New iPhone App makes car kits moot?

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by efusco

Hey Mr Zorg,
Your flicktunes is on the front page of the iTunes App Store as a "Staff Favorite"!! Congrats!
I've really come to enjoy using the app myself and the recent updates were nice as well.

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!

[aspectratio]

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.

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by aspectratio

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.

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.

[efusco]

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

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by efusco

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

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?

[marcus09]

Originally Posted by mr_zorg

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?

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.

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by marcus09

...it should have been apparent to you when developing FlickTunes that you would be facing competition sooner rather than later...

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.

Originally Posted by marcus09

Complaining that a competitor's product is selling better just comes off as sour grapes.

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.

Originally Posted by marcus09

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.

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...

[efusco]

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?

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by efusco

Mighty mighty trollish...

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?

[marcus09]

Originally Posted by efusco

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?

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.

Originally Posted by mr_zorg

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?

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.