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Because iFarting is serious business

We were just fine with letting this story dissipate right into the air like so many bad smells, as it's not exactly the most impressive thing to ever happen in the App Store. But in the interests of completionism, we'll bring it to you anyway.

First, there were two apps that made fart noises, called Pull My Finger and iFart. Then, there was allegedly some inappropriate twittering (and shady iPhone reviewing -- we seriously doubt that tons of people want to give five stars to an app about MC Hammer), $50,000 of damages were requested, a "Social Media Expert" (read: "tool") got angry, and eventually a lawsuit was filed, and now every blog and website everywhere is posting that two apps about flatulence are suing each other.

Like we said, not the story out of the App Store that we're most proud to report. But Apple did get mixed up in all of this early on -- Gizmodo reports that the Mothership was approached for a solution, and that it was decided to let the devs fight it out. Maybe if Apple had said early on that applications on the App Store had to do a little more than make fart noises (or that there was already enough farting going on in the store -- what do those other 29 apps have to do with any of this?), the iPhone wouldn't now be known as the premiere device for farting.

But we suppose there's money to be had -- someone out there is buying either or both of these idiotic apps, and as a result, both of these guys are willing to go to court over software that reproduces the sound of passing gas in the hopes of getting even more money, despite the fact that you can simulate the same effect with the human armpit. Can we cut the lawsuits and get to producing some actual software for the platform, please?

We were just fine with letting this story dissipate right into the air like so many bad smells, as it's not exactly the most impressive...
 

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i always like to read some good and informative
blogs and this blog is also so good and helpful.
thanks for taking time to discus this topic..
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February 15 2011 at 6:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
classifieds for rent

i always like to read some good and informative
blogs and this blog is also so good and helpful.
thanks for taking time to discus this topic..

February 15 2011 at 6:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Simon Templeton

I got to see Joel Comm at the o2 arena in london late 2009 where he showed us the ifart app live on stage and the whole arena was in histerics. Can you imagine it, over 7,000 people wetting themselves with laughter, it was awesome.
He also went on to show us all the sort of income possibilities from creating iphone apps and the figures can be staggering. Fun apps tend to sell the most and ifart is evidence of that when it made $27,000 in one day on the app store alone. http://www.simon-templeton.co.uk

September 23 2010 at 11:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
beth

Wow, it seems obvious that every single person commenting here against this article and threatening to unsubscribe from TUAW is or is working for a developer of fart apps.
I think Fart apps are fine and have all the right to be in the store. It is just that Joel guy from iFart who was being really irritating on Twitter, because he doesn't admit that his app is a pile of tosh. He is one of these marketing clowns who think they can use "social media" to further their aims.
Please keep selling your apps, whatever, but stop pretending that you are doing humanity a service by creating great entertainment.
Look, one of my apps is called iStrip (http://rockcottageindustries.com/novelty-app/) and we fought long and hard for it to get into the app store. It is free, but still many people send us very hateful email, mostly because they are disappointed and embarrassed that there is no real porn in it. I don't claim that it is particularly great, but I think it is good for a laugh, so do many other people. It is certainly a million times better than the cheap immitations that have now launched, Novelty Pen and iVanish. Are we planning to sue them and make a big fuss about it? No. Are you kidding. Live and let live. iStrip is already in the Top 10 free apps in some countries. I don't see them anywhere.

March 03 2009 at 2:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
j0nkatz

I can vouch for getting twitter spammed by the iFart guys after I mentioned buying Pull My Finger.

February 18 2009 at 10:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mugatu

Wow, the hate for fart apps is really weird here. I've enjoyed TUAW for a long time and I'm surprised to see such vehemence towards what is obviously just a gag genre of software for a computer/phone. Where is all this high minded hate coming from? It's just a humor app, some like it, some don't. How does a fart app hurt anything???

A more startling revelation here is that iPhone app devs need to be very careful about what they submit to the app store. Because of the popularity of the platform, the developer of an app can easily be targeted for legal reprisals should it take off like iFart. It makes me not want to ever develop anything for the iPhone just for safety's sake. What if I have a simple idea like iFart? Should I hire a legal team before submitting it? This is horrible for indy developers. Was Shareware and Freeware development ever like this vicious environment?

February 18 2009 at 9:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jimbeam

Didn't apple step in to help out a "big name game developing company" awhile back by having an app pulled that somewhat copied the game of the "Big name" developer?

Now they will not step in to help out the little guy? Even if it means cleaning out the 30 some odd farting apps from the store.

But is say EA made a far app.......

I hate a fart app as much as the next person, but, if apple is going to play mediator for one company they should do it for all or not do it at all.

February 18 2009 at 5:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric Lewis

TUAW is garbage now... as i click unscribe

its crap

and old...

eww to tuaw

February 18 2009 at 4:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Blartz

I guess that's how it breaks - developers like these try to pass these apps as something solid when they're nothing more than a lot of hot air, and end up airing their soiled linen in court. As a developer, I would not want to match their exploits less it cause an even bigger explosion.

At least the air will be cleared between the two of them; unfortunately, it's due to the legal system.

(Actually, this court proceeding sounds like it would make a bad episode of "Boston Legal".)

February 18 2009 at 4:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Blartz's comment
djfred

Hiarious. Too bad everybody's taking themselves way too seriously to notice.

OMG! FART APPS IN THE APPLE STORE! BEING USED ON THE IPHONE! MAKING THOSE OF US WHO FIND FART APPS PUERILE LOOK BAD! WE MUST FIGHT THIS INJUSTICE! WE MUST HANG OUR HEADS IN SHAME!
GET YOUR OWN BLOG!

Would I even know that fart apps existed if TUAW wasn't constantly drawing my attention to it?

Nope.

February 19 2009 at 9:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MARC

BORING!


February 18 2009 at 4:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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