Apple invites controversy, approves adult film star apps

This should get interesting: Mobile content developer Grindhouse Mobile announced that Apple has approved premium iPhone and iPod touch applications featuring adult film stars Aria Giovanni and Sunny Leone. According to Grindhouse, these are the first official porn star apps greenlighted for the iPhone platform. Both applications are now available via the App Store with Adult 17+ ratings, and include photos, video clips and blogs. Grindhouse adds that Version 2.0 apps featuring both actresses are already in the pipeline.

The applications are not the first iPhone apps to feature sexual content and nudity--however, comments from Grindhouse again call into question the seemingly arbitrary nature of the App Store approval process. The firm says it strictly followed Apple's guidelines in developing the apps, but the first version of the Leone app was nevertheless declined due to the explicit nature of its content: "It was just a little too 'hot' for Apple's compliance department," a Grindhouse representative said in a release. "We worked closely with Apple to meet all of their guidelines while developing an offering that is compelling and user friendly." It's unclear what changes Grindhouse made to earn the computing giant's approval, however.

Apple defines apps rated 17+ as software that "may also contain frequent and intense offensive language; frequent and intense cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence; and frequent and intense mature, horror, and suggestive themes; plus sexual content, nudity, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs which may not be suitable for children under the age of 17." Applications that feature an embedded web browser or provide access to third party content also automatically require the 17+ rating, regardless of the app's content or intended audience.

For more on the Grindhouse Mobile apps:
- read this release

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