I always love it when our products get on TV or into one of the big newspapers. I’m not sure if it sells more software, but it is definitely fun. You get that giddy “Woo hoo! We’re famous!” feeling. It’s just a blast. Anyhow, I just found out that Apples2Oranges got a mention in today’s edition of the New York Times (B5, lower right corner).
Bob Tedeschi wrote an article about Free Internet Calling services and at the end did one of his “Quick Calls” sections, where he highlights a few cool apps he has come across. It’s there that he mentions Apples2Oranges! You can pick up a copy at your local brick and mortar store, or read the whole article here. (You might need to register.)
So thanks, Mr. Tedeschi! We really appreciate it! I’ve got to go hit the newstand to pick up a couple extra copies!
Apples2Oranges, our latest iPhone application, is now available in the AppStore! Compare prices and nutritional information with a few simple taps! Whether you’re looking to save a few bucks or trying to drop a few pounds, Apples2Oranges offers an easy and fun way to do it!
We’re extremely excited about this one because it really is a first-of-its-kind release. There are other unit comparison apps out there, but nothing that really focuses in on one of the most common reason people buy those things. You can read all the official stuff in the product description and on our website, but I’ll give you my personal slant on this one.
First off, I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve sat there banging my head against the grocery store shelf trying to figure out whether the 12 pack of Big-K Cola is a better deal than the 24-pack of Coke. With Apples2Oranges you can figure it out in just a couple of quick taps!
One of my other favorite uses is measuring cholesterol content. At my last checkup my doc pretty much told me that my cholesterol is so high that the fact that I don’t exercise is the probably the only thing keeping me alive (OK, it wasn’t THAT bad but it wasn’t good.) Anyhow, now I’m constantly doing the “This one? Or this one?” thing at the store, reading the nutritional info on the sides of the box. But does ANYONE use the same serving sizes? Heck, no. Again, Apples2Oranges does the trick by letting me get an equal comparison even when the serving sizes are totally different. Thank you Apples2Oranges!
OK, enough infommercial. I really think everyone is going to like this one. It’s insanely useful and the team here did an excellent job on it. Not only that, but our art guys did a bang up job making it really darn pretty (I love the little gears. :) )
Apples2Oranges is available today in the iTunes AppStore for just $4.99. Just click here for a direct link to the official listing. You can also read about it on our web page here. Finally, I’ve included a few screenshots below so you can get a look at it ahead of time!
So you heard that Kings Corners on iPhone was the coolest game ever, but let’s face it - the economy isn’t what it used to be - and you probably thought “A dollar? For a card game? Nah, I’ll pass.”
Well good news! We just made the decision easier for you! Now you can get Kings Corners for FREE!
That’s right, Kings Corners Free is now available in the iTunes store. It’s like an “Entertainment Bailout!”
“Now hold on a second,” I hear you saying. “What’s the catch?”
Very perceptive! Nothing is truly free in this world. In this case, the free version of Kings Corners is ad supported BUT FEAR NOT! We aren’t going to be flashing ads at you every time you start a game, or insisting that you try another product to use this one, or anything like that. Right now it’s just a little ad that pops up while the software is loading. We might do something a little fancier down the road, but even then it won’t be annoying - we hate annoying ads and we’re not going to inflict them on others.
And the good news is that you can still get Kings Corners without ads for just $1.99! We’re all about options here at Ilium Software.
So there you have it! The greatest thing to hit the world of entertainment since Donny and Marie is now FREE. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and grab your copy today!
Hi everyone - I just wanted to let you know that we discovered a little problem with our email system this morning. First, the good news: the problem is solved now! I’ve been sending test emails from our site, and we’ve received them all.
The bad news is: if you sent an email to us between yesterday evening and earlier this morning, we may not have gotten it. If you didn’t get an auto-response back from your email, that means it didn’t go through.
So, if you sent us an email and you don’t hear from us, please send it again. You can use this form on our site to contact us. Sorry for any inconvenience!
It’s the big talk around town - will Apple attend CES next year? Some folks say “Yes! Absolutely!” others say “Never! They wouldn’t stoop so low!” Which is true? Only time will tell, but even here at Ilium Software the debate rages on. As a matter of fact, Ellen and I have a little bet going. She thinks Apple won’t be at CES next year, I say they will.
So if you’d like to hear why we differ and our arguments for and against (AND see what we’re betting!), read on after the jump! And once you read it - weigh in with your own opinions!
The Big Wager!
So here at Ilium Software we’re serious about our debates. As a matter of fact, we’re willing to put more than our credibility on the line! If Ellen is right, and Apple doesn’t go to CES, I will sing 3 showtunes (chosen by Ellen) which Ellen gets to record and do as she likes with (YouTube not excluded!) If I am right, and Apple DOES go to CES next year, Ellen will make us coffee every morning for a month!
(A little background on the bet from Ellen: Marc’s a really good singer. I always want to hear him sing, but I know that I shouldn’t ask without an excuse. I have no talents to offer for my half of the bet, so we decided on taking the role of office barista for a month would be a fair trade.)
So that’s what is at stake! Now let’s hear the arguments!
Apple Won’t Go to CES!
by Ellen Craw
Rumors abound that Apple will attend CES next year, now that they’ve announced that they won’t be at Macworld.
I say they won’t, and I’m willing to back it up with $100.
First of all, big trade shows have had their day. I was at Macworld, and didn’t even bother trying to get to the keynote - I just followed it on my iPod Touch. And I was at CES, and it was noticeably smaller than in previous years. I watched Comdex - the previous biggest annual tradeshow in Las Vegas - go through the same cycle, and once it started getting smaller, it never recovered. Apple’s never been a company to jump on any bandwagon, especially one that’s slowing down.
Second, I have no idea what it costs to put on a display like the big companies do at the big shows, but it’s got to be a boatload. Huge booths, setup, equipment, staffing, hotels, renting the space - it doesn’t fit into the current “save money, save the planet, don’t overspend and overconsume” mentality. Apple’s already got much better ways of reaching their customers, fans and prospects, and they don’t seem to be having any problem reaching the press. They’re smart enough to know they don’t need to waste the time and money.
And finally, and most convincing, is that the reason that people seem to believe Apple will be at CES - that “Apple wants to sit amongst its competition,” just doesn’t hold water. One of Apple’s biggest strengths is that they don’t let other people define the playing fields. They make their own. Being one more big company at CES is just not Apple.
I could be wrong - I’m not the best predictor. But I’m confident enough that I’m right to make the bet.
Apple Is Going to CES!
by Marc Tassin
Next year, we can all look forward to a big Apple pavilion at CES. Don’t get too excited, though. This isn’t based on inside information or pesky “facts” but rather on my own interpretation of Apple’s recent decision to pull-out from Macworld. I think the Macworld pull-out offers a huge indicator of where we’ll see the big Apple announcements in the years to come. Here is how I came to this conclusion:
Trade Shows Have Value
Big companies are continuing to use trade shows to get the word out to consumers. This is true in almost every type of market. For smaller companies the return is questionable, but for folks like Apple I think the return in press coverage alone is pretty darn valuable. It’s a heck of a lot less expensive than a major ad campaign and it gets folks talking about you in all sorts of media outlets, ranging from personal blogs to CNET to the nightly news.
Bye Bye Inner Circle
If anything will get me flamed, it’s this one. I really question whether Apple still needs (or wants) that hardcore group of fans that line up days ahead of an announcement to see Steve Jobs. With the success of the iPod and the iPhone, Apple isn’t a fringe company anymore - they’ve landed smack dab in the middle of the mass consumer marketplace. They don’t need to count on their core inner circle to make sales or spread the word. NOTE: There is a powerful argument that this philosophy is dead wrong - other companies have taken this stance and been hurt by it. The point isn’t “This is the right choice” - the point is that I think this is the choice Apple is making.
What Does It Mean?
If trade shows are still valuable and Apple isn’t attending Macworld, this leaves three alternatives.
1 - Apple will run its own show
This seems unlikely. Running a show is a huge undertaking. It makes a LOT more sense for Apple to continue to focus on what THEY do best, and let someone else handle the trade shows.
2 - Apple won’t go to any show
As I said, I truly believe that trade shows are a valuable tool for companies. Apple DOES do a lot of mold breaking, so there is a chance that they have their own plan, but not going to ANY trade show just strikes me as unlikely at best based on the evidence for the value of tradeshows to major corporations.
and the last option (drum roll please)…
3 - Apple will go to CES
This is where I’m putting my money. Going to CES next year will signal to the world that Apple is no longer the nerdy dude in the back room. They’ve hit the big time and are a household name. Those little white earbuds are as synonymous to music as the walkman was back in its day. And with Steve Job exiting stage left, they can’t count on his sheer charisma to keep them buoyant in their own little world.
I think Apple sees that they are now a mainstream corp with a mainstream product, and they are making all the moves necessary to position themselves appropriately in the eyes of the public.
Well, I’m back from Macworld! For those of you who are interested, I thought I’d share a few thoughts. I’ve also included a few pictures I took.
I’ll give the extended version after the jump, but for those of you in need of a sound bite I’ll summarize.
It was very cool. I loved getting to talk to so many great people, especially folks who I’ve long known by their email address but not face to face! It was also neat to take part in something I’ve heard so many people rave about. I saw some very interesting things and got some excellent insight into the Apple market. All in all a very satisfying experience. Plus San Francisco is great so how could I go wrong!
So, on to the details…
Minor Disclaimer: As I write, please understand that we are first and foremost a mobile software developer. There was lots of amazing desktop stuff going on, but my focus (naturally) was on the mobile market. That said…
Companies and Products
There were a number of great mobile software companies there, some of whom we’ve known for years. Among these were our good friends at WebIS. What I did notice, however, was that for all the mind-share the iPhone has among consumers, that mind-share was not reflected on the floor of the dealer’s halls. There are lots of possible reasons for this, but it was something that stood out for me.
Real Contacts with Virtual Friends
It was GREAT to see some of our “virtual” friends in real life. In particular, we got to hang out with Steve Sande from TUAW and Jeff Scott from 148Apps . Both of these guys (and their sites) have been very helpful to us, and we really respect the work they are doing for the community as a whole. 148Apps has some exciting plans for the future. We look forward to their continued success. We also got to do a Podcast/Vidcast interview with Steve from TUAW. That was a lot of fun!
The Apple Presence
Obviously Apple’s presence was a big deal, including the “giant-black-cube-of-power” that dominated the south dealer’s hall. I’m not, however, as convinced as the media outlets that folks are O.K. with Apple leaving after this year. Folks were handing out “Bring Back Jobs” fliers on the street and there was just this sense that people almost didn’t believe that Apple wouldn’t be back.
As for the presence of iPhone amid the official Apple stuff, the “giant-black-cube-of-power” had one of three sides devoted to iPhone + iPods. There was a nice table with a bunch of iPhones and iPod touches on it.
Events and Parties
There were a number of great get-togethersI got to partake in. Stand outs include the iPhone Intelligence Party at Harlot and the TUAW get-together at the Thirsty Bear. It was also at the Harlot even that they announced the winners of the BestAppEver Sadly, we didn’t win, but just to get nominated in SO many categories was amazing. You guys rock. Thanks to everyone who nominated and voted for all your help!!
Other Cool and Fun Stuff Of course I got to see something in person I’d only seen pictures of before…the eWallet icon in the Apple store window!! How cool is that?! I asked if we could have it when they were done with the display, but sadly the powers at Apple require that they destroy any display materials when the promotion is over. Ah, well.
And then there’s Beard PaPa, one of my favorite things about San Francisco. Mmmmmmm - fresh cream puffs. Although if anyone out there can explain to me the connection between delicious cream puffs and an old, smoking sailor, I’d love to hear it! (“Arrr! There be nothin’ like bakin’ cream puffs after a long day at sea!”)
I always love it when our products get on TV or into one of the big newspapers. I’m not sure if it sells more software, but it is definitely fun. You get that giddy “Woo hoo! We’re famous!” feeling. It’s just a blast. Anyhow, I just found out that Apples2Oranges got a mention in today’s edition of the New York Times (B5, lower right corner).
Hi everyone - I just wanted to let you know that we discovered a little problem with our email system this morning. First, the good news: the problem is solved now! I’ve been sending test emails from our site, and we’ve received them all.
