Big Sky in the Big Apple

Apple has removed a 99-cent iPhone game known as “Baby Shaker” from its iTunes store after the idea behind it, calming down a crying baby with a vigorous shake, sparked an outrage. Based on the screen shots posted on some websites, once the user of the iPhone has finished shaking the device, the baby appears with large red X’s over its eyes.

The iTunes site describes the application as: “See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!” Organizations, such as the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, have condemned Apple for approving the game for its site.

The application was designed by Sikalosoft, and the company did not respond to comment requests, however the “Baby Shaker” was deleted from its website. The Apple spokesperson also wouldn’t comment on why they application was initially approved for sale. Apple screens each iPhone application, a process some developers have sounded off as taking weeks or months. Others have claimed that Apple offers little feedback when it accepts or rejects an application. Applications that allow users to throw virtual shoes at President George W. Bush or watch scenes from the “South Park” cartoon have been rejected in the past.