Apple not all peaches
Is Steve Jobs poised to become Big Brother?
Read more: IPad Apps Could Put Apple in Charge of the News
Quote:
IPad Apps Could Put Apple in Charge of the News
Publishers should think twice before worshipping the iPad as the future platform for magazines and newspapers. That is, if they value their independence from an often-capricious corporate gatekeeper.
The past week’s controversy swirling around Apple’s retroactive ban of sexy apps in the App Store seems trivial, but the implications of Apple’s arbitrariness should be disconcerting to members of the press and those who rely on the media for unbiased information.
Apple last week began removing thousands of apps containing “overtly sexual content” from its App Store — apps it had previously approved — in response to complaints from customers and parents. However, still remaining are apps from major publishers such as Playboy and Sports Illustrated, which contain images of partially nude women, just like the removed apps did.
While it may initially appear publishers are more shielded from Apple’s ban hammer, the severity of the retroactive ban should be concerning for freedom-of-speech advocates.
From a legal perspective, Apple can do whatever it wants with the content in its App Store. Apple is not government, and thus it is not governed by the First Amendment. In light of the recent ban, many have correctly compared Apple’s App Store to Wal-Mart, which also doesn’t allow porn.
But the lack of bikini-clad ladies in the App Store isn’t the issue here. It’s the fact that Apple has so much market power, combined with the fact that magazine and newspaper publishers are getting pumped to produce apps for Apple’s iPad, which will be served through Apple’s tightly regulated App Store. The iPad could very well play a major role in the future of publishing, with several of the biggest book publishers already on board to sell e-books through the iPad’s iBooks store, and major publications, including Wired, already working on iPad apps to launch in the App Store.
What will happen when a journalist writes a controversial story about abortion or vaccines? Will displeased readers skip writing angry letters to the publisher and go straight to Apple to get the article pulled? And would Apple then comply? [...]
IPad Apps Could Put Apple in Charge of the News
Publishers should think twice before worshipping the iPad as the future platform for magazines and newspapers. That is, if they value their independence from an often-capricious corporate gatekeeper.
The past week’s controversy swirling around Apple’s retroactive ban of sexy apps in the App Store seems trivial, but the implications of Apple’s arbitrariness should be disconcerting to members of the press and those who rely on the media for unbiased information.
Apple last week began removing thousands of apps containing “overtly sexual content” from its App Store — apps it had previously approved — in response to complaints from customers and parents. However, still remaining are apps from major publishers such as Playboy and Sports Illustrated, which contain images of partially nude women, just like the removed apps did.
While it may initially appear publishers are more shielded from Apple’s ban hammer, the severity of the retroactive ban should be concerning for freedom-of-speech advocates.
From a legal perspective, Apple can do whatever it wants with the content in its App Store. Apple is not government, and thus it is not governed by the First Amendment. In light of the recent ban, many have correctly compared Apple’s App Store to Wal-Mart, which also doesn’t allow porn.
But the lack of bikini-clad ladies in the App Store isn’t the issue here. It’s the fact that Apple has so much market power, combined with the fact that magazine and newspaper publishers are getting pumped to produce apps for Apple’s iPad, which will be served through Apple’s tightly regulated App Store. The iPad could very well play a major role in the future of publishing, with several of the biggest book publishers already on board to sell e-books through the iPad’s iBooks store, and major publications, including Wired, already working on iPad apps to launch in the App Store.
What will happen when a journalist writes a controversial story about abortion or vaccines? Will displeased readers skip writing angry letters to the publisher and go straight to Apple to get the article pulled? And would Apple then comply? [...]
Read more: IPad Apps Could Put Apple in Charge of the News
Comments
Is Steve Jobs poised to become Big Brother?
Read more: IPad Apps Could Put Apple in Charge of the News
Your a Capitalist Republican who fears Apple for its super 10% world power! OMG its a world take over of the news, such nazis are they!
Idiot.
Your a Capitalist Republican who fears Apple for its super 10% world power! OMG its a world take over of the news, such nazis are they!
Idiot.
That's deep!
That's deep!
I'm just that kind of person!
They wont ban websites from safari either.
One problem I have with a single store is pricing. But if I understand the pricing correctly, they only take a cut and the author is the one putting up the price it wants.
Another problem I have is information. On one hand it very important Apple protects his clients personnal information and purchase information from anything. On the other hand, sellers should have acces to there customer information even if it went through Apple.
Nothing to see here, move along...
Fox News will be just as available as the Huffington Post.
That is exactly the problem.
But the lack of bikini-clad ladies in the App Store isn?t the issue here.
I beg to differ, but for some of us perhaps the lack of bikini-clad ladies in the App Store IS THE ISSUE!
First they come for the bikini-clad ladies, then it us geeks that wear crocs... who knows where they'll stop when censorship is unleashed. United we stand, divided we fall. For our own protection, we must protect those bikini-clad ladies!
You won't find Copernicium here, but you will find trade show displays here.
That is exactly the problem.
It's not a problem. People are free to choose as many or as few sources of information as they want. It's their decision.
It's not a problem. People are free to choose as many or as few sources of information as they want. It's their decision.
No, Spam, if Apple bans certain stuff from their app store then it's Apple who decides what information people (you!) have access to. Not the people (you!). That is pure and simple censorship.
No, Spam, if Apple bans certain stuff from their app store then it's Apple who decides what information people (you!) have access to. Not the people (you!). That is pure and simple censorship.
People don't choose what phones, tablets and computers they buy? Seems to me the people have plenty of choices. If you don't like Apple's policies, move along and be happy with the competitors' offerings.
No, Spam, if Apple bans certain stuff from their app store then it's Apple who decides what information people (you!) have access to. Not the people (you!). That is pure and simple censorship.
well, i believe that you'll have unfettered access to the interwebs through the iPad Safari browser, so you'll be able to get your angelina jolie fix even though she won't be available through a pr0n app. I guess that makes it a moot point?
Censorship will happen when the ISPs are required by the government to control content. Which happens in certain cases but we're mostly free here in the USA, at least we like to think so. We eat what they feed us and we like it.
No, Spam, if Apple bans certain stuff from their app store then it's Apple who decides what information people (you!) have access to. Not the people (you!). That is pure and simple censorship.
No, it is not censorship, which by definition is a government act.
No, it is not censorship, which by definition is a government act.
"The practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts: details of the visit were subject to military censorship."
Yeah, I think he's right.
"The practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts: details of the visit were subject to military censorship."
Yeah, I think he's right.
I am so tired of hearing about apple and its right to remove certain adult themed apps. Its not like FOX news censoring the truth, to make Democrats look bad. (Which they are) If you don't like what Apple is doing then don't buy their products. Buy a Microsoft Tablet or Zune, or Blackberry.
I am so tired of hearing about apple and its right to remove certain adult themed apps. Its not like FOX news censoring the truth, to make Democrats look bad. (Which they are) If you don't like what Apple is doing then don't buy their products. Buy a Microsoft Tablet or Zune, or Blackberry.
That might not be a bad idea at all. Have you seen M$' folding multi-touch tablet? Fits in my pocket!. iPads don't.
Thanks for the suggestion.
That might not be a bad idea at all. Have you seen M$' folding multi-touch tablet? Fits in my pocket!. iPads don't.
Thanks for the suggestion.
And now you have really no business being in the "APPLE INSIDER" forum. You don't need to join a site to mole people out of their happy Mac owner experience. MicroAssHoles are doing that everyday. So get lost.