5 smartphone apps banned by Google

When it comes to mobile apps, Apple is the company that usually bans stuff. Meanwhile, Google is known to have a much more open approach to its Android OS and the applications that get submitted for it. Does that mean that Google hasn't banned any apps for its platform, though? Nope. Probably not as strict as Apple, Google has also issued its fair share of bans on some more or less controversial applications. Here are 5 of the more interesting apps that have been smitten by El Goog's secret ban hammer!Here are 5 of the more interesting apps that have been smitten by El Goog's secret ban hammer!

1. PSX4droid

Isn't it sad? Our phones now have enough horsepower to run real 3D console games, but Google has decided that the Play Store isn't a place for console emulators. Well, they may be right, but that doesn't mean that we can't get PSX4droid some other way. Ha! Though, when you think about it, we should probably just keep our memories and let go of the past. 

2. Rush Poker

Only because a service is legally available online doesn't mean that it should be present in the Play Store. Google's decision to remove Rush Poker from its Android storefront will surely not stop people who like to gamble from doing so, but at least Google isn't going to be helping them in any way. But is it because they don't want us to lose money or because they don't want us to get too rich? That is the question!

3. Siri for Android

Don't ask us what's wrong with having Siri on Android, because we don't know! OK, so Google may not really be in the mood of promoting services found on competing operating systems, but does that give them the right to take our freedom of choice? Apparently, it does.

4. Adblock Plus

Adblock Plus was just one of the ad-blocking solutions that recently got smitten by El Goog's ban hammer. It turns out that while we can do whatever we want in the Windows environment (because Microsoft doesn't make its money through advertising), Android is a whole different thing. This is Google's own playground, and since Google runs the place, this means we can't just block those annoying ads. 

5. Is My Son Gay?

OK, OK, this here is our absolute favorite when it comes to banned apps. "Is My Son Gay?" - the title pretty much says it all! It is hilarious! Just look at the worried look on that mother's face! The app let's you do a test, asking you if you've noticed any suspicious behavior by your son lately, which doesn't seem to be anything against the rules, right? Well, it turns out that some advocacy groups have started pressuring Google to remove the app, and finally, that masterpiece had been taken down. And just how are those mothers supposed to find out if their sons are gay now, Google? Can't you see what you've done?!