Edible Apple

After being booted from the App Store for “lacking utility” and for presumably being too crude, the “pull my finger” application for the iPhone and iPod Touch is once again available for download. The application, which has a total of 18 different “high quality” fart sounds (and vibrates for realism!), was initially rejected by Apple in early September. Well, MacRumors is now reporting that Apple contacted the programs developer and informed him that his app was going to become available once again.

[Apple] told me that they are going to start approving a whole new “genre” of apps, and that Pull My Finger will be the first to be accepted in this genre. As of now Pull My Finger is available in the app store. The very kind Apple Team Member told me that they didn’t want to reject it originally, but that they were sorting out how this “genre” of apps were going to be handled. She told me they’d be lifting the restriction on them, and more apps will follow that may have been previously not allowed.

An interesting development. It seems that Apple, despite appearances of it taking an authoritarian approach to the App Store, is taking pains to ensure that the App Store grows organically. Keep in mind that the App Store, when you consider its scope, is something that’s never been done before. Ever since experiencing a public backlash with its MobileMe flop, Apple seems to have taken the approach of making sure everything is 110% ready to go before unleashing it into the wild. This approach has clearly been extended to the set up of the App Store as Apple wants it to grow on its own terms before it becomes it a jumbled mess. It also probably explains why Apple has been late in introducing push notifications.

“Pull My Finger” costs 99 cents and can be found on iTunes over here.

A demonstration video of the app can be seen below, and if you’re looking for options, don’t worry, ‘Pull My Finger’ has some competition – Check out the aptly titled iFart on iTunes over here.  iFart can be programmed to release fart sounds when the phone is moved from a stationary position, and at pre-determined times as well.  Sounds great if you’re up for some juvenile hijinks!