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The iPhone app I saw at WWDC but still can't show you: Bon App

by Victor Agreda, Jr. Jul 19th 2009 at 9:00AM

I guess you could say I'm an armchair foodie. Strangely enough, once I started working at home I rarely got the chance to cook a proper meal. It doesn't help that my kids have typical kid palates, and attempts to "get fancy" with the ingredients are met with wrinkled noses and frowning faces. So when I see an app that looks like it'll make my cooking life simpler and better I'm very, very excited.

Bon App looks to do just that -- it simplifies the entire cooking process, from planning to shopping to cooking. All on the iPhone (or iPod touch). What really has me excited is the way it does this. Any blunt object can bash a nail. I mean, there's a reason Mac users have higher standards, right? I like to think we appreciate ease-of-use and quality design. Bon App has an extensive feature list, yes, but it looks darn good doing what it does, and the developer spent serious time thinking about how you interact with the app.

While I can't show you any screens (the developer was adamant that I not record video), I tell you about a few things I saw. One nice touch: when selecting a particular dish to cook, an icon of the recipe bounces down into a menu bar, indicating where to go next (shopping list, if I recall correctly). I don't remember the shopping list feature well, but the cooking features are exceptional. The app shows you a visual indication of how long each dish will take along a bar graph. This helps you plan what to cook and when. As anyone who has played Hell's Kitchen will tell you, timing is critical. You don't want hot side dishes and a cold entree. It was the first time I'd seen that on an app, and was indicative of the thought put into the app's flow.

The final pieces hadn't been put together when I had a look at the demo. The developer was still thinking through the last phase (cooking, which can be tricky, as trying to prep a meal isn't as straightforward as you might think) and tweaking the interaction. I'm also not sure how recipes get into the app. If you're looking for a desktop cooking app that syncs with the iPhone, about the best I've found so far is Avenio's MacGourmet. But I will certainly be keeping an eye out for Bon App. Even though I'm very happy with Sous Chef, the detail and design of Bon App has me wishing I could pre-order now.

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I guess you could say I'm an armchair foodie. Strangely enough, once I started working at home I rarely got the chance to cook a proper...
 

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publicpersona

So is TUAW just an iPhone app blog now? Don't get me wrong, apps are good, the site just feels a little diluted these days. Keep up the great work regardless!

July 20 2009 at 3:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeffrey

I wouldn't expect too much from this app based on the crappy icon.

July 19 2009 at 8:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CaptCaveman

In the mean time I've been using the big oven app and just found the all recipes apps. Both free and filled with recipes, ratings, and directions.
I do wish the shopping lists on them were a bit more iPhone friendly, like integrating into one of the shopping list apps out for the phone already. But I can always copy the list into Evernotes and sync it with the phone. Or send myself an email.

July 19 2009 at 3:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James Carroll

Sorry - the email address got eaten by the comments engine...

To be notified when BonApp is released, drop an email to:

hungry AT bon-app.com

July 19 2009 at 12:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James Carroll

@Victor - Thanks for the write-up. I'm glad your enthusiasm at WWDC hasn't subsided! Drop me an email and I will keep you posted on the countdown to launch.

@James, @Nik - BonApp is coming to the end of a long development process (we've just completed the fifth round of private beta-testing). We are hoping to submit to the App Store in the next few weeks, but it won't happen until our (very high!) standards are met. Drop an email to and we'll keep you posted as the big day approaches!

@Bob - BonApp is a word-play on the French salutation "Bon Appétit!" meaning "enjoy your meal" (literal meaning: "good appetite") and the fact that it is a good (French: "Bon") application ("App"). Indeed the French often shorten Bon Appétit to BonApp in conversation. We do not intend nor believe there will be any confusion with any other similarly-named product or service (of which there are many throughout the world!).

---------------------
James Carroll
Founder & Lead Developer
BonApp

July 19 2009 at 12:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
malik

in belgium, a word that's in the dictionary can not be copyrighted/trademarked.
and since half the people in belgium talk french, they are free to use BonApp over here, even BonAppetit is legal.

July 19 2009 at 11:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to malik's comment
Jim

Yeah, but you are stuck with living in Belgium with all the militant muslims. Trademark law is the least of your concerns. I'd worry more about gun laws.

July 19 2009 at 5:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
junk.askewed

Don't hold back Bob... Tell us how you really feel.

July 19 2009 at 10:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
L Johnson

I certainly hope "Bon App" is not the actual name of the software. It is a clear infringement on the "Bon Appetit" name of the popular food culinary magazine. I am notifying Conde Nast immediately of this willful infringement. Leeching off someone else's brand name is inappropriate and illegal.

July 19 2009 at 9:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
7 replies to L Johnson's comment
Nik

Is there a release date for this app?

July 19 2009 at 9:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James Donevan

What is the point of this report? An app that doesn't exist in any finished form, indeed may never be released. Surely there are enough existing, available apps that you don't have to resort to silliness like this?

It's bad enough when TUAW reports on apps unavailable and awaiting approval, but apps where the developer is 'still thinking through' its functions? And from the TUAW lead as well. A stronger, experienced editorial hand is overdue here.

July 19 2009 at 9:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to James Donevan's comment
SpinThis!

Thanks James... this is almost exactly what I was going to write.

The app sounds interesting but this is the ultimate vaporware—no screenshots, nothing, just hype about how great it's going to be.

This is like Apple announcing the iPhone but the web browser doesn't work. "You can pinch to zoom in out and double tap to zoom in but... actually we can't show you those features yet."

July 19 2009 at 11:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sax25

Victor, I find it fascinating that you would write out this whole thing without being allowed to provide screenshots or video? If you have had your hands tied, so to speak - why on earth would you give this much publicity to an app that nobody can see? If the author of bon app wants to keep things under such a tight wrap, then kindly do not give them this free publicity which just makes us curious and offers nothing towards that. This would just generate hype for this app and give the author undeserved attention. If they want to show us how amazing this app is - then prove it to us in the usual way, but not by teasing us and then saying we can't show you anything. Unacceptable.

July 19 2009 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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