Apple approved and then hastily pulled an Nintendo emulator from its App store yesterday. Nescaline, which cost $5 in the App Store, could play any valid .NES image file, including so-called "homebrew" games. You could tap on objects to simulate firing upon them with the Light Gun; you could use a multitouch virtual controller; you could enter Game Genie cheat code, all the good stuff.

However after approving the App, Jobs Mob decided that it was too evil to be in the store. According to developer Jonathan Zdziarski's blog, Apple initially removed the app without explanation. Zdziarski said that an Apple rep did call him today, indicating that "Nescaline was removed because it was an emulator."

However the iPhone store flogs several emulators which means that the story is really what we in the print trade call "spin" and what your mother might call a lie. Zdziarski's attempts to get Nescaline made available have been treated by Apple in the same way that Oliver Twist was when he asked for more food.

Apple has also refused to talk about it to the press.