Before Apple's apology was released, Enderle said Apple should apologize for posting Baby Shaker if indeed it was a mistake. "Ultimately removing the application implies it was a mistake to post it," he said.

On the other hand, Enderle said that if Apple posted the application out of some sense that it represented free speech, "then they need to explain that."

Enderle and others said Apple is probably no different than other companies that want to set up application stores, including Blackberry maker Research In Motion Ltd. and Microsoft Corp. The issue of violent content in computer games has also been around a long while and won't go away quickly, he noted.

If Apple and other companies want to avoid more government oversight, they need to explain their actions, Enderle said. "When they hurt groups whose goal is to protect children, it's just good in general to apologize,"he said. "Really, it was very insensitive."

He add that he is personally unconvinced that government needs to step in to regulate violent and offensive content sold in application stores. "That could do more damage than good," he noted.