The controversy — and the rumors — are swirling around Apple again this week. In a reversal of last week, Apple approved the Eucalyptus application for the iPhone and iPod touch, an e-book reader that was rejected for giving users access to the Kama Sutra.
Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret, had predicted the rejection was an error and the application would be allowed into the App Store in short order — and he was right. Apple didn’t disclose the reason for its turnabout, but the application is now available.
“Earlier today I received a phone call from an Apple representative. He was very complimentary about Eucalyptus,” said developer James Montgomerie. “We talked about the confusion surrounding its App Store rejections, which I am happy to say is now fully resolved. He invited me to rebuild and submit a version of Eucalyptus with no filters for immediate approval, and that full version is now available on the iPhone App Store.”
Clashing with Cartier
In more App Store drama, watchmaker Cartier filed suit against Apple on Friday for trademark infringement — then withdrew the suit almost as fast. The suit alleged two applications built for the iPhone infringed on the luxury watch brand’s trademark for Tank watches.
This wasn’t the first complaint Apple has had on its App Store. Last month, the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, an organization dedicated to children suffering from brain injuries, announced a national demonstration against Apple and AT&T in 15 cities across the country because of the Baby Shaker game by Sikalosoft, which features a drawing of a crying baby.
The object of the game is to get the baby to stop crying. This is accomplished by shaking the iPhone until red X’s appear over the baby’s eyes. Several other App Store dramas have since unfolded.
Apple iPhone Rumors Abound
Beyond the controversies,…