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March 04 2010
Apple Removes Top App in Japan: Sekai Camera
It has been reported by Japanese tech media outlets Impress and CNet Japan that Apple has removed top downloaded app Sekai Camera and several other applications from the iTunes App Store.
Sekai Camera, created by TonchiDot, was one of the first AR (Augmented Reality) apps available for the iPhone and quickly gained popularity not only in Japan, but abroad as well. The application makes us of Place Engine, a service similar to Skyhook Wireless that uses know wi-fi hotspot signals to enhance GPS location readings. Yahoo!地図 published by Yahoo Japan and a number of applications released by Koozyt, another application developer using PlaceEngine have also been pulled.
TonchiDot CEO Takahito Iguchi has responded by confirming the removal was due to the Apple App review process and that an update to the software will be released soon.
At this time it is unclear if PlaceEngine is indeed the reason that these apps were pulled, and why the system may be a problem for Apple. We will continue to monitor and post updates as they are made public.
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Updated: 4.3.10 21:20 Added Yahoo!地図 app removal.
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