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New iPhone App makes car kits moot?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by GeekEV, Jun 18, 2009.

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  1. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    Thank you! Glad you like it. Needless to say, I'm very pleased! I think it's quite an honor being on the staff favorites list. I don't know if you saw, but earlier this month I had two articles written about FlickTunes by The Unofficial Apple Weblog and CNET! Way cool.

    Five (really useful) Apps for everyone -- The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
    Four killer iPhone apps for runners -- CNET iPhone Atlas

    Most people probably know CNET, but for those who aren't in on the Apple circle: TUAW is a very big Apple site. After a bit of a slow start, all of this press has finally started to generate some serious traction for FlickTunes. I'm so proud. :)

    P.S. Thanks for the five star review!
     
    #21 GeekEV, Aug 30, 2009
  2. aspectratio

    aspectratio New Member

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    Quick question, not sure you'd be able to answer it.

    In previous versions of FlickTunes, I was able to use it while my iPhone was docked to my Prius via a third-party connector (Dension ice>LINK). Life was very good.

    However, after (I think) the OS 3.1 update, now when I launch FlickTunes while it's docked, it gives me the "empty playlist" graphic. Of course, when it's not docked it works fine.

    Any ideas?

    EDIT: Never mind, I saw the note on the app's iTunes page that says it was a bug under 3.0 that allowed it to work. That's a shame. Thanks.
     
    #22 aspectratio, Sep 16, 2009
  3. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    I agree. That was a nice "feature". I've been in contact with Apple over it, but it seems unlikely they'll go back to the way it was. :(

    Of course, you can keep using FlickTunes with the AUX jack. :p
     
    #23 GeekEV, Sep 16, 2009
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Not sure what apple's policies are on look-alike apps, or if there's anyway to copyright the apps, but it looks like you have a copy-cat competitor that made the front page of "new apps".... FluxTunes. the copy for the ad even sounds almost word for word like FlickTunes
     
    #24 efusco, Sep 16, 2009
  5. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    I doubt there is a policy... What really sucks is that their being listed on the "What's New" list has catapulted them to #3 in the music category. The best I've managed, despite being on the "Staff Favorites" list is #18. :(

    I'm debating what to do, if anything. I don't know that anything in FlickTunes is inherently patentable or anything like that, it's a pretty obvious concept really. Any lawyers out there with an opinion?
     
    #25 GeekEV, Sep 16, 2009
  6. marcus09

    marcus09 New Member

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    There were apps based on this concept released in the jailbreak world well over a year before either of these apps- see for example PocketTouch (I won't post a link, but Google it and you'll find it easily enough). There's nothing new in doing this at all. And no- the developers of new apps based on this concept aren't going to face legal action from the developer of PocketTouch. In general concepts such as control methods have little hope of effective IP protection, and for mine that's a very good thing since it allows competition and drives continuous improvements in products that benefit the consumer.

    It's an obvious enough concept anyway, as you say, and it should have been apparent to you when developing FlickTunes that you would be facing competition sooner rather than later once the OS3.0 changes came in to make this functionality feasible in non-jailbroken apps. Complaining that a competitor's product is selling better just comes off as sour grapes. There are least four other gesture-based music player apps on the stores, plus PocketTouch apparently entering the official app space soon, and I'd surprised if there aren't more coming, so there's more competition there also. The App Store is a very competitive market :)

    By the way, FluxTunes comes up ahead in one very important matter in my book- its description on the App Store responsibly cautions against using MP3 players on motorcycles and bicycles. The FlickTunes description suggests this horribly dangerous practice as a use of the app. Haven ridden motorbikes in the past, I know it's crucial for your safety to be fully aware of everything going on around you on the road and wearing earphones is something I would never have considered when on a bike.
     
    #26 marcus09, Sep 25, 2009
  7. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    It's not the concept or competition that bothers me. It's the fact that their main screen layout, and even their help screen, look very similar to mine. The other competitors each have a different look and feel to them. Also, please note that it wasn't me that started talking about this subject anyway, someone else mentioned the look-alike copy-cat first.

    It *is* sour grapes, I make no bones about that. But, it was meant more as a comment on the capricious nature of the various App Store lists and what a major different being on the right one can make. Despite a nearly identical look and function. But, yes, in the end it's sour grapes. Oh well, life goes on.

    OK, now this is something I have to take great exception to and is a personal pet peeve of mine. I absolute do *not* believe in stupid legal disclaimers. If you can't figure out when/how it is/isn't safe to use a product, that's your problem, I'm damn sure not going to tell you.

    As for the safety of using earphones on a bike, I never said anything about earphones. There are plenty of motorcycle helmets with built-in speakers any many touring motorcycles have radios and speakers on them. It's less common for bicycles, true, but such products do exist. Clearly the concept of listening to music on a bike is not a strange one. Let's face it, there are some people who will do it. If you *are* going to listen to music on your bike, I do believe my app (and others like it) will keep your safer than if you had to take your eyes off the road to manipulate the music player controls. But if you don't think it's safe, then don't do it. My statement on FlickTunes' usefulness on a bike was based on feedback from more than one user. I actually hadn't considered that use case originally.

    What was the point of your reply anyway? Other than to deride me for being human and getting jealous, that is...
     
    #27 GeekEV, Sep 25, 2009
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Interesting...Marcus joins just today, has no other posts, has no Prius, sought out a thread that hasn't been open for 9 days (thus would be many pages deep in the FHOP forum), and comes in making pretty hostile statements. Mighty mighty trollish... What brought you here Marcus?
     
    #28 efusco, Sep 25, 2009
  9. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    More curious is Marcus lists his location is Melbourne, Australia. FluxTunes is made by Quokka Studios, also in Australia. Granted, Australia is a big place, and Quokka is listed in Surry Hills, which is about 12 hours drive from Melbourne -- BUT, awful big coincidence there, no? Or am I stretching?

    Marcus, let me must put this out there: If you are from Quokka Studios, relax, I'm not going to take any action against FluxTunes... Just like I don't believe in stupid legal disclaimers, I don't believe in stupid legal action either. I'm just being human and venting a little, that's all, OK?
     
    #29 GeekEV, Sep 25, 2009
  10. marcus09

    marcus09 New Member

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    Not that I should need to justify myself, but since you're describing yourself as "Troll Hunter" at the moment and that tickled my fancy :)

    I'm thinking of buying a hybrid and was seeking out some information from existing owners. I expect that quite a few of your lurkers are in that category :). Searched for threads on car kits, since info on car kits was a specific question I had, and hence found your thread. Having found it with an open question that I thought I could provide some feedback on, I replied to the thread.

    I genuinely wasn't seeking to make comments that were viewed as "hostile", although reading it back, my comments on playing music on bikes in particular may seem a little heated- a bit of a bugbear of mine. Once again, not my intent to offend, but rather to make a strong point there.

    Haha. A bit of stretch there I'm afraid :) Melbourne-Sydney is probably a 12-14 hour drive. Montana-Northern Cal is around 12-14 hour drive. A genuine shill would probably also list their location as California and claim to own a Lexus, just to escape suspicion. Does that mean that mr_zorg = efusco - it would using similar logic. Just kidding guys :). Afraid you're jumping at phantoms :)

    I'm going to risk raising your ire again by raising the point of listening to music while riding- please at least consider not listing biking/motorbiking as an "ideal" use for the app, even if you don't want to include a disclaimer (and I have some sympathy for your reasons). I don't think you'd want to have any responsibility for unsafe behaviour, and particularly not if you're sued after someone has an accident and chooses to try to blame your app- unfortunately the legal system encourages people to try to find someone else to blame (Australia's not very different to the US in that regard).

    You might be interested to hear that several Australian states are considering enacting laws banning using phones as GPS devices or music players in the car (basically as anything other than as phones), which I find rather ridiculous, since an app like Flicktunes in a dock enhances safety. I think it all stems from an overreaction to the idiots who think it's OK to send text messages while driving.
     
    #30 marcus09, Sep 28, 2009
  11. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    Well, Marcus, you took that very well. Welcome to prius chat. Lol. It's not normally a hostile place - really.

    It's sad that the legal system has gotten to the point where people feel entitled to sue others for their own idiocy. Worse yet that they can win. But, I must confess, you do have a valid point. I will meet you half
    way and, as you suggest, remove the explicit endorsement for use on motorcycles and bicycles.

    I'd like to offer you a free download code for FlickTunes as my way of appologizing for being suspicious of your motives. Send me a PM if you'd like one. :)
     
    #31 GeekEV, Sep 28, 2009
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Thanks for the reply Marcus, that does clear things up and I do appreciate the clarification and polite tone.
    FWIW, I am a moderator here so you sort of have to justify yourself as one of my jobs is to keep the forum clean of trolls and your post set off a few red-flags...not enough that I was going to act b/c it also contained valuable information pertinant to the thread, but enough that I felt it appropriate to point out the inconsistancies.
     
    #32 efusco, Sep 28, 2009
  13. marcus09

    marcus09 New Member

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    Thanks for taking feedback on the app description. Hope the app goes well and that you produce more good apps for the store- it could certainly use them. Apple's fond of quoting 80000+ apps on the store, but when you ignore the rubbish and niche products (like specific ebooks) and then consider the various apps that do the same thing in each category, then there's really only a couple of hundred distinct (non-game) apps worth looking at.

    I've already downloaded FlickTunes, so don't worry with a code.

    By the way, not sure if you noticed that New Zealand has just passed laws banning phones being used for any purpose in cars. There's some talk this may be amended to allow use as GPS devices and music players- I certainly hope sanity prevails there.
     
    #33 marcus09, Sep 28, 2009
  14. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    FlickTunes v1.3 update was just posted by Apple, although the App Store says v1.2.1 instead. I had originally uploaded v1.2.1 and replaced it with v1.3, but they don't let me change the version number once an update is submitted (even if you change the binary). It may take a little bit to propagate fully but you should be able to pick it up soon.

    FlickTunes is finally getting to the point where it does just about everything I can think of for it to do (within the limitations of the developer kit) so v1.4 will probably be the last update. I'm starting to contemplate what my next app should be, so if you've got any good ideas, I'd love to hear them. Feel free to send me a PM with the details.

    LOL. Now I really feel bad for giving you a hard time. :eek:

    I saw that. Crazy, I'd like to see them try that here in the US. If they're going to do that, they'd better ban all in-car electronics. Although for most phones, I can see where operating functions such as GPS and music player isn't easy enough to use. But the iPhone (and copy-cat phones) really changes all that. I fail to see the difference between an iPhone GPS app or a Tom-Tom or Garmin, etc.
     
    #34 GeekEV, Sep 28, 2009
  15. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    For those regulars here who are interested in the progress of my app, I just found that MacWorld’s iPhone Central has just published a review of FlickTunes. The review appears to be of v1.2, despite v1.3 having been out for well over a month now, and seems to be a bit confused on a few points. But overall, it’s positive. They gave it four mice out of five, so I guess that means they like us too! I wonder if this is just a website review or if it will appear in the print magazine too. Does anybody out there know? Have you seen it in print?
     
    #35 GeekEV, Nov 12, 2009
  16. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    FlickTunes is now free for the Thanksgiving weekend!

    FYI, FlickTunes is now free for the Thanksgiving weekend! Get it while it's hot... If you like it, please leave a positive rating or review. If you don't like it, well, just remember it was free. Please be kind.

    Thank you!
     
    #36 GeekEV, Nov 25, 2009
  17. LaPriusGuy

    LaPriusGuy Junior Member

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    Thanks so much for all your work on this app... I just stumbled on this thread today - was trying to find a better way to listen to podcasts in the car, and here ya are giving it away for Thanksgiving!

    Haven't had a chance to even try it yet, but will thank you it on itunes for sure after I play around. iPhone integration on my V sucks for listening to music, so looking forward to this...
     
    #37 LaPriusGuy, Nov 27, 2009
  18. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    I want to extend a hearty "thank you" to everyone who made this Black Friday sale a huge success. There were nearly as many downloads this weekend as there have been since launch! If you haven't yet left a review or rating for FlickTunes, I would greatly appreciate it if you did.
     
    #38 GeekEV, Nov 29, 2009
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