Say goodbye to T&A at the Apple App Store. Apple has decided not to make the same mistake Adam did and will forgo the earning potential of scantily clad ladies.

This decision should give Google’s Android an initial boost, as developers of more racy apps, no doubt, rush to Android Market to recoup their losses. Why is Apple being such a prude?

Even before the iPad was announced, The Wall Street Journal was reporting that Apple intended the new product to be “shared by multiple family members to read news and check email in homes.” That would be a bit awkward if a stray swipe of the finger unleashed a striptease.

A similar consideration involves the text book market. Apple sees huge potential in eliminating the weight, both physical and financial, that students have to bear.

Clearly Apple doesn’t want to contaminate its brand image and risk alienating families with a slew of cheap thrill apps.

Still, the policy is being applied in confusing fashion. When asked by The New York Times why an application tied to Sports Illustrated‘s swimsuit issue remained, Philip W. Schiller, head of worldwide product marketing at Apple, said: “The difference is this is a well-known company with previously published material available broadly in a well-accepted format.” He didn’t say why Playboy apps were still available at the App Store. It’s already kicking up a fuss there where one user wrote today:

Shame on you for providing us with such a dirty disgusting thing such as sexy women while protecting us from the others by removing them. Thank you for making sure all the guns and violent ones are still in.

For geeky advertisers, word of warning: sex no longer sells as you ponder your Apple apps. This could mean you, Pepsi. But apparently, shoot-’em-up themes are still fair play.