Why The "I Am Rich" App Was Brilliant

Yesterday, there was a lot of chatter about "I Am Rich," a $999 application for the iPhone that, in the words of most observers, "did nothing." Personally, I think it was brilliant.

First, the app didn't exactly "do nothing." It placed a bright jewel on the face of your phone. Is anyone accusing the Emerald Chronometer app of doing nothing when it simply places a watch face on the phone for $4.99? Or what about the apps that simply turn your screen white (some of which are pay apps, some free) to use it as a light? If you think of "I Am Rich" as a piece of digital art, it's actually a bargain. In a previous post, I mentioned the antique shop of the future will be quite different, as digital content can easily be copied, and has no value without a presence in the physical world. But here's an app that couldn't (easily) be copied, and would be constrained only to phones synced with the same computer.

For those who did buy the app, if anyone did, congratulations. I predict you will have something quite valuable in the years to come. Just look at the going price of prototype game cartridges from the 80's for some guidance on just how precious your seemingly "do nothing" app will be in the future. You may very well look back and thank Apple for pulling the application so shortly after its launch.

Molecules for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

Science geeks unite! It's time for a look at Molecules for the iPhone and iPod Touch:

Solar Quest iPhone Game Review

First, a programming note: You'll be seeing a lot of iPhone app reviews this month, but we haven't lost sight of the fact that we're an Apple site and not an iPhone site, so there'll be plenty of non-iPhone videos and commentary as well.

Now then...

When Solar Quest debuted on the iTunes App Store, it was an alluring, if frustrating title. While it looked great, there were issues with navigation buttons sticking, and that really ruined the game. A new version is out though, and along with button fixes, there's greater use of the accelerometer for gameplay. Let's see how the new Solar Quest stacks up:

Apple being Apple: Apps being pulled without explanation

First it was iPint. Now BoxOffice. Apps are disappearing from the iTunes App Store, with no explanation. Sure NetShare disappeared, presumably because it allowed you to tether your computer to the iPhone for internet access. Strangely, it's back in the store now.

I understand the need to remove applications from the App Store for a variety of reasons. Apple should be upfront about those reasons though. Should someone who previously downloaded Box Office be concerned about the safety of their data? Was there a security reason for the removal of the software? It's bad enough that the App Store serves as the only way to legitimately get software for your iPhone, but to not be upfront with customers about why applications have disappeared is shady, You know, the kind of thing Apple said could be avoided by funneling applications through iTunes, rather than having an open market for software.

Well so far, that's given us five different flashlight applications, multiple RSS readers, and a piece of software allowing users to violate the terms of their AT&T agreement by data tethering (no matter how much we may want it). What exactly is the bigger evil we're being protected from by the App Store? Is it the innovation of the jailbroken apps, like the ability to record video, or create/edit documents? A non-scientific study of people I know with jailbroken phones and those using the app store, shows a larger number of restarts and application crashes from the approved applications.

I think it's fair to say Apple has previously been perceived as taking its customers for granted. The way the MobileMe situation was ultimately handled gave hope that maybe, just maybe, Apple had learned it's lesson. Consumers expect companies to be up front with them. If you sell an application, and have to remove it for violating terms, say that. If you have to remove it because it could compromise customer data, then say that. Just pretending the app never existed, and giving no information to those who already own the application is wrong.

There's a side of Apple that makes me stand in awe and wonder at how incredibly innovative and creative the company can be. This is not that side. Be forthcoming with your customers, and they will be more all the more loyal.

Exclusive! Our review of Light

Just to show how dedicated we are to reviewing the iPhone applications that matter to you, we review Light. What's that? You say there couldn't possibly be anything to review about a program that turns your screen white? Pish posh!