Reznor takes bite out of Apple
Nine Inch Nails mainman Trent Reznor has slammed the people behind the Apple iPhone App Store for refusing to approve an upgrade to the NIN Access app - because of a naughty word which is allowed on iTunes.
The first version of the app contains NIN news, music, videos, images, wallpaper, messaging, forums and even the facility to identify nearby fans using the iPhone's GPS services.
All apps have to be approved by Apple before being made available on the App Store, which is part of iTunes. When an NIN Access update was submitted recently, it was refused due to the title of the track The Downward F*****g Spiral, which Apple said contained "objectionable content".
But the track itself can be downloaded from iTunes, since the music part of the sale site has different standards.
Reznor says: ""It's a matter of consistency and hypocrisy. Wal-Mart went on a rampage years ago insisting all music they carry be censored of all profanity and clean versions be made for them. Bands including NIRVANA tripped over themselves to meet Wal-Mart's standards of decency - because Wal-Mart sells a lot of records.
"NIN refused. My reasoning was this: I can understand if you want the moral posturing of not having indecent material for sale. But you could literally turn around 180 degrees from where the NIN record would be and purchase the film Scarface completely uncensored, or buy a copy of Grand Theft Auto where you can be rewarded for beating up prostitutes. How does that make sense?
"You can buy The Downward F*****g Spiral on iTunes, but you can't allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it. Hey, Apple, I just got some spam about f*****g hot teens through your Mail program! Come on, Apple, think your policies ."
Meanwhile Reznor and girlfriend Mariqueen Maandig just got engaged. Maandig plays in the band West Indian Girl. And in related relationship news, the White Stripes Meg White is said to have got engaged to Jackson Smith, son of MC5's Fred Smith and Patti Smith.
Reznore: execs don't get the net
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