What Were They Thinking!

Apple Inc. is apologizing for allowing a 99-cent iPhone game called “Baby Shaker” that let a player quiet a virtual crying infant by shaking the device.

Apple removed the program from the iPhone’s App Store on Wednesday, but critics pressed for an apology Thursday.

Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said Thursday that the game was “deeply offensive” and said it should not have been approved for sale.

“We sincerely apologize for this mistake,” Kerris said in a statement.

Apple approves the programs that outside software developers make available in the store. “Baby Shaker” came from a company called Sikalosoft, which has not commented.

The game asked players to see how long they could endure a baby’s cries and then shake the phone to stop the wailing.

So, let me see if I understand this. Apples approves a game for their new phone. Apple makes $.99 per application. Apple makes money off something so offensive and terrible. Then, people complain. And, Apple is sorry? Give me a break.

How could a company approve a game like baby shaker? Did no one at Apple see the danger in such a game? No one! What does that say about Apple?

Jailhouse Shuffle

Federal authorities in western Michigan say Apple Inc. was the victim of a real shuffle.

Prosecutors filed fraud and money laundering charges against a 23-year-old Kalamazoo-area man who is accused of acquiring more than 9,000 iPod Shuffle music players.

They say Nicholas Woodhams, through trial and error, entered serial numbers into Apple’s Web site to get replacements for supposedly defective iPods. The government says he turned around and sold thousands of newly acquired Shuffles for $49 each.

Woodhams repaired iPods and was aware of Apple’s warranty program.

His lawyer, Randall Levine, said Thursday Woodhams is cooperating and “negotiating a resolution” with prosecutors. A lawsuit filed last year by Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple is pending.

I’ve got a thought. Prosecutors shouldn’t be negotiating a resolution, they should be making sure their case is rock solid and be finding a jail cell just for him. Maybe they should be finding him prison jumpsuits in various colors, much like iPods come in.

That would be good justice.