iKill

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has confirmed that the iPhone 3G has a kill switch that can remotely remove software from the devices. Does everybody still love their precious Apple?

Jobs told The Wall Street Journal that Apple needs the capability in case it inadvertently allows a malicious program -- such as an application that steals user's personal data -- to be distributed to iPhones through its App Store. "Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull," Jobs said. Thanks, Big Brother! Next up, explosive collars, in case the government needs to put you out of your misery when you get a summer cold.

Jobs' statement reveals Apple hasn't used the kill switch yet, but the company did remove an application from the App Store last week - the $999 "I Am A Dick" "I Am Rich" application, which had the sole purpose of showing people the owner is an obnoxious prick has money. Apple initially approved the application, which bumps up against the pricing limit for applications sold on its App Store, but the company made no comment on why it decided to pull the plug.

I Am Rich isn't the only app to disappear. BoxOffice (renamed to Now Playing) and NetShare were also removed. But removing the applications from the App Store and removing them from a consumer's iPhone are two different issues.

"The kill switch is a very controlling gesture. I am not sure why Apple didn't disclose it up front as simply a security measure," said an analyst at Current Analysis. "Consumers will accept an awful lot if you let them know what they are accepting." And now the obvious question is, what else is Apple hiding?

UPDATE: There was a fire early Wednesday morning at the Apple headquarters...coincidence?