I hate computer programming. Everything about it makes me want to vomit up every organ in my body while swinging over a vat of boiling hot magma. Perhaps that’s a bit extreme but you get the point. Coding iPhone apps isn’t for everyone. If you’re like me and loathe computer programming yet can somehow manage to keep those sudden urges to catapult yourself into space via internal projectiles at bay, iPhone App programming may be just the thing for you. An exploding dev market and user base surely brings instant profits…right? Wrong. There have been countless posts, articles, stories, and personal accounts of how one developer may get lucky with a hit, scoring hundreds of thousands of dollars only to have another dev with half a dozen iPhone apps make a fraction of that. The App Store is the worst “Get rich quick” scheme in recent memory. One developer by the name of Brice Milliorn is finding this out first hand.
Mr. Milliorn has pushed out 87 iPhone apps to date (Friday Night Lights, iSpy Game, iReferee, iSexyRef, iSexyRef2, Pro Rodeo Fan, and Sit Up Counter just to name a few.) No small feet also considering the App Store is just over a year old. Now many may say “He’s spreading his resources too thin…” Such a claim may be true. But it doesn’t matter. Just as Brice Milliorn is realizing, many iPhone devs will come to the same conclusion that quick and easy money is no where to be found in the App Store (for independent devs that is.) Brice however is getting a leg up on the competition by putting his iPhone software company, JBMJBM up for sale. The asking price — $100,000. According to Brice, roughly 30,000 sales have been doled out among 87 different apps with the average price being right around $0.99. Simple math will lead anyone to the easy sum of a cool $30k for Brice. In all reality though, $30k for 87 different apps isn’t much at all — precisely the reason he’s quitting, packing up shop, and going home. Going home literally in fact as he cites “not spending enough time with his family” as his main reasons for selling the business.
I can’t fault Brice for doing what he’s doing. Missing out on life by getting deeper and deeper into countless endless loops with no end in sight is no way to go through life. But he isn’t exactly cut and dry just yet. Creating such a vast app portfolio in such a short time and with a high asking price relative to actual revenue made has left Brice without a single bidder. As of right 8:45 (EST) on November 9th, 4 days remain. Do you think Brice will make any return on his investment or will be seeing JBMJBM re-auctioned several times, each time with a price that sinks lower and lower?
Moco News
Driving a beautifully crafted Batmobile replica through traffic will surely turn heads, garner whistles, and all sorts of accolades. It’s not everyday you see a piece of super hero history driving down the road. Based off of a ’76 Lincoln Continental, this Batmobile built by “Gotham Cruisers” isn’t just some freak project. The Continental at it’s core is a fully titled and authentic piece of auto history with the Batmobile clothing affixed on top ensuring at least some level of street legal chops. Of course, the coolest parts of this car could make it slightly less than legal. Hidden bat gems include a parachute, working batphone, and best of all, a fully functional flamethrower! Ya, rush hour will never be quite the same again. Neither will that jackass that cut you off a few blocks back. Pull up behind him and push a button, enjoy a laugh, and watch as his smoldering car crawl to a stop. Somehow I don’t think the 5-0 will look too favorably on such a situation. But Batman wasn’t exactly a friend of the law per say. Not to mention, you’ll at least feel better about yourself won’t you. That’s all that really matters. Oh ya, and of course, you’re packin’ a flamethrower so in some form or another, you are the law. Remember, obey the speed limit and always buckle up! You can fry motorists, just do so obeying all of the other traffic laws…
Ok, the last “best part” I swear. This Batmobile is for sale…well, up for auction on eBay. As of 9:01pm (EST) on October 26th, the bid is up to around $25,500 with 5 days and 15 hours to go. Feeling a bit nostalgic and lucky?
The Awesomer
Feeling generous and have the deep pockets to support such an attitude? If so, a giant LEGO Mario may be in order for you. The LEGO Mario above stands 5′ 9″ and consists of over 40,000 LEGO pieces. Originally created by renowned LEGO sculptor Dirk VH for the Ronald McDonald House charity foundation, Mario the giant has since moved on to eBay in search of a new home. As of October 24th at 9:20 pm (EST), good ‘ol Mario is sitting right at 2,500 Euros ($3,755 USD). Ya, being a nerd and/or collector isn’t cheap. If you’re toying with the idea of giving Mr. Mario a new home, take comfort in knowing that the LEGOs are glued together so moving this mega monstrosity aren’t nearly as touch or nerve wracking as it could be. Bid away!
Technabob > 8bit fix
The way in which any human being can manipulate, copy, and redistribute digital files has made our entire society from music, to books, to games stand up and take notice. Some have embraced technology and started new innovative services or produced new products while others have tried to hamper it. Perhaps the most widely mis-used aspect of technology is companies trying to push the idea that in this digital age, no one really owns their purchased goods anymore. Instead, we merely license or rent goods. Of course, this is completely ridiculous and sadly many cases of patent infringement/IP infringement have been battled in the courtroom with the big guys in suits often winning. However, the tides may be changing (albeit slowly) as the case involving Autodesk and Timothy Vernor in which the accuser is claiming the defendant is breaking the law by reselling legally purchased, used versions of AutoCAD on eBay. The outcome isn’t what you’d expect — the judge sided with Timothy Vernor…
- September 2, 2009 6:26 am
Retro gamers, geeks, and electronic gurus no doubt have at least played on a classic NES system for a few minutes. Getting in touch with gaming roots is an uplifting and eye opening experience. While we’re bedazzled by today’s eye candy and graphics and incredibly powerful machines, back in the day, a paddle and blocky ball were “high tech”. Naturally, such nostalgic event warrant a sort of celebration if you will. A celebration of years past and of all the good times and memories they have given you and yours. What better way to honor those roots than with a massive NES controller coffee table? If you were wanting just that, do I have some good news for you! Some geek of epic proportions has an NES Controller Coffee Table up for bid on eBay UK. At time of writing, there is 6 days and 8 hours left before the auction ends with the current opening £50 ($81.11 USD) bid the bottom line. Personally, I would gladly pay the £50 for a table like this. Heck, I’d probably drop 2x-3x that just because I’m a geek like that. In case you’re wondering, it table measurements are: 97cm long by 43cm wide by 27cm high (31.19in” x 16.93″ x 10.63″). A perfect sized coffee table for geeks and gaming gods alike. Hurry and place your bid!
Source: Geeky-Gadgets
You hear lamb and tuna fish and are instantly repulsed as the thought of the two tastes mixing in your mouth is enough to make you eat breakfast more than once. Much the same reaction, although more of a “what were you thinking” coming from thought, reasoning and rationality inside your head. eBay the once rapidly growing internet giant is not immune to the economic difficulties and is looking for any way possible to stop the bleeding of their profits. Skype in and of itself is a great tech company with huge potential, however, eBay went way outside of their core when they purchased Skype. eBay and Skype are two completely different companies with no real overlap. Many in the tech world were dumbfounded when the transaction was made but figured eBay had something up their sleeve. Well, fast forward 4 years later and eBay’s sleeves are as empty as they were on the day they purchased Skype. In order to save a quickly diminishing company, Skype is *quietly* being put up for sale so that the folks at eBay can afford to keep the lights on at night. It’s shocking to see the quick turn of events in such a short time. But, how much money could eBay really make off of Skype? Alley Insider speculates that the number could be as high as $ 3 billion! It certainly won’t completely turn around eBay, but will offer some much needed cash.
Source: Alley Insider
