Eight $1,000 App Buyers Later, And Apple Pulls It
from the wrong-way dept
Two days ago we wrote about the "I Am Rich" iPhone application, which, for the staggering sum of $1,000, provided you with - get ready for it - a glowing red screen. Although it struck many as a complete waste of money, the application did not seem to be breaking any of the App Store rules and was upfront about its lack of utility. However, a vocal number of observers were shocked by what they saw as a dereliction of gatekeeper "duty" by Apple. Now, in response to the protests, Apple has removed the application without notifying or explaining to the developer why.But before Apple could do so, 8 willing buyers downloaded the app. In contrast to those calling it a joke or insult, it seems that the application had found a market - the developer netted $5,600 in only a couple hours. Although one reviewer claims to regret buying the app (he thought it was "a joke"), one wonders if Apple should be playing nanny to iPhone owners who make $1,000 jokes, only to regret it. The App Store has only been around for a couple of weeks and, of course, there are going to be kinks to work out. But without clear rules, developers and buyers are going to become increasingly disillusioned with the system. When Apple decided to make it a gated community, they created a false sense of security. And by attempting to recapture that security, they are only moving further from the winning approach - openness.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: apps, i am rich, iphone, openness
Companies: apple
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
And what do they do with those gems? You're not going to believe this, they wear them as trinkets!
And here's the best part, the price of the gems bear no relationship to their actual value. In fact people are willing to pay inflated prices to make themselves look better in the eyes of others, for some bizarre way I don't fully understand.
Now I would never buy a gem to wear as a trinket. But I would also never want to ban jewelry stores from selling them. As long as people are fully informed about what they're buying, and if there are no safety issues involved, I see no reason why anything should be banned.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
People are jealous?
I really don't get this, why are people up in arms about a stupid app that does nothing, and is upfront about it? The application devs did not deceive anyone, they did say that the app did nothing. If peopel want to throw their money away on trinkets, let them!
Apple should not be playing gate keeper for the apps.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Seven
http://www.audio-sandwich.com/
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Im digi-fabulous with my iBling!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Seven
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lets take a look at a buyer...
"DO NOT BUY THIS APP AND APPLE PLEASE REMOVE THIS FROM THE APP STORE...APPLE MUST MUST MUST START TO SCREEN THESE FAKE APPS AND RIDICULOUS SCAMS."
Yet he stated he did intentionally click Buy, the problem was his wife had enabled one-click buying (isn't that patented?) and bam! $1,000 gone. Too bad, if you don't REALLY want to own something, why would you click Buy on the store site? Even as a joke. And secondly, he claims its a "ridiculous scam" yet it clearly understood what it was, the cost, etc. He's just upset that he's been made a fool. Judging by his post on Gizmodo, he was a fool to begin with.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ironic...
Ironically, it is what gives it perceived value.
In a similar way as the cartel gives diamonds an artificial value, so does the iPhone environment.
In a snob way, with lots of extra money I could see at least some seeing the appeal. It isn't so much about value, but saying I can spend a thousand dollars on wall paper for my iPhone type of BS.
Besides if you are willing to pay twice as much for your laptop with lesser specs just because you have to have an Apple, then why wouldn't you be willing to spend a $999 on some pretty wall paper?
I think the real reason why Apple took it down was because they are going to have their own Apple version of the app and are just mad that they didn't think of it first. Hell, I can see Turtle Neck Wonder Boy showcasing it now at the next big Apple Event.
Freedom
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Bad Apps
No. Because they don't get in the way and, as the 8 buyers in a couple hours shows, obviously some people want them around.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Idiotic
Nothing, absolutely nothing is worse than hurt feelings. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names hurt worst of all.
I think this moron deserves a Darwin Award. And we need a new award for "Dimwit who ruins it for the rest of us." That's right, buddy. You are that guy. Enjoy the spotlight.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Well, at least 8 people found a reason for it to exist. You don't agree with their reason, I certainly do not agree with their reason, but I have yet to be given any basis to ban something merely because I don't like it.
And as to Apple's responsibility, only an Apple-fan would see a need to have the hardware he bought limited and protected against free choice. If you cannot trust yourself to protect your hardware, how in the frick can you trust a mindless corporation to do so?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Idiotic
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Iphone Auction?
so there are only 8 Iphones in the world that have that app legally that is.
i bet anything those phones will have an increase in market value.
think of it 8 ppl paid 1k USD in a few hours for a "cool" or what ever you want to call it app even though it wasn't a limited edition. Now that there are only 8 and there will never be more than 8....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Would a $500 screen saver with 256 colors have been ok?
Would $1500 pong be allowed?
To be fair, Apple has always controled their market, and for the most part, it has been to the benefit of their customers. We all know that if Apple decided to play "app police," most likely all the apps they ban would be worthless anyway.
While I agree that their definition of "open" is more like "iOpen," in the long run it's probably better for everyone if they police the app store and make sure that obvious crap doesn't clutter it up.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
This is just Stupid
I like my Iphone, but do not believe it to be the "one" or any other non-sense. It just works for the way I live today. I am very happy that Apple brought out the App. Store, though I would have thought they would want it out at the very beginning and I also do not agree with their limiting Applications to a Choosen Select Few.
I will say this is my only Apple product and most likely my last, as I believe that i should have the right to be in this case stupid (1000.00 dollar app that does nothing, piss off)or use Box Office or some other App that someone else thinks is offensive.
I mean think about it, they sell an App that allows you to play Texas Hold'em, that promotes Gamblnig and offends me, where is Apple at rescueing people from being pulled in to the den of Pollution that is Gambling (APPLE please read this as sarcasm and do not pull the game, or hell go right ahead)
All in all I have tried Apple, The Hardware was cool, the company, service, and software blows Ass.
Anybody need an Iphone? I am getting a Crack-berry or a Palm ...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Opportunities and better way of doing it
Secondly, there appears to be a market for such status symbols. But I wonder about apple's stance on "real" apps that could really enhance business operations. I know a company who is porting several Windows Mobile apps for Engineering firms. Because they are so specialized, existing apps cost tens-of-thousands of dollars.
If Apple wants to send a signal that they the platform isn't for business or uber-luxury by eliminating high-priced apps, thats the way to do it.
A better idea is to have a specialized area for high-priced apps. It could be "Apple Premier Apps" or something. When purchasing in "Apple Premier Apps" disable One-Click purchasing and also have a big red banner and flashing lights for any single purchase over $100, Add a 10-second timer to the confirm purchase button so people can have a moment to really think it over.
Don't play the gatekeeper. There's a line of thousands trying to get approved and their apps into the AppStore. It's already bureaucratic enough.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Seven
One-click.
More interesting is that five to seven people intentionally bought this. That surprised me, but now that I think about it I could see myself doing that if I was a hell of a lot wealthier. "Clever idea, kid. I LOLed. Here's a grand." Sort of a lower-rent version of tipping waitresses Cadillacs.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Where do I sign up?
No seriously where do I sign up?
DS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
price cap?
Nintendo does it with its downloadable game service WiiWare?
Or did they just think people would be reasonable? (which is always a dangerous assumption to make).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: price cap?
It's 999.99
[ link to this | view in thread ]
????
I bet they are going to hire that guy!! Look out here comes Jobs successor!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
NOT SPAM
thinking about this app. reminds me when the ifone first came out... "who the hell is going to pay 400 bucks for a phone"... oh yeah the same people who want a $1000 screen saver. Duh.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: People are jealous?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Taxes
I thought it was ridiculous when I first saw the story, and knew that there would be someone who bought it. If I would've spent any more time thinking about it, I would've realized that at least one of the people who bought it would proclaim their stupidity to the universe by jumping up and down and demanding (in public, no less) a full refund because Apple didn't protect him/her.
Oh well, $1000 is a small price to pay for a wake up lesson. I'll bet you click the YOU HAVE WON! banner ads, too, don't you?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Not that silly
Then, of course, there is the impact on the image. There are enough people out there who have never used a mac and still view (often vocally) macs as expensive restricted toys for snobs, without having bothered to check any price/specs data or understanding the value of having hardware and software coming from the same source. Apple does not need to give them ammunition by publishing such an app.
Again more clarity up front would have been much better, but correcting the mistake after the fact is not necessarily stupid.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
If you shop with an honest jeweler, you might realize that the margins in this particular luxury market are narrowing as jewelers try to keep costs down for thier customers.
You would also know that the term 'precious', as related to gemstones, is an antiquated and hasn't been used by professionals in years. Really, Fish, if you don't like gemstones, buy a clue instead.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Yeah, that's a great principle, Chris.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Honest Jeweler?
Not all jewelry is worthless; some has a lot of skill that goes into the handcrafting. But there's no real reason Diamonds should be worth anything more than cubic zircona. It's all just a game of pretend.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
It's not like it suddenly appears on your iPhone, dips into your bank account and slips out with a grand in its pocket.
You actually have to look for it! Then click on the darned thing to buy it!
And if two out of seven bought it by mistake I'm forced to wonder what else they bought "by mistake"!
ttfn
John
[ link to this | view in thread ]
???
In the case of a diamond and a cubic zirconia, the difference is that it takes sooooo much more time, experience, equipment, labor, and education to mine, cut, and sell a diamond that it does to mash a CZ together in a lab. That's not even including the various taxes and laws that you have to navigate in each country between the mine and the store.
I am incredibly tired of people talking about industries that they know nothing about and don't understand. It's like comparing the technology industry to the food industry. It's even worse than comparing apples and oranges, because at least apples and oranges are fruit. There are too many variables and differences to speak of. Y'all remind me of John McCain talking about the intricasies of the Internet's infrastructure. (Not that he has. But how he would sound if he tried, sans speechwriter.)
Oh, yeah, and your diamond is worth more on a world market than your dollar is, and it's not subject to much in the way of inflation. (Less than 20% in 14 years, from rap.) So just keep talking about the worthlessness of it while your dollar sinks into oblivion and you can't afford meat anymore.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
it's capitalism
What would really make me mad is if I spent my $1000 to get my status symbol, and someone else comes along and takes it back. I miss the days when you bought something, you could do whatever you wanted with it (for the most part)
[ link to this | view in thread ]