You’ve probably heard about it by now: a few days ago, app developer Armin Heinrich released a $999.99 app that does nothing more than display a shiny icon on your iPod touch or iPhone. Fittingly listed as a “Lifestyle” app, “I am Rich” was perhaps the lamest status symbol imaginable, but at least it didn’t pretend to be anything else.
Amid cries of “scam!” “ripoff!” and “I can’t believe Apple would allow this to be sold on their app store!”, the “I am Rich” app has been quietly pulled. No one is sure whether Apple pulled it, or if it was axed by Heinrich himself. John Gruber at Daring Fireball makes the point that the developer is responsible for refund fees, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Heinrich pulled the plug.
I’m hoping that was the case, because I don’t think Apple has any legitimate grounds on yanking it. It doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. It’s not a scam, because it’s up front with the fact that it is “a work of art with no hidden function at all”. If someone with buckets of cash to burn can blow $50,000 on a watch, why not $1000 on an app?
The main question on people’s minds is probably “who on earth actually bought this $999.99 screen saver?” Well it looks like this poor bloke did, and he’s not the least bit happy about it.
What is iclick and why would anyone install something that automatically accepts dialogs meant to verify that you want to spend $1000 on this?
That idiot deserves it. Why play around with $1000? Idiot.
I do think Apple is right in taking the app down. (Although it would be been better for everyone if they didn't approve it in the first place). While the app may not be going against any rules, Apple still holds responsibility to keep the store clean of all the mess. Sure they haven't decided on which is the best flashlight app, but those are still useful and free. This one is a big mistake.
It's art, the app should stay. Shame on people for blaming Apple and the author for their own stupidity and carelesness!
Oh I shot myself in the toe! Let me blame the shop and the gun makers!
Please...
I fully agree.
Why pulling it out?
Why naming it as scam?
There was NO promise at all... If you were "exotic" enough or stupid enough to buy a $1k JPEG, it's none fault but yours.
The author was ingenious and if he made some dough, good for him.
I fully agree.
Why pulling it out?
Why naming it as scam?
There was NO promise at all... If you were "exotic" enough or stupid enough to buy a $1k JPEG, it's none fault but yours.
The author was ingenious and if he made some dough, good for him.
Now that poor sap needs to spend 99 cents for a new app...the "I am Poor" app.
the idiot should be charged a "restocking fee" to return the app. 30% sounds about right to me.
Apple should have let the marketplace decide whether this app should stay or go. The only reason I can think of to pull it is that it doesn't fit in with some image that Apple wants to project, in which case it shouldn't have been allowed in the first place. To pull it is just an act of lameness.
@A Gordon: That one should be free, no?
Don't assume that only this guy bought it. What if there were others we don't know about? I bet there are more and I bet the author took his money, shut down the app, and went to Cabo.
This is not art. It is a kind of SPAM. It isn't that harmful by itself, but if you let this kind of junk grow it becomes a problem.
Out of a million people, there will be a few people who mistakenly click on it. This is not clever; stuff like this just clutters the space and dilutes value of the App Store.
The author may have taken it down, but Apple may have to protect its one-click purchasing (oops, Amazon patent) ahem, iclick. It is easier to dismiss someone who misspent $0.99 on an iToon than hundreds on an app.
Anything that has the potential to take down iclick by practice or public outcry has to be squelched quickly. It's all about the throughput, baby.
Caveat Clickor!