Another “inspired” app hits the app store
Remember when the app store first launched, all those level apps that hit the store? It was quickly revealed that Apple shipped the source code to make a level app as part of the sample applications that come in the iPhone developer kit. All these people did in some cases was change the skin slightly (and in 1 notable case, not at ALL) and then they started selling it on iTunes.
Well, faithful Macenstein reader anonymous developer alerts us that yet another lazy “developer” looking to make a quick buck may have once again ripped Apple off and is now trying to sell an application that Apple basically wrote. Behold AccelGraph, a seemingly blatant ripoff of AccelerometerGraph, an app Apple ships with the iPhone’s SDK.
Above: “AccelGraph displays you the acceleration applied to your iPhone or iPod Touch with the help of its built in motion sensor graphically”, while AccelerometerGraph (below) allows you to “watch the output of the accelermoter graphed in real time”.
Above: Click to Embiggen
I suppose in their defense the developer page does say “Use the code and design from these samples to inspire your own development”. So if taking the letters “erometer” out of “AccelerometerGraph” counts as being a developer, then these guys are legit. Otherwise, I call shenanigans. I also think it is odd that it is debuting at 99¢ with the promise of a price increase. What will the price get jacked up to to justify all the developer’s hard work after this introductory period? (And while we’re at it, what would anyone use this app for? I would assume only a developer would need this info, and obviously they already have it). 🙂
I don’t remember, is the iPhone SDK a free download? If so, in theory I could download it and get AccelerometerGraph for free and save my dollar!
His next application: “Hello World,” only $5.99. Get it while it’s new!
Well, you can get the iPhone SDK for free (it’s a several hour download), sure. But the applications you compile can’t be distributed to iPhones without signing up as an Apple Developer. That costs $99.
So if you want to see the fruits of your labor in the wild, even if it’s just a reskinned Level, it’ll set you back the c-note.