(Thumbnail image: Gizmodo)

Software giant Apple is cleaning up its act…or more so its apps.

Apple recently pulled more than 5,000 apps from its popular iTunes store for “overtly sexual content,” despite showing no actual nudity.

We’re getting reactions from PC World, G4TV, Gizmodo, and TechCrunch.

Apple finds itself under the scrutiny of developers and consumers unhappy with the new policy.

The co-founder of Suicide Girls, who had an app banned, tells G4TV about Apple pulling the app after more than 5 million downloads. 

Kevin Pereira: "I mean, this app was approved by Apple right? They saw the content, clearly someone flipped it upside down to make sure it worked and said alright let's approve this, and now they pulled it. Did they give you a courtesy phone call or a text message or what’d they do?”

Missy Suicide: “They sent an e-mail, that was like a form e-mail that they sent to us, and I assume the 5,000 other apps that they pulled for sexually explicit content..."

In an interview with The New York Times, Apple's head of worldwide marketing--Phillip Schiller--says the company got complaints from women and parents who thought the content was degrading and inappropriate. 

But a writer for Gizmodo cries foul.

"As those women ignore the existence of parental controls, Schiller continues to explain that Apple 'obviously care[s] about developers, but in the end ha[s] to put the needs of the kids and parents first.' Somehow that's supposed to help us understand why Sports Illustrated's and FHM's apps remain in the App store."

A writer for PC World calls Apple's decision smart. He ties this to the large number of parents who buy the iPod touch for their children. 

"The impression that Apple condones adult-themed material finding its way into kids' hands would no doubt hurt iPod Touch sales, and ultimately impact its iPhone and App Store business too."

But a TechCrunch piece says the ban is pointless, because Apple is already providing users with access to adult content.

“Each iPhone and iPod touch has a web browser that is more than capable of accessing any site on the web with a few clicks. This includes sites with hardcore pornography, or anything else a teenage kid can dream up.”

So what do you think? Is Apple making the right move by banning these apps?

Writer: 

Producer: Nathan Giannini