An Easy Litmus Test For App Store Approval

image from Geekanoids.co.ukApple found itself in an awkward position last week, as it removed a baby shaking app from the app store. Truth be told, there are other apps that mimic or derive fun from illegal or immoral acts on the store . And as you may have noticed, the usefulness of many of the apps is in doubt as well.

I have a humble solution to these problems, but don't expect it to be implemented anytime soon. There's a simple way to clear up the murky greys of the app store: Apple should simply ask themselves, if this app was made for the Mac, would we sell it in the retail store?

Overnight, the number of apps would significantly decrease (hence why it won't happen) but the faith in the apps as being worthwhile would skyrocket. I believe we could easily get down to say, 2,000 apps without any real loss.

Perhaps Apple could consider this test as the bar for the occasionally rumored premium apps store/section.

Any Future for Clickwheel Apps?

The graph says it all. With less than 50 total apps (almost all games) for the clickwheel iPods, while the app store just reached a billion downloads of over 28,000 different apps, you have to wonder if there's a future for clickwheel apps/games. Sure, it can be more difficult to write programs for the clickwheels; after all there's no readily available SDK for potential developers. It looks like that's just the way Apple wants it. There are millions of clickwheel iPods out there, but Apple's App Store works as a revenue engine that helps sell the newer, hipper, iPod Touch and iPhone.

Maybe some of those crafty people creating apps for the iPhone outside of the approved app store could find a lucrative market for clickwheel apps and games...

Would You Pay For AIM On The iPhone? AOL Hopes So

When AOL's AIM (Instant Messenger) client was released for the iPhone, it was hailed as one of the missing links to making the iPhone complete. Personally, I could take or leave AIM. It turns out AOL added, with not nearly as much fanfare, a $2.99 version of AIM for the iPhone. It doesn't have any functionality difference from the free app; it simply removes ads from the app.

Whether its a good thing or not, it up to you decide. Is there any other platform that has a pay version of AIM? Is it better or worse that there's no functional difference between the two versions?

Night Stand for iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

When is a pretty face more than just a pretty face? Or in this case, is a pretty face enough? Night Stand offers a classy assortment of alarm clock eye candy to replace the built-in alarm functionality. But is that enough to justify its $1.99 price point? Well, that's in the eye of the beholder, but for most, the answer is probably no. The look of these faces, especially the default blue LCD is great. And if you have a set of docking speakers, having Night Stand on your iPhone will help class up the joint. 

However, there are only four of those classy looks to choose from. Maybe we could cut them more slack on the price with more included alarm faces. Also kudos on the refreshing new alarm sounds as well. If you're a stylish sleeper, and $1.99 won't keep you up at night, then give it a shot.

VH1 Would Really Appreciate It If You Gave Them 99 Cents

I know the economy is tough, and that means it's tough for everyone, even the media giants like MTV Networks. I still don't think that justifies the $0.99. VH1 is asking for their "Watch and Discuss" Live Chat app. The app gives you the ability to know when your favorite VH1 show will be on (how else would you know!?) and the ability to talk to strangers about what's happening on the show as you watch it. Did I mention that this isn't free?

A few things. First, not all the shows air at the same time on VH-1 for all viewers, which limits the number of people who could potentially use it. Secondly, VH1 has done little to promote the service, so there's relatively few people to chat with (look at the review comments for the app). And finally, there's the little annoying detail that chat rooms are dead. OK, maybe for some blockbuster shows that get liveblogged on fansites this could work, but it would have to come from those sites, and not from the corporate parent. While I wouldn't mind paying a buck to support my favorite fan site, I'm not giving an extra dollar the conglomerate super-company.

Make it free, and we'll talk. Or better yet, "discuss."