’s restrictions in the past few months. Just don’t expect every type of app to be accepted.