Filed under: iPod Family, Software, iPhone
Hands on With RunPee for iPhone
One movie. One iPhone. One app. One blogger. That was the scenario last night when I put RunPee for iPhone to the test. Available from Rock Software (iTunes Link) for $0.99, RunPee lets you know which points in a given movie that are safe to miss. When word of this app first hit TUAW, it inspired a lively discussion about the appropriateness of missing any part of a movie. Our own Christina Warren argued passionately that to do so would take you out of the movie, even if you never got up and left. Other, smaller-bladdered bloggers, welcomed the idea saying that if you had to go, it was better to go at a time where less was happening on-screen.
Since I knew I was going to be seeing Star Trek, I volunteered to put the software to the test. RunPee provides a timed list for most of the newest releases, Star Trek among them. I took my iPhone and headed off to the Cinema.
So how did things go? Well, to be frank, not as well as I'd hoped. First of all, the RunPee software provides a list of times and cues, so you know when to head loo-wards. For example, at nearly an hour into the movie, one character says to another to take the con. Notice that I do not mention which characters are involved.
RunPee is not that discreet. In fact, its relatively short list of times and actions can be seen as a series of movie spoilers. There's no timed/reveal of each successive break so I was inadvertently spoiled from the start by several big plot developments, which are all shown on-screen at once.
In use it's also really hard to track the suggested break times. The app comes with a built-in timer but no other cues. You cannot stick the iPhone in your pocket and wait for alarmed vibrations, pulling it out to see if you're at the proper place or not. This feature is not in the software. Instead, you have to keep unlocking the screen and checking the time. It feels like work and it's really annoying to the people around you who keep getting flashed by the lit iPhone screen.
To use this application, you need Internet access. There's no way to download the data and then read it later offline. If your theater has poor cell reception, you're out of luck.
In short, RunPee does not yet bring anything to the table that a spoiler website couldn't. Yes, you get access to pre-timed lists that you could possibly use to service bladder interruptus but between the difficulty of use, the annoyance to other patrons, and the outright spoiling of movie points, RunPee didn't do what I had hoped. So points to Christina, who argued exactly that.
In e-mail, the developer has promised to add vibration support and is working on improving the product in other ways. For now, if you don't mind spoilers and you want to avoid the whole crazy astronaut woman syndrome, RunPee may supply the information you want. And the movie? Thumbs up. One of the better Star Trek offerings.
Name: Run Pee Mobile (iTunes link)
Developer: Rock Software
Platform: iPhone or iPod touch
Price: 0.99
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
valexa said 1:12PM on 7-09-2009
don't run and pee
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Brian Allen said 1:21PM on 7-09-2009
I thinking you should save your money and go use the toilet prior to walking into the movie.
It is a clever concept, but it does work.
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BeyondtheTech said 1:24PM on 7-09-2009
My thoughts exactly. The new Star Trek is a movie that you just don't get up under any circumstances. I recommend you sit in your urine and feces in order to enjoy every minute of that flick.
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Bob Patin said 1:30PM on 7-09-2009
When is it safe to go to the restroom during "Angels and Demons?"
Go before the movie starts; stay in the bathroom until the movie is over. Return; you've now managed to miss a really bad movie.
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Bob Patin said 1:36PM on 7-09-2009
In a field of lots of stupid and useless apps, this one rates a pretty high ranking.
To begin with, on just who comes up with these "safe times?" I'm supposed to whip out my iPhone in the middle of a movie, annoying everyone around me, to find out when I can miss part of the movie?
Wrong. I've would just have missed part of the movie by using this ridiculous app.
I agree with Brian; using the latest technology, and functioning as a mature adult, I can go to the bathroom before I enter the theatre. Tough to work out, but with a little practice, it can be done.
Who sits in a movie, making notes of the best times to MISS part of the movie? The absurdity of this boggles the mind. I applaud anyone's willingness to learn how to write iPhone apps; the trick is to write one that actually has some usefulness.
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CaptSaltyJack said 4:41PM on 7-09-2009
If you don't like it, don't buy it, simple as that. Some people suffer from incontinence, maybe. Or maybe a diabetic has to drink water often, and can't help having to go in the middle of a movie.
Geez, some people just want to whine and complain. Get over yourselves.
YodaMac said 1:37PM on 7-09-2009
Yeah, seriously.
Go BEFORE the movie, DONT BIGGIE SIZE that drink, and if you just absolutely can't hold it - then for goodness sake GO, and don't worry about the flick.
Your friends/family will fill you in on what you missed (AFTER the movie is over please!!)
Common sense, people.
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Richie Allen said 2:03PM on 7-09-2009
What about having a timer in the app with a "start" button on it? Hit start at a pre-determined time (ie. when the movie title shows on screen). When a part of the movie comes up that is suitable to miss (I know, that's open to interpretation, but work with me here), the phone vibrates and displays a message stating "You have __ minutes. GO NOW!" or something like that. Also display a "Next pee time" countdown on the main screen, so you can decide whether to go now or wait until the next break.
Could actually be a good app with some work like that.
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RunPeeCreator said 12:23AM on 7-22-2009
Man, you nailed it. That's exactly what the update does. Should have it available in a few weeks.
imarcw said 2:15PM on 7-09-2009
Though it might drain the battery, a more effective way to do this would be to start a timer, put in your earbuds, and wait for audio cues of the same information. No spoilers or flashing necessary.
Though I admit that it would still be distracting, and if the movie you're watching is actually any good, just how many inessential moments should there be? And how do you define that?
I could imagine the RunPee entry for "2001": "When you see a bunch of things floating in space and hear classical music, it is safe to drive home, use your own bathroom and come back without missing any plot points."
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YodaMac said 3:30PM on 7-09-2009
See! Therein lies the "subjectiveness" of it all. :(
I wouldn't miss one frame of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, and certainly not during one of the most pivotal moments in Dave Bowman's journey.
And if the person sitting next to me during any movie DARES to pull out a cellphone and turn it on..... The popcorn and drinks absolutely WILL FLY! :(
Go BEFORE the flick, and if you must use your cellphone - stay at home please.
imarcw said 4:06PM on 7-09-2009
I love 2001 as much as the next person. My point was that leaving in the middle of that movie might not hinder your understanding of it, but it would certainly interfere with your appreciation of it. The ham-handed approach of declaring it "safe" to skip sections that might not be packed with plot twists would do a disservice to most movies that are worth watching in the first place.
ryan.thompson said 2:18PM on 7-09-2009
Not everyone has the luxury of having flawless health. There are many who have bladder concerns which don't pose a great problem except in situation where you're cut off from a washroom. I'm disabled (Physically, not mentally like some of the posters before me), and knowing when there is going to be a lull in the movie would be a great asset. I'm high functioning, so I can hold my own, but many disabled folks are not so lucky. An app like this would be nice if you didn't want to greater inconvenience the person who will be assisting you.
However, I would have liked to have seen more effort here. It's easy to programatically find what movies are playing, and when they start, so when I open the app, it should get my location, and then it should list the 3-4 movies starting in the next 10-15 minutes. I select one, and it then sends that to it's server and does a push notice with a 2 second vibrate at each potential break.
The colours could be changed to so that it doesn't blind everyone sitting around you if you're taking a quick peek to see if there is any relief in sight.
I like the concept, but the execution is less than what I expected.
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RunPeeCreator said 12:31AM on 7-22-2009
I wish. I would have worked on something like this but there is absolutely no way to know how long the previews/commercials will be before the movie starts. It typically runs in the 15-20 minute range but to be effective I would need to know down to 1-2 minutes at most.
It isn't that big of a problem to hit a start button when the movie begins is it?
Hobbes said 2:50PM on 7-09-2009
Now that the 3GS has video recording in it, I wonder how long before people will start recording movies with their iPhones and then how long until movie theatres start preventing people from going to movies with their phones.
Not sure if this is an issue with other phones as well.
I know the quality of the recording will not be the best, but people already do this with crappy cams anyway.
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Julian said 5:50PM on 7-09-2009
My problem with the site is that in my opinion, the runpee recommendations are awful. They either give you a VERY short time to go, or you end up missing something important. And even if it is not important to the understanding of the movie, you might en up loosing an impressive action scene. At least the runpee times for the movies I've seen are not at all moments when I'd go.
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TheIcemanCometh said 7:37PM on 7-09-2009
I personally put this in the category of Farting apps. Useless.
But ... I do applaud the uniqueness of the concept. And you never know until you try.
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ars_workerbee said 9:05PM on 7-09-2009
holy cow, who declared all you guys sheriffs of the movies?
here's an idea: use the app before you go in. remember the times. make the mad dash if you have to.
Regardless of what you think of the app, taking your phone out during a movie is completely rude, and I'm not surprised to read that Erica would do something like that.
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RunPeeCreator said 12:32AM on 7-22-2009
I wish there was a way for the app to detect if the person using it was rude and then disable the app. Sadly even Apple hasn't cracked that one. :)
I think that with the first update adding the vibrate mode to the timer that any semi intelligent person should be able to use the app without actually taking it out during the movie.
TJ said 5:46PM on 8-09-2009
All the comments about being rude... Um yeah go to Settings>Brightness and turn it all the way down. Its barely noticeable after that.
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