Holograms: potential and confusion for $1.99

It's an interesting situation that the word Holography is being used to describe anything that appears to be 3D. This is not technically accurate however. If you look up a definition of hologram it's a rather amazing optical phenomena involving interference of coherent waves, usually from a Laser for visual applications. I have been a professional holographer (really!) for 30 years. I relize this incorrect use of the word is similiar to how people of my generation use to refer to any copy as a "zerox" and all overnight deliveries as "Fed Ex-ing". So, just keep in mind that the only real 3D, (not stereo 3D simulation), is created by interference phenomea created by a coherent wave generator source. If you like what you see with 3D simulation (fake holography) , you should take a look at the real thing! I will follow with great interest!

Hi! I'm the developer of Holograms. I'm sorry the app was frustrating for you. It's intended to be a simple idea and others have found it intuitive. I was trying to avoid too much text to make it friendlier to international audiences (in fact, Holograms hit the top ten in entertainment in Italy and Japan recently). There's another demo video that explains some of the more advanced features:

http://www.machwerx.com/2009/06/26/how-to-create-a-hologram-on-the-iphone-ipod-touch/

As for pricing, it's an interesting issue. I intentionally put it at a higher price because I didn't want it to just be an impulse buy. I wanted people who bought it to feel like investing some time in exploring the different options in the app. But oddly enough, sales for Holograms didn't change appreciably when I changed the price from $0.99 to $1.99. I think that's because the app has a definite niche. It appeals to a certain geek factor that's evident when I show it to different people (Steve Wozniak liked it!) and for people who like the idea, the difference between $0.99 and $1.99 is negligible. My other app, Mach Dice, is definitely more of a mainstream app and that's why I kept that one at $0.99.

I can see how this would be awesome. I left my iPod in my apartment, otherwise I'd download it, but it seems to me that you just need to think of the image in terms of topography. Literally think of it like a topographic map. Here's a freaky image but a good example:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/1935008910_53335cf70d.jpg?v=0

the rings on the face being the different levels, from the bottom up, at which you would draw on the image, like building a layer cake.

I look at that hologram of the cat and can't think of anything other than:

"Yes Lord Vader, we've reached the power generator. We'll have their shields down in moments. You may start your landing."

dude, awesome presentation :) i'd stay away from 3D babies though, kind of scary!

I wanted to see Up in 3D, but the person I was with has an aversion to it.

I have an aversion to the people I spend time with throwing up, so I didn't argue.

If someone could build something like this that could extrapolate depth data using stereoscopy i think my head would explode.

but defining depth like this app does is crude at best. (Neat idea though.)

Ingenious app, retarded pricing.

I know that developers love whining about how the pressure to lower prices is driving out quality, but Holograms is a perfect example of an app that could sell thousands of units per week at $1 but, instead, will do hundreds at $2.

Be honest: following that excellent demonstration video, you would have bought it on impulse if it was just a dollar but, at $2, you stopped and asked yourself if it was something you'd ever get around to actually using.

So, another awesome app will gather a hardcore of fans but never gain the momentum it needs to break into the top 100 and present itself to the massive truly massive mainstream audience.

Devs need to get comfortable with the simple reality that $1 has become the impulse buy level for apps, the level at which people will just buy without thinking too much about it. If you want to price higher, sure, but you'd better have a really compelling "gotta have it" element to your app because, otherwise, each dollar you add to the price will decimate your sales figures.

The bright side of all this is the sheer size of the market if you get your pricing right: 25 million iPhones have been sold, the 3GS is selling faster than any previous model, Apple have sold 5 million more units to Unicom in China and how many iPod Touches are out there? Surely some insane number and that will explode again when Apple releases the new version with a built-in video camera in September.

Anyway, much respect to the developer for what he has created, it is just a pity that he is missing the opportunity to cash in on all this attention and make Holograms a perfect $1 impulse buy, especially for all those new iPod Touch owners flooding the App store between the September event and Christmas, looking for cool apps and, especially, apps that allow them to play with the new iPod Touch camera.

Other examples of holograms:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnpL4O8S__o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDUirtQ2qTU

He does present amazingly well!!!!!!!