When Apple Drew the Line: The Story of the “Send Me to Heaven” App

Several years ago, Apple made headlines for blocking what many considered one of the strangest and most controversial mobile apps ever created. The application, aptly named Send Me to Heaven, revolved around a single, risky concept: users were encouraged to throw their smartphones into the air as high as possible and catch them on the way down. The higher the phone flew, the higher the score.

Unlike traditional mobile games that rely on skill, strategy, or creativity on a touchscreen, Send Me to Heaven transformed the physical smartphone itself into the core of the gameplay. Using the phone’s accelerometer, the app measured the height of each throw and displayed a score based on how far the device traveled upward. In effect, players were gambling with gravity—and with the safety of their own phones.

Apple ultimately refused to allow the app on the App Store, citing concerns that it actively encouraged users to damage their devices or put themselves at risk. According to Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines, applications that promote dangerous behavior or physical harm are not permitted. In this case, the company determined that encouraging users to throw an expensive and fragile device into the air crossed that line.

The app’s creator later acknowledged that the project was partially an experiment in human behavior. He admitted that one of his goals was to see how many people would be willing to risk damaging costly smartphones purely for the sake of a high score and online bragging rights. This candid admission further reinforced Apple’s concerns about user safety and irresponsible design.

Interestingly, while Send Me to Heaven never appeared on Apple’s platform, it did launch on Android. There, the app gained a small but dedicated following and achieved cult status among thrill seekers who were less concerned about cracked screens or broken hardware. Videos circulated online showing users tossing phones from rooftops, staircases, and open fields, sometimes with disastrous results.

Technology analysts note that this case highlights a fundamental difference in platform philosophies. Apple has long positioned itself as a tightly controlled ecosystem that prioritizes user safety, brand reputation, and hardware protection. Google’s Android ecosystem, by contrast, has historically allowed greater freedom for developers and users, even when that freedom involves higher risk.

The Send Me to Heaven controversy also sparked broader discussions about ethical game design and the responsibility of app developers. Experts in digital ethics argue that while innovation should be encouraged, developers must consider the real-world consequences of their ideas—especially when those ideas blur the line between entertainment and physical danger.

Today, Send Me to Heaven is often remembered as a cautionary tale in mobile app history. It serves as a reminder that not every creative idea belongs in an app store, and that platform gatekeepers play a significant role in shaping how technology interacts with human behavior.

• Sources

  • Apple. App Store Review Guidelines – Safety and Physical Harm Policies.

  • BBC News. Apple Rejects App That Encourages Users to Throw Their iPhones.

  • The Guardian. Risky Apps and the Ethics of Mobile Game Design.

  • Wired. Why Apple Says No: Inside the App Store Approval Process.

  • Android Authority. The Most Bizarre Apps Ever Released on Android.