Is There Any Good Reason Why Apple Should Pull The $1000 iPhone App?
from the USSR dept
Someone has created a simple iPhone application called "I Am Rich" which sells for $999.99 and simply makes the screen grow ruby red and offers "a secret mantra." But more shocking than this apparent waste of bytes and money is a number of prominent blogs which are calling for Apple to block the application. This is ludicrous. If someone wants to part with a grand for a glowing screen, who is Apple to stop them? The application developer is honest and clearly states that there "is no hidden function." It is not malicious, pornographic, a bandwidth hog, illegal or a threat to privacy.And do these pro-regulation bloggers really want to have Apple assume the role of a Soviet ministry - designating appropriate prices for applications? Should Steve Jobs and company really determine the price of Super Monkey Ball? One commenter suggests that this application is an "insult to all the well-meaning developers that Apple made wait/are still waiting to get into the iPhone developer program." The problem of slow approval is not a single application, but the way in which Apple is playing gatekeeper to the iPhone. Again, these complaints are asking Apple to decide which applications should receive priority review and approval - a slippery slope which places arbitrary values on applications. And by advocating that Apple makes the iPhone a more closed system, these opponents of the "I Am Rich" application may in fact be pushing Apple away from a business model that succeeds - openness.
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Filed Under: apps, i am rich, iphone, openness
Companies: apple
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Riches
I am Rich, Gold Edition - $10,000.
I am Rich, Platinum Edition - $25,000.
I am Uber Rich - $100,000.
Sheik Who? Oh, the guy that shines my shoes, Rich - $1,000,000.
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Re: Riches
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New edition
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Re:Riches
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Prominent?
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Better than press releases
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Well...
I'm not sure what is meant by a "secret mantra", but this reminds me a lot of those idiots on ebay who, instead of selling you game consoles, sell you the information on how to acquire one of said consoles for dirt cheap or even for free. That is definitely a scam, and this sure smells like one too. I do think that Apple ultimately needs to get rid of it, but maybe not for the reasons the bloggers are preaching about. If it were me, I'd pull it because I would be trying to protect my customers from being ripped off.
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Re: Well...
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Re: Well...
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Re: Well...
obnoxious definetly, scam? no since "The application developer is honest and clearly states that there "is no hidden function." It is not malicious, pornographic, a bandwidth hog, illegal or a threat to privacy."
unless of course there are actually hidden malware type hidden function
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Re: Re: Well...
I concede that the chances of it from being a scam are slim, but the obnoxious part still stands. One could say that this is similar to city ordinances dictating certain rules about what you can and can't place on your lawn, because certain things would be an eyesore that could detract from the overall beauty of the neighborhood. Sometimes such rules are necessary for the good of all, but such power can be easily abused, especially when common sense is overlooked.
I personally think that Apple has every right to take it down if it TRULY is an eyesore, but they need to be very careful about it if they do, because just because they have the right doesn't mean it's a good idea. It could easily become a slippery slope that would lead to much nitpicking about the definitions of "offensive" and "eyesore" and so on. The last thing we need to do is start using Bill Clinton's legal defense strategy.
On a lighter note, here's an idea about improving the situation. Make a limited-time trial version available for like $10-20 or so. If the person feels he is richer after that, they can buy the full unlimited use version. Otherwise, they're only out the $10-20 for trying. I for one think that would make a person much more money than the $1000 price tag, because for that little bit of money, most people will try anything. That's why all these stupid TV commercial/infomercial products are so successful, even though they're nothing but cheap crap. As long as you don't have to pay too much, you don't feel too bad about getting ripped off.
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Re: Re: Re: Well...
If people actually pay for this, then I say fair play to the developer. If even 1 person buys it, it's a win.
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Re: Re: Re: Well...
Alternatively, the "I" could be for for the developer, who is now rich because you bought an app that took him a day to make for $1000.
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Re: Well...
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Re: Well...
Why does that matter? I mean... Ok, so it doesn't do anything; maybe you figure something like that, useless, should be free? So your only real complaint is that it's over-priced. Well, OK, so what, it's over-priced. don't buy over-priced merchandise. But that doesn't mean that Apple should can it. Should we stop selling CDs because $20 is more than the music's worth? (That's a rhetorical question.) If no one buys it, there's no harm done, and if someone does buy it... so what? They guy's clear about it not doing anything, so it's not like you can complain when it works as advertised. There is no harm here. It doesn't even take up shelf space the way physical merchandise does (which is why stores won't carry CDs sold at $200).
those idiots on ebay who, instead of selling you game consoles, sell you the information on how to acquire one of said consoles for dirt cheap or even for free. That is definitely a scam, and this sure smells like one too.
No, it's not. If they're deceitful in what they're selling then sure, I'd go with that -- but if you're just upset because someone's selling something (information) at a price you feel is inflated (greater than free) that doesn't mean they're doing anything wrong. That information is useful, and if people are willing to pay for it, so be it.
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First Class
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Re: First Class
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If there was message upon clicking it "You realize this is $999, not $9.99, right?" or and way to get a refund, I wouldn't have any problem with it.
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Re:
Although I guess I shouldn't attempt to underestimate John Q. Surfer's ability to misread clearly-printed prices.
I just wish I'd thought of it. ;)
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Re:
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Wait For Six Months
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Image
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Re: Image
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Re: Image
It makes iPhone buyers look like idiots who
waste their money and that's bad for Apple's
market image.
But they ARE idiots who waste their money!!!!
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Re: Re: Image
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Phone that cost more than $200
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Re: Image
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Gated Community
The people who visit and live in the gated community expect the gatekeepers to provide a certain amount of filtering.
Based on that, Apple has every reason to apologize to the residents for accidentally letting in a d!ck, then throwing him and his app out the door.
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Re: Gated Community
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Re: Gated Community
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Humph
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You seem to forget
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Re: You seem to forget
Rich people buy stupid shit to make sure you know they're rich.
Wealthy people sell those idiots that "I'm rich" shit.
The person who made the app, therefore, is wealthy. ;-)
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What the hell is "shocking" about people on the internet complaining about something that doesn't really concern them, yet are compelled to opine???
Isn't that 75% of what the internet is?
This blog entry is a pretty big snorfest.
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Re: Gated Community
Tel me, who else shouldn't be allowed into the gated community for the "protection" of its residents?
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Re: Re: Gated Community
In other words: no one.
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Re: Re: Re: Gated Community
Still, same point. No one's allowed in.
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Status Symbol
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Re: Status Symbol
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Yep
But as all status symbols are, eventually the free market will catch up and the general demographic of iPhone owners won't want it. Let the free market economics dictate supply/demand. Besides, adding more hoops to jump thru to an already inefficient "branded community" process is the opposite direction Apple should take. Those who disagree probably cant get a iPhone, or work for a competitor.
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Guys
Don't get mad at him because his clever trick worked. But again, its one of those things that will only work once, but I bet that won't stop a bunch of others from trying (sorta like the million dollar homepage).
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Kevin Donovan you are full of crap. I'd bet my next year's salary your blog entry would be screaming the exact opposite stance if were Apple selling this rip off instead of an independent developer. What company in their right mind would allow some con artist to rip off its customers through its own store front?
Caveat Emptor is a fine philosophy so long as you don't care about keeping your customers.
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Re:
So sell away, if you can actually sell any. Heck, even the name says there's something going on here as does the note about less expensive and far more useful apps that the developer wrote.
What Kevin is saying is that it's not up to Apple to be your mom.
Grow up!
ttfn
John
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how about a link
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If it doesn't break any rules, Apple has no place to pull the app - if they didn't want it there, they shouldn't have let it pass muster in the first place.
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Ultimate iPhone App for the super wealthy
[NOTE]
--------------------------------------
In order to read the text of this post, you must have a TechDirt Gold Account
To subscribe to TechDirt Gold, click here.
--------------------------------------
[Continued]
..and that feature is helpful for your pilot or entourage of chauffeurs so they can rest. Remember, the app is available as long as the 1928 House of Adet Seward Bordeaux is too, so order it soon.
In summary:
The power and ease-of-use of the application is incredible. Seeing a tornado come out of nowhere was indescribable, and having silk and gold-encrusted toilet tissue delivered by Jimmy Cater is something every wealthy person should experience at least once. This application can literally do anything. With great power comes great responsibility. Use this app with care.
Editor's Rating:
The XYZ iPhone application:
***** (Five Stars) Highly Recommend
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Re: Ultimate iPhone App for the super wealthy
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WTF?
I remember when my EX wife used to wonder why I would EVER play a stupid game like Duke Nukem. Who are YOU to say what is stupid or not? I build it, you buy it, sold.
God Bless America! haha ;)
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It's taken down
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Lets just have a sense of humor about it...
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good one!
This does prove one thing... people really are getting stupider and stupider as time goes on.
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Ur?
Hyperbole much?
I think the point is this: In light of the fact that Apple has a screening policy, it's kind of ridiculous that Apple greenlighted this particular app. If the company had an open platform, then obviously there'd be no justification from blocking this app.
If you want to argue that Apple shouldn't use a screening method for its app store -- a reasonable argument perhaps -- then that's a separate story.
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Re: Ur?
I Am Rich is none of those. A closed system needs clear rules and Apple cannot be creating them on the fly - developers will flee.
And even if they made a rule that would ban I Am Rich, what would it be? You cannot charge more than we say? That is price control and we certainly don't want that.
(And forgive the hyperbole; I felt it was fitting.)
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Re: Re: Ur?
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Re: Re: Re: Ur?
You think Apple should be making that decision? What's wrong with individuals deciding for themselves whether the price is appropriate or not?
What is the *quality* problem here anyway? The product works just fine, and it should be up to the buyers to decide if it's worth buying or not.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Ur?
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Is it possible iPhones are for idiots
Since the iPhones main market appears to be "attack-jocks", "rappers" and "celeb-utaunts", this application would appear to be exactly the type of thing that will accentuate thier solid gold bentleys and other extravengant "idiot bait" merchandise they love to flaunt.
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I call it iBling
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Don't make me laugh
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