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!
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.
MacWorld is just a couple weeks away and both Ellen and I are planning to attend. If you’re going to MacWorld, or live in the area, let us know, or just look for us in the main hall. We’ll be wearing our Ilium Software apparel so we should be easy to spot!
We’re even bringing some presents, so if you catch us before our bag is empty, we might have something cool for you! The Expo runs January 5th to 9th and we’ll be around for the whole thing. See you there!
When we asked for your comments on ListPro for iPhone, I was thrilled with the response we received. You guys gave us a wealth of fantastic ideas and insight. Based on those comments, our own experience in the iPhone market, and quite a bit of heavy thought, we have a tentative plan. Note that this is in no way a guarantee of what we will do, but rather an estimate of what we hope to accomplish.
So if you want the inside scoop on ListPro for iPhone, read on after the jump!
ListPro Reader
My plan right now is to have us develop something I’m tentatively calling the ListPro Reader. At the very least, the ListPro Reader will let you publish your favorite ListPro lists to your iPhone and read them there. Other features we MIGHT include in the first release include:
Ability to check checkboxes
Sort
Filter
Search
These additional functions all depend on how much time it takes to make them happen. I also have a few more tricks up my sleeve but at this point I need to keep those a little closer to the vest.
Release Date
Sorry, folks. I just can’t say exactly when it will be out. All I can tell you is that we ARE working on it, and the second it is available you’ll hear it from me in a BIG way.
Should You Wait For It?
You know, I can’t give you advice on this one. I just don’t have an exact release date. I won’t take it personally if you feel that you need to find an interim solution. :) We fully understand that people need a solution to their listmaking needs on iPhone.
Full-Featured ListPro for iPhone
In all honesty, this will depend a LOT on how well folks like the reader and how much interest it generates. As a HARDCORE ListPro users and an iPhone user as well, I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want full featured ListPro on my iPhone. Unfortunately, in the end I have to make the best decision for the company. If it looks like the iPhone market isn’t going to embrace ListPro, we might not be ABLE to do more than the Reader.
If, on the other hand, people show a strong interest I’d like to look at a full featured ListPro for iPhone. Most likely, we’d do a slightly advanced version of the Reader for pay, and then slowly add new features over time.
ListPro for Mac
We don’t have specific plans for this right now, but if the Reader gets popular I could definitely see a Mac version in the future.
As you may have already heard, Apple just started making promo codes available for their iPhone apps. That’s right - we get 50 codes for each of our programs. It’s great news for us, and we’re very happy that Apple has decided to implement this. To celebrate we’re going to hand out some free codes right off the bat!
The first 10 people to grab one of the codes below get a free copy of Kings Corners on the App Store! Please leave a comment mentioning which code you used so others won’t try the same one - they only work once. Right now, promo codes only work in the US iTunes Store, and they will expire in 4 weeks (although I have a feeling it won’t take you that long to use yours).
After you play a few games, it’d be great if you wanted to leave your thoughts in a review on the App Store. Of course, it’s not necessary, but we always love to hear what you think. Have fun with Kings Corners, and try not to get addicted to it!
Just a quick update on eWallet for Mac. Contrary to what I’ve seen posted in some of the blog comments, we are in fact making eWallet for Mac. As a matter of fact, we’ve ALWAYS planned to make eWallet for Mac at some point. This is something we’ve had in the works for a few years - pre-iPhone even. If you want to know more about eWallet for Mac, check out the rest of the post after the jump!
Disclaimer: In all of my posts I’ve always been very honest in what I tell you - brutally so at times. That won’t change here. Everything I’m writing in this blog post is a business side analysis. I AM IN NO WAY MAKING A JUDGEMENT ON THE QUALITY OF THE MAC OS. Frankly, it’s an incredible OS. This blog, however, is about the business of making software and not my personal feelings about the quality of an operating system.Mac and Me
Before I get too far into things I want to give you a little history about Mac and Me. Before I graduated from the University of Michigan I’d used two types of computers - Commodores and Macs (OK - I’ll admit, I played Civilization and Doom on Windows towards the end of college but that was it). I was a Mac guy through and through. I owned the top of the line PowerMac and LOVED it. Three things moved me away from Mac. 1st - I couldn’t get software, hardware, or anything else for it. :( 2nd - I used Windows for my work. 3rd - Price. After college I had no money. When the ol’ PowerMac died I moved on to a Windows machine.
And for those who don’t know, even our founders are “Mac People”. Just making clear that decisions about Mac are unrelated to how much we like the OS.
SO, ON TO THE PRESENT DAY….
Why a Mac Version of eWallet and Why Now?
As I mentioned above, we’ve always planned to release eWallet for Mac at some point. The problem was that for a long time the market didn’t support this. Just looking at desktop OS use alone and even today it comes out to something like this:
Making and maintaining Mac software is no easier than making and maintaining Windows software. At the same time, a Windows product has a potential market more than 10 times that of a Mac product. This is a HUGE difference. Simple math demands that we put our emphasis on Windows. 11+ years down the road that decision has proven a wise one.
But there is even more to it than that. We aren’t a desktop software company. Yes, our desktop software rocks, but our primary focus is Mobile Software. The desktop system used by most Mobile Device users has long been Windows. This further reduced the potential market for a Mac version, since people typically buy our desktop software to add-on to their Mobile experience - and these people used Windows.
So for a VERY long time, Mac just didn’t make good business sense based on our company focus.
Enter, the iPod (thought I was going to say iPhone didn’t you?) Suddenly, huge numbers of people were being introduced to the world of Mac devices. Apple got cool rather than fringe. Next came the iPhone! Now we had a full blown mobile device running Apple software.
So here are the factors that changed the market:
The iPod becomes THE music device. Apple is now everywhere.
The iPhone/Touch took the world by storm - and moved Mac into our area - Mobile Software
The internet becomes one of the most used “applications” cutting the importance of the OS
The latest Macs really CAN run Windows well, offering the “best of both worlds”
Suddenly, the Mac becomes a valid platform (financially) for us to invest in. I see the Mac market share continuing to grow over time, especially as young people who have grown up with white earbuds attached to their skulls go out and buy their first post-college computers. The name recognition alone will drive sales.
But There is a Catch! The Cold Hard Facts…
Look back at those market share numbers I posted. Even though Mac has been around for a long time, from our business perspective it is still an “emerging market.” Mac still commands less than 1/10th the market share that Windows does. No matter how much excitement surrounds the iPhone, we still have to remain realistic about what we will get back on our investment into Mac software.
I mention this due to blog comments saying “why aren’t you throwing everything you have at Mac?” Simple - we’d be completely abandoning the enormous market that pays our bills. Windows is WHY we have the opportunity to make a Mac version. Without Windows and Windows Mobile, we simply couldn’t afford to make a Mac version.
This means that when I sit down and mete out the limited resources available to me, I can’t drop everything to focus on Mac.
Now don’t get me wrong - when we do something, we do it right. Our Mac version is already INCREDIBLY cool. I’m totally geeked about it. And once it is out we plan to support it 100%. I just can’t afford to pull resources from the things that pay the bills to push Mac out faster.
Which Brings Us To the Big Question…When Will It Be Out?
My initial guess was by the end of the year. Now before I go on, I would like to clarify something.
Although it is possible I mispoke at some point (seriously, we aren’t in the business of trying to trick people or mislead them - it’s bad business and goes against our ethics), I always did my best to say “Our hope is that it will be out by the end of the year” and “We are shooting for the end of the year.” I did this because frankly, we don’t do “release dates” (See the other post for more about why release dates and software don’t mix.) As it stands right now, knowing what I know about how long it takes to get things done, I doubt it will be done by year end.
How long until it is ready? Sorry, but I’m not going to try to guess. Recently, my guesses have been interpreted as release dates so I’m going to have to stop doing that. I will say that we have a working version, the UI is coming along, and we actually have people outside Ilium Software using it right now.
Can you show us a screenshot? Nope, sorry. Trade secrets. Seriously, people like to copy our stuff so we seldom reveal it in advance.
So there you have it. We’re definitely going to release eWallet for Mac, but I’m not sure of the exact release date. You can be assured that as soon is it is ready, though, you’ll hear about it here!
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!
MacWorld
As you may have already heard, Apple just started making promo codes available for their iPhone apps. That’s right - we get 50 codes for each of our programs. It’s great news for us, and we’re very happy that Apple has decided to implement this. To celebrate we’re going to hand out some free codes right off the bat!