Apple

Yesterday was a little confusing.

(Credit: Apple, Inc.)

Thursday saw the first softcore porn app arrive for the iPhone, only to disappear hours later. Many, including myself, thought Apple had approved and then banned the app, but a note on the developer's Web site indicated that he asked for the app to be removed.

The developer's note read:

"The Hottest Girls app is temporarily sold out. The server usage is extremely high because of the popularity of this app. Thus, by not distributing the app, we can prevent our servers from crashing. Customer satisfaction is more important to us than profits. Those who already have the app will still be able to use our app. To answer the question on everyone's mind: Yes, the topless images will still be there when it is sold again."

That left a lot of people backpedaling after yelling at Apple for pulling the app. As it turns out Apple did pull the app--the company confirmed the move in a statement provided to CNET on Friday.

"Apple will not distribute applications that contain inappropriate content," Apple's statement reads. "The developer of this application added inappropriate content directly from their server after the application had been approved and distributed, and after the developer had subsequently been asked to remove some offensive content. This was a direct violation of the terms of the iPhone Developer Program. The application is no longer available on the App Store."

Many observers thought that the App Store flip-flops might end when iPhone OS 3.0 was released because Apple could utilize the new operating system's built-in parental controls.

Using parental controls you can block inappropriate content, including apps, movies and music from children.