Risque apps: Apple gets tough

APPLE has begun removing risque iPhone and iPod Touch applications from its online App Store, including some which had previously been approved for sale, according to reports.

Technology blog TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal said the new policy towards adult-themed contents had resulted, for example, in the deletion of applications featuring bikini models.

TechCrunch said Apple had begun notifying application developers earlier this week that apps with “overtly sexual content” were being removed.

The journal said the move appeared to be part of an effort by Apple to clean up the App Store ahead of the shipping late next month of its new iPad tablet computer.