$999.99 "I Am Rich" pulled from iPhone App Store
Armin Heinrich's "I Am Rich" iPhone application was contentious, to say the least. For a penny shy of $1000, the app itself did nothing but display a glowing red garnet... an apt metaphor, some might say, for the molten hemhorroid pustulently throbbing on the ass of the App Store. Armin Heinrich immediately became synonymous with App Store scammer: a programmer trying to scam his way into some easy money by making available an app that would only ever be purchased by the occasional accidental clicker or megalomaniacal Dubai oil baron. But the bigger question was this: what kind of approval process does Apple have if apps like this get through?
Well, it's been pulled now. Heinrich claims to have "no idea" why, but swears that he got enthusiastic reviews from all eight of his customers. Six Americans, one German and one Frenchman bought "I Am Rich" in the first 24 hours. Taking out Apple's cut, that means that Heinrich earned $5,600 in a day.
Heinrich hasn't received a check from Apple yet, though, even though Apple is supposed to send checks out to developers at the end of the month. He's understandably concerned that all of his programming seconds might go unrewarded: how does an App being pulled influence the payment process? Apple will have lawsuits on its hands if it doesn't pay out, but keeping the money is just as problematic: if Apple really feels that this program was inappropriate but keeps the money anyway, it's profited by $2,400 on its own slipshod approval process.
Seems to me that Apple should probably be refunding the money to customers, and then paying the developer out of its own pocket. Approving an application for the App Store is the same as condoning it: no matter what you think of Heinrich's program, it worked as transparently advertised. And hey, according to Heinrich, it even includes a "secret mantra!"
Apple removes $1,000 featureless iPhone application [LA Times]
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How is an application that does exactly what it says a scam? Is jewelry a scam? Are designer fashions a scam?
You're simply jealous because you couldn't afford it.
One of the eight customers, I presume?
Hint: I can afford it. Unfortunately, I don't fall under the other requisite category for buying it: I'm not a buffoon.
Maybe the App store was overseen by some ex-programming type who had worked his way up to management, unworldly apart from a great knowledge of hex editing tools. Anyway, they should pay everybody back who brought the app, even if that sets a precedent about stupid people and their money.
Here's the thing:
Barring copyright infringement, someone could just create a free-app with that image. It's a very dumb distinction - images on the Internet are easily pirated.
Whereas it's pretty easy to spot a fake designer handbag from a mile away.
Pretty sure there will be many people with this icon on their iPhone by the end of the year, laughing to themselves because they didn't pay for it. It will be the latest Interwubb meme.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scam: Fraudulent deal. Business plan intended to defraud.
I see no intent to defraud in this app, it does what it says it does. Let people spend their money how they see fit, yay capitalism.
Heinrich deserves the money for sheer chutzpah.
Hey, can't Apple just go and remotely wipe these things off of folks' iPhone?
I totally quote 0xdeadbeef:
Is jewelry a scam? Are 10.000$ designers plastic bags a scam?! Useless designer goods are a scam?
I think the programmer/designer of this application is on the right way for digital status symbol and just applied the Apple philosophy to bits and not atoms...
My question is about accidental purchase. The price is clearly listed and authorization is required to make purchase.
I think it's a bit of art actually. The iphone itself is something of a status symbol to many (though I'm sure it will be less so as they become more ubiquitous) and this just ups the ante. You buy a private plane, I buy an Airbus.
I'm perfectly happy with my phone that just makes calls.
Unrelated to the app itself, but everything around it: I've been told (but haven't verified for myself) that the contract Apple has developers agree to says that if Apple is unable to collect the money for the application, the developer is still responsible for paying Apple's 30% tithe.
If true, and if any of the people who paid for it get a charge-back from their credit card company... this could be an unpleasant thing for the developer. (Who, of course, is hopefully aware of that clause.)
One person who did buy it, only did so to be the one to say they would crack it and put it up to be downloaded by everyone, but its the one application that people would prefer to say they pirated, as opposed to bought legally.
Heinrich wasn't scamming at all. If you're dumb enough to buy an app that does nothing (exactly as advertised) for $999, you deserve what you get.
They really should have waited until someone bought it and then tried to get a refund from Apple because they were drunk at the time. It's always a treat when the entire internet laughs at someone.
There are plenty of swindles in the world that target the poorer segments of The Great Stupid (lottery scratch tickets come easily to mind here). Now comes something that aims at the upper crust of The Duh, and Apple takes it off. That's just not sporting.
Didn't some philosopher say that the rich have just as much right as the poor to be gullible morons? No? Well he should have.
Seriously, why is this a "scam"? I would not buy one but thought it was pretty funny and I'm glad Apple had room for it. Too bad they pulled it.
Wonder if this has anything to do with it being pulled:
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=1637
you get what you pay for. literally.
I have no pity. Don't buy things you don't want. If you can't restrain yourself from clicking on things, perhaps you shouldn't be running iClick in the first place.
This is, to me, typical of us westerners. Blame someone else for your own folly and do everything possible to avoid learning anything.
As others has pointed out before me: This application do exactly what it says: It shows others that you are an idiot with too much money.
The only ones dumber, are iPhone owners that chooses to install a cracked version of the program since it only tells others that you are also an idiot - just without the cash.
Personally, I think Heinrich's a genius, and I don't see any ethical problems with fleecing the dumb and wealthy anyway. I would charge way more.
Armin Heinrich is my hero for today. Just brilliant!
As for the poor (pun intended) sap who bought the App as a joke, as linked above and here again, we'll they just are not thinking with the same frame of mind as my new hero Armin.
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=1637
Now that the App has been pulled and the story is all over the web, why not just accept what is and install the App on the phone.
I mean with only 8 purhcases of the App, should be able to sell the phone on Ebay for a pretty penny and get the $999.99 back (and perhaps even more).
Hello!
just wanted to install an app on my iphone, and instead of getting the app i wanted i got the "I am rich" app.Happy i didnt pay 999 dollars for it=)