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The blogosphere began buzzing Thursday when "The Hottest Girls," the Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) App Store's first iPhone app featuring nude women, suddenly became unavailable hours after it had won Apple's approval.
Initial speculation was that Apple had finally decided to pull it for being too risqué. However, the app's developer, who styles himself AllentheGeek, said the app had simply been "sold out."
About 'The Hottest Girls'
The "Hottest Girls" app initially featured only scantily clad women.
It was updated to feature nude women, and Apple apparently approved it because the iPhone 3.0 software includes age-verification controls.
Released May 6, the "The Hottest Girls" took a month to become the leading bikini girl application in the App Store, according to AllentheGeek's blog. It's competitors presumably include wares such as "Bikini Blast," "Sexy Bikini" and the non-superlative "Hot Girls."
"The Hottest Girls app is temporarily sold out," the developer writes. "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."
AllentheGeek promised to continue offering topless images in the app when it is put on sale again.
Stranger Than Fiction?
Here's the problem: A digitally downloaded file cannot be "sold out" -- the original file remains on the server until it is deleted or access to it is blocked. The only thing actually sold are copies of the file, any number of which can be made. So, the only thing about AllentheGeek's explanation that might make sense is his statement that his servers are being overloaded.
However, since "The Hottest Girls" was sold through the App Store, wouldn't the file be stored on Apple's servers rather than those operated by AllentheGeek? Is the subset of iPhone users who desire a special app for viewing nude women large enough that demand would topple the servers of a major tech corporation?
AllentheGeek had not responded to requests for comment by publication time.
Apple's Strange Approval Process
There's reason behind the speculation about the "Hottest Girls" app being unavailable and the possibility that Apple was the one to make it disappear. The company has a history of pulling or not approving apps it considers risqué.
In May, Apple rejected an update to an app from the band Nine Inch Nails, kicking off a firestorm of criticism from band frontman Trent Reznor, who likened Apple to Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).
Later that month, it rejected the Eucalyptus e-reader from James Montgomerie on the grounds that the app's ability to download a version of the Kama Sutra meant it contained inappropriate sexual content.
Apple has banned an app for the popular cartoon "South Park" for inappropriate language, even though the show's episodes are available in the iTunes store.
On the other hand, it initially approved the notorious "Baby Shaker" app, triggering strong criticism from all quarters.
Making Strategic Retreats
Apple is also known for reversing its decisions.
After Montgomerie pressed his case, the company decided to accept his Eucalyptus e-reader, for example. After being raked over the coals for approving "Baby Shaker," it tossed the app and apologized publicly. Nine Inch Nails was eventually permitted to issue its update.
"This is long been a problem for Apple," Yankee Group analyst Josh Martin told MacNewsWorld.
"When you have someone making a judgment call, some apps will get approved and others will get pulled."
Not Pure as the Driven Snow
Although "The Hottest Girls" is the only app showing nudity in the App Store, several other sexy apps are available.
These include Bikini Blast from Florida firm Smartphones Technologies; "The Sexy Ladies of SHOW," featuring scantily clad women from the pages of SHOW magazine; and "Hooters Calendar Girls Crazy Eights" from Oasys Mobile.
A search by the term "Hottest Girls" on the iTunes Store site turned up 16 results.
They include music ("Women of the Web" by G4; and "Sweat, Boots and Booty Shorts" by Tony J. World Enterprises) as well as podcasts ("SomaGirlsTV: Sexy" by SomaGirlsTV and "Shadow Dancers Nightlife" by GCG).
iTunes also rents and sells uncensored versions of mainstream motion pictures, some of which fall squarely into R-rated territory.
When it comes to apps, Apple can afford to carry off-color wares because they are not its own products, said Laura DiDio, principal at ITIC.
"If you're Apple, you're smart enough to separate yourself from the porn app," she told MacNewsWorld. "They won't be the purveyor of these apps, but the apps will run on the iPhone."
Success Hurts
The consistency problems Apple is having with its App Store are a product of the iPhone's success 
, the Yankee Group's Martin said.
"There are, what, 50,000 apps in the App Store, and if you have a few people doing the approvals, there's going to be a lot of gray areas," he pointed out.
"Apple's a victim of its own success."
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