8 People Purchased $1000 App

Edward Kirk · August 8th, 2008, 12:41 AM

Remember that dumb little iPhone app that was asking poor saps to shell out $1000 for a picture of a ruby? (I know, how could we forget that.) When I first saw that app, one of the first things that went through my head was wondering who would be dumb enough to buy it. The second thing was the hope that nobody would be unfortunate enough to click on that buy button by mistake. Since then, it was removed, but not before a whole 8 people "purchased" it.

Six people from the US, one in Germany and one in France each purchased the app, all in the first 24 hours it was available on the App Store. One of them explained to The Register that he and his friends clicked the buy button expecting it to be a practical joke. He knew he was sorely mistaken when he saw the $1000 charge to his Visa, and warned others away from the app in an iTunes review:

"THIS IS NO JOKE," he says. "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."

It's difficult to tell which is worse, the fact that people actually gave money for it or that Armin Heinrich, it's developer, still believes that he did nothing wrong. "I have no idea why they did it and am not aware of any violation of the rules to sell software on the App Store," Heinrich said in an e-mail.

"I am sure a lot more people would like to buy it -- but currently can't do so," Heinrich said. "The App is a work of Art and included a 'secret mantra' -- that's all."

It's surprising that Apple even let him get as far as he did.

[via Los Angeles Times]

**I dont' see the problem** - August 8th, 2008, 05:27 AM #2

a grand (especially in dollars) isn't that much to some people. People love a tryer and it was a faily unique idea.

cmgallacher · August 8th, 2008, 08:57 AM #3

I wish I had that kind of money to spend on a stupid app like that.

**i am rich** - August 8th, 2008, 09:34 AM #4

clearly if the price had been something else, say $800 o something it would have been alot more transparent.. but if you price it at $999 you are clearly trying to cheat the public into thinking it's one of the hundred apps priced at $9.99 or even $.99 .. those decimals are hard to see on the iphone screen!!

**By the way** - August 8th, 2008, 09:35 AM #5

The a**ho*e who made this app was even so lazy to stretch the original photo in order to fit it onto the iPhone screen. In original, the image is square, with a full quintangle for a "gem". Lazy a88, if you ask me. He deserved to have it removed, i hope he gets sued by those who were duped into buying this scam.

dark_coupon · August 8th, 2008, 02:33 PM #6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

a grand (especially in dollars) isn't that much to some people. People love a tryer and it was a faily unique idea.

You kidding me? even people who make $500,000 a year would have problems with paying a grand for a picture on their iPhone.

If it was an original work of art sold exclusively to one person, MAYBE. Not a "fairly unique" crappy image of a ruby.

**What is the problem?** - August 8th, 2008, 04:01 PM #7

I'm not sure exactly what you think this guy did wrong?! He created an "app", sent it to apple, they approved it, he made no false claims, there is no deception involved! Are you thinking the government needs to bail out the morons that purchased it? It's called free enterprise. I think it's a shame that Apple pulled the app, it's not their job to keep people from being stupid!

BZATWORK · August 8th, 2008, 05:30 PM

How about a real ruby or diamond ring? Talk about rip off.

MICHAELSD · August 8th, 2008, 06:01 PM #9

I might try to design an application like this for half the price. It'll do a little more than this...

JFrappuccino · August 8th, 2008, 07:22 PM #10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I'm not sure exactly what you think this guy did wrong?! He created an "app", sent it to apple, they approved it, he made no false claims, there is no deception involved! Are you thinking the government needs to bail out the morons that purchased it? It's called free enterprise. I think it's a shame that Apple pulled the app, it's not their job to keep people from being stupid!

idk this guy has a point

xxx · August 8th, 2008, 07:25 PM #11

i want this app!!!!!!!!!

hal128 · August 9th, 2008, 11:59 AM #12

I can understand why they might accidentally buy the app for one simple reason: who makes a $999.99 app that does nothing?! The first time I saw it I didn't believe it either. That's not developing, and if that's his idea of being a "developer", then he has no business making apps for the App Store.

It's upsetting to see garbage like that make it's way in there and see all the cool things that should be there instead but are blocked by the SDK. I thought part of the reason for the SDK was quality control, but it seems to be working in reverse. I'm glad it's gone, because it never should have made it in there to begin with.

Bernie · August 9th, 2008, 07:50 PM

Why am I the first to point out the obvious.

I think I read that Apple gets 30% of the price of the application. That is 2,400 dollars from one Application that they thought was a no brainer. Little did they understand how many no brainers would take to the bait so quickly.

Besides you would have to sell a lot of music to come out that far ahead.

**Lol!** - August 9th, 2008, 08:08 PM #14

Well, I didn't have the opportunity to see the actual application posted on the iTunes store but unless the developer described it in a deceiving way I don't see why Apple or even the developer have to return the money to the idiotic people that click on Purchase. Did they think they were going to get a real ruby?! LOL! If they were stupid enough to click GET suck it!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Edward Kirk WrAdminterizer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 3,084 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	8 People Purchased $1000 App - August 8th, 2008, 12:41 AM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> Remember that dumb little iPhone app that was asking poor saps to shell out $1000 for a picture of a ruby? (I know, how could we forget that.) When I first saw that app, one of the first things that went through my head was wondering who would be dumb enough to buy it. The second thing was the hope that nobody would be unfortunate enough to click on that buy button by mistake. Since then, it was removed, but not before a whole 8 people "purchased" it. Six people from the US, one in Germany and one in France each purchased the app, all in the first 24 hours it was available on the App Store. One of them explained to The Register that he and his friends clicked the buy button expecting it to be a practical joke. He knew he was sorely mistaken when he saw the $1000 charge to his Visa, and warned others away from the app in an iTunes review: "THIS IS NO JOKE," he says. "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." It's difficult to tell which is worse, the fact that people actually gave money for it or that Armin Heinrich, it's developer, still believes that he did nothing wrong. "I have no idea why they did it and am not aware of any violation of the rules to sell software on the App Store," Heinrich said in an e-mail. "I am sure a lot more people would like to buy it -- but currently can't do so," Heinrich said. "The App is a work of Art and included a 'secret mantra' -- that's all." It's surprising that Apple even let him get as far as he did. [via Los Angeles Times] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: iPhone 3G 16GB White iPhone Version: 3.0 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X 10.5.4 Twitter

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	I dont' see the problem - August 8th, 2008, 05:27 AM #2
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	a grand (especially in dollars) isn't that much to some people. People love a tryer and it was a faily unique idea.

cmgallacher New Recruit Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	August 8th, 2008, 08:57 AM #3
	I wish I had that kind of money to spend on a stupid app like that. __________________ iPhone 16GB, iPhone 3G 16GB Black, MobileMe, PowerBook G4, iPod video 30GB White.

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	i am rich - August 8th, 2008, 09:34 AM #4
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	clearly if the price had been something else, say $800 o something it would have been alot more transparent.. but if you price it at $999 you are clearly trying to cheat the public into thinking it's one of the hundred apps priced at $9.99 or even $.99 .. those decimals are hard to see on the iphone screen!!

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	By the way - August 8th, 2008, 09:35 AM #5
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	The a*hoe who made this app was even so lazy to stretch the original photo in order to fit it onto the iPhone screen. In original, the image is square, with a full quintangle for a "gem". Lazy a88, if you ask me. He deserved to have it removed, i hope he gets sued by those who were duped into buying this scam.

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	What is the problem? - August 8th, 2008, 04:01 PM #7
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	I'm not sure exactly what you think this guy did wrong?! He created an "app", sent it to apple, they approved it, he made no false claims, there is no deception involved! Are you thinking the government needs to bail out the morons that purchased it? It's called free enterprise. I think it's a shame that Apple pulled the app, it's not their job to keep people from being stupid!

BZATWORK iPA Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 85 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	You think this is a rip off - August 8th, 2008, 05:30 PM #8
	How about a real ruby or diamond ring? Talk about rip off.

MICHAELSD Rocks the Board Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 253 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	August 8th, 2008, 06:01 PM #9
	I might try to design an application like this for half the price. It'll do a little more than this...

xxx Rocks the Board Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North East Posts: 352 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	August 8th, 2008, 07:25 PM #11
	i want this app!!!!!!!!!

hal128 iPA Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Discovery Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	August 9th, 2008, 11:59 AM #12
	I can understand why they might accidentally buy the app for one simple reason: who makes a $999.99 app that does nothing?! The first time I saw it I didn't believe it either. That's not developing, and if that's his idea of being a "developer", then he has no business making apps for the App Store. It's upsetting to see garbage like that make it's way in there and see all the cool things that should be there instead but are blocked by the SDK. I thought part of the reason for the SDK was quality control, but it seems to be working in reverse. I'm glad it's gone, because it never should have made it in there to begin with. __________________ 00110010 00110000 00110000 00110001 00111010 00100000 01000001 00100000 01010011 01110000 01100001 01100011 01100101 00100000 01001111 01100100 01111001 01110011 01110011 01100101 01111001

Bernie Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Valley in Virginia Posts: 525 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Why am I the first to point out the obvious. - August 9th, 2008, 07:50 PM #13
	Why am I the first to point out the obvious. I think I read that Apple gets 30% of the price of the application. That is 2,400 dollars from one Application that they thought was a no brainer. Little did they understand how many no brainers would take to the bait so quickly. Besides you would have to sell a lot of music to come out that far ahead. __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: MA712LL w Apple Headset & Vaja case iPhone Version: 2.0 (5G77) Hacks: Been there, done that. Computer & OS: 2 x 2.8 GHZ Quad-Core w 8G &10.5.7 There are cars you drive and cars you work on.

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Lol! - August 9th, 2008, 08:08 PM #14
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Well, I didn't have the opportunity to see the actual application posted on the iTunes store but unless the developer described it in a deceiving way I don't see why Apple or even the developer have to return the money to the idiotic people that click on Purchase. Did they think they were going to get a real ruby?! LOL! If they were stupid enough to click GET suck it!