First Venture Capital Funded iPhone Apps: Whrrl, iControl

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

When Apple announced the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) in March, they also announced the creation (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/03/06/ifund-to-offer-100-million-in-seed-money-to-iphone-developers/) of a $100 million dollar "iFund" by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Businessweek reports (http://businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080526_465550.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_news+%2B+analysis) on the first two companies that have been chosen to receive funding out of over 1700 submissions.

Pelago's (http://www.pelago.com/) Whrrl application ties the iPhone's mapping capabilities to help find out restaurants and services in your area: Say you're lost in Las Vegas and need a restaurant recommendation. With iPhone in hand, you can scan the locations of nearby restaurants, just Italian restaurants, or just those recommended by foodie friends. Or you could search for the highest-rated bars or kid-friendly activities recommended by friends from your social network. There's going to be a "what's going on around me right now" button, says Kleiner Perkins partner Matt Murphy. "You're always one button away from that immediate context."
The other application to receive funding is iControl (http://www.icontrol.com/), a home automation application that would allow you to remotely control devices in your house (such as lighting, air conditioning, etc..) through your iPhone.

Kleiner Perkins has reportedly extended one more offer to another company and has 10 others they are seriously considering. Though no agreements have been put in place, Pelago is optimistic that they could be featured by Apple either at the WWDC keynote or even as a bundled application with the iPhone.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/05/27/first-venture-captial-funded-iphone-apps-whrrl-icontrol/)

[crazzyeddie]

Those both sound like perfect apps for the iPhone and I'm glad they are being made, although I kind of expected the location-based recommendation service to be done by an Apple/Google partnership...

The home automation will really make the iPhone appeal to upper-class and many geeks as well. Just more market share...

[Mykbibby]

How exactly will the iphone be able to control lighting?!? Will I have to connect a device to each light switch?

[Roy Hobbs]

How exactly will the iphone be able to control lighting?!? Will I have to connect a device to each light switch?

Yeah, thats pretty much how all home automation works.

[Sbrocket]

Bundled? I doubt it. Apple wouldn't support 3rd party apps like that. Possibly featured, and there's always Apple Design Awards if they applied for that (and I would assume they did). Sure to be lots of iPhone-related Design Awards this year, if only they would stop screwing with the SDK!

[Project]

Bundled? I doubt it. Apple wouldn't support 3rd party apps like that. Possibly featured, and there's always Apple Design Awards if they applied for that (and I would assume they did). Sure to be lots of iPhone-related Design Awards this year, if only they would stop screwing with the SDK!

Apple has almost always bundled 3rd party software with the Mac

[amac4me]

Now this is how to build a platform. VCs role in helping build out the iPhone platform cannot be understated. The iPhone is and will continue to change how we conduct our lives.

[Mykbibby]

Yeah, thats pretty much how all home automation works.

I have never done that before, so I'm kind of in the dark on this one. So does that mean with every sale of iControl you have to spend another x amount of dollars on all the little mechanisms that flick the lights on and off? Where do you even buy these?

EDIT: No pun intended...

[Kwill]

Another iControl (http://keepon.timex.com/iControl/US/)? We look forward to names that match equally innovative products.

[miketcool]

How exactly will the iphone be able to control lighting?!? Will I have to connect a device to each light switch?

Watch the episode of South Park when Cartman gets a trapper keeper. It will be a lot like that...

[Lershac]

I have never done that before, so I'm kind of in the dark on this one. So does that mean with every sale of iControl you have to spend another x amount of dollars on all the little mechanisms that flick the lights on and off? Where do you even buy these?

smarthome.com for one... just google and you can get an idea of the size of the market (pretty large)

Its not an inexpensive proposition. Especially when you start tying in control of hvac and alarm systems. It imperative to start with a flexible base system.

[deathshrub]

The word is actually spelled "capital."

[pauld]

... I'm kind of in the dark on this one...

You'll need some automation on your light-switches then.

[gifford]

I kind of expected the location-based recommendation service to be done by an Apple/Google partnership...

Agreed, though I kinda expected both apps to be done by apple (and/or google).

[Tulse]

Judging by the linked websites, these products don't seem to be iPhone-only, or even originally developed for the iPhone. While it's great that companies are porting over their applications to the iPhone, I was hoping that an iPhone-centric VC fund would give us apps that take advantage of the platforms unique properties.

[zama36]

(This is based on the little info in the article.)

While the home automation tool seems alright but Whrrl? How is this supportable and actually generate money outside of the Apps purchase price? You can already search for restaurants via Maps (search = food type, zip code.) Connections into social networks to find local activities? What happens when those sites change their APIs? Will the app be updated/supported for free or will users be forced into paid upgrades?

This just seems like it could be a web app not a native app. With a web app you could continue the revenue stream with ads. If the native app goes the route of the announced ZUNE strategy with ads on the device, I doubt it will take on.

[network23]

I couldn't tell from the iControl website, but I hope they allow the app to interface with X10 devices.

[PruneTracy]

I have never done that before, so I'm kind of in the dark on this one. So does that mean with every sale of iControl you have to spend another x amount of dollars on all the little mechanisms that flick the lights on and off? Where do you even buy these?

No, this is something that will have to have a lot of forethought before being able to control your lighting. Systems such as Lutron's Grafik Eye must have each switch hardwired behind your walls to other switches, and then can be controlled with a remote from there, or RadioRA in which all switches talk to each other and can be controlled with a radio frequency remote- something an iPhone wouldn't be able to do.

There are newer home control systems out there like Colorado Vnet. That's something for all you rich guys who don't feel like buying a new BMW this year, or sending your children to college. It's a whole home control system (audio, lighting, climate, security, television, etc) that is all run via CAT5 wire and controlled with touch screen panels. As you can imagine, a system like this was meant to be paired with a remote device like the iPhone, as it's table top "remote" that it comes with is about the size of a macbook... no joke. And their touch screen isn' the most responsive.

Anyway, nerd rant off. To answer the original question- you have to redo your entire switching for something like this to work. An i'd imagine that costing the average person about $3k for a 3 bedroom home... so... no dice:D

[mainstreetmark]

Agreed, though I kinda expected both apps to be done by apple (and/or google).

Yeah, neither of these sound particularly novel to me.

I would have hoped for some truly innovative and unique apps but these two entries are simply iPhone versions of already existing products.

[Sbrocket]

Apple has almost always bundled 3rd party software with the Mac

This isn't a desktop computer where "bundle-ware" is much less apparent to the end-user. Bundled software on an iPhone would be *bam* right there on the front screen. That's quite some "free" recognition to just give away.

Attempting to compare the two very different platforms like you just did is just wrong.

[rhett7660]

Hmmm.. As much as I like my iPhone, I don't for see investing heavely in a home automation system to take advantage of this. I could for see myself adding something to the lights say in the living room etc. Pulling up to my drive way hit a button on the iPhone and the lights all come on. But even that would be a little chunk of change.

I already have a remote that can do all of the above, from within my house. That is of course if I wanted to invest in the home lighting or hvac. Why would I use my iPhone in the house when my current remote can do it. With the exception of the above, scenario.

Next please.......

[BongoBanger]

Doesn't Google Maps do what Whrrl's talking about already?

[indiekiduk]

If you don't want to wait you can try the StreetFlow app that does location based restaurant recommendations right now. You can even see photos of people's food it's really cool.

Not the best vid but hopefully you'll see this stuff is available right now.
http://www.installerapps.com/2008/05/09/streetflow/

[H$R]

Doesn't Google Maps do what Whrrl's talking about already?

Some of it (like "only Italian Restaurants") yes, other things (for example the stuff you're friends/social networks recommend) not.

I've once been on a visiter day at a computer science college and they had a HP smartphone (or was it an Palm Tungsten?) with which they were experimenting stuff like light control/music controly and stuff in yur household. But it was very experimental back then. But it was looking pretty cool and useful. *want have*

[dicklacara]

No, this is something that will have to have a lot of forethought before being able to control your lighting. Systems such as Lutron's Grafik Eye must have each switch hardwired behind your walls to other switches, and then can be controlled with a remote from there, or RadioRA in which all switches talk to each other and can be controlled with a radio frequency remote- something an iPhone wouldn't be able to do.

There are newer home control systems out there like Colorado Vnet. That's something for all you rich guys who don't feel like buying a new BMW this year, or sending your children to college. It's a whole home control system (audio, lighting, climate, security, television, etc) that is all run via CAT5 wire and controlled with touch screen panels. As you can imagine, a system like this was meant to be paired with a remote device like the iPhone, as it's table top "remote" that it comes with is about the size of a macbook... no joke. And their touch screen isn' the most responsive.

Anyway, nerd rant off. To answer the original question- you have to redo your entire switching for something like this to work. An i'd imagine that costing the average person about $3k for a 3 bedroom home... so... no dice:D

Do you need to redo everything, or just the things you want to control?

If the latter, the cost can be quite reasonable, using individual device controllers and a central master control (controlled by the iPhone/Touch, with the control signals transmitted over the house wiring).

This (lower cost) incremental approach would appeal to many, especially renters.

However, if you add security and [remote] monitoring to the mix of applications, then $3K is a pittance, compared to the cost of security and replacement of, say, multiple computers, HDTVs, Stereos, etc... might even be able to recoup the costs with lower insurance rates.

Interesting, that Mike Markkula, after he left Apple, started a company to do just this sort of control. The company is Echelon ELON. link (http://www.echelon.com/company/investor/corpgov/boardofdirectors.htm)

When the iPhone was announced, this (iControl) app seemed such a natural that I invested in ELON. Then, about $8-- currently about $12.

I don't know what the relationship is between Mike and Steve is, but their companies could do well by jointly exploiting this capability:

--Echelon has the controllers and infrastructure for local and remote device monitoring/control

--Apple has (will have) the best of breed Universal [monitor and] Remote controller

[shyfidelity]

iControl would be most effective with a technology like ZigBee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zigbee). It's a Bluetooth-like wireless standard, but with slower data rates and requires much less power.

But until the iPhone incorporates such a standard, Bluetooth would suffice. Each device would be Bluetooth enabled and communicate directly with the iPhone. No need for wiring or central control hubs.

[stagi]

iControl sounds pretty cool to me, cant wait to see more info on it.

[fluff]

This iControl seems like such a niche market....How many people in the US have Home Automation systems? How many people can afford one? I would think, very few!! Seems like the fund would be investing in Apps that could gain a little more market share....just my .02

[Decrepit]

This iControl seems like such a niche market....How many people in the US have Home Automation systems? How many people can afford one? I would think, very few!! Seems like the fund would be investing in Apps that could gain a little more market share....just my .02

They're probably investing in what they know. When you've got the kind of money that this firm probably pays, you run in a crowd more likely to have these types of systems.

Same with the restaurant app. It takes a certain level of cash on hand to want a phone to tell you where the upscale restaurants are.

[dicklacara]

This iControl seems like such a niche market....How many people in the US have Home Automation systems? How many people can afford one? I would think, very few!! Seems like the fund would be investing in Apps that could gain a little more market share....just my .02

Well, it may be a niche, but it could be a rather big niche. Apple is a niche computer, remenber ;)

Here's a scenario: You occupy a home, but both work, so your heat/AC (depending on season) and lights are off most of the day, but come on at preprogrammed times (thermostat & timers). But still, your utilities average $200/month (and about to go higher).

What if you could buy a controller device that could save you 10% a year on utilities by providing finer (better) monitoring and control of just your HVAC/Lights?

Say, such a controller device cost $200 with a simple plugin install. You could recover the cost in less than 1 year.

And, you could monitor & control the device (and HVAC/Lighting) remotely from anywhere via the iPhone-- Running late? Don't turn on the HVAC until 10 minutes before you arrive... yadda, yadda, yadda.

2 bills is not a backbreaker.

[infowarfare]

Bundled? I doubt it. Apple wouldn't support 3rd party apps like that...

This isn't a desktop computer where "bundle-ware" is much less apparent to the end-user. Bundled software on an iPhone would be *bam* right there on the front screen. That's quite some "free" recognition to just give away...

You mean like the Google Maps app, Youtube app or Yahoo Weather and Stock apps already on the iPhone?

:confused:

[Dr.Gargoyle]

Doesn't Whrrl implies iPhone 2 has GPS?
How else should you be able to know what is around you when you are lost?

[psychofreak]

Doesn't Whrrl implies iPhone 2 has GPS?
How else should you be able to know what is around you when you are lost?

The current iPhone already has 'Locate me', which is very good in some areas, and good enough for this in many areas.

[frankfurter]

The word is actually spelled "capital."

Since you appear to be a stickler for details, you should technically say:

....actually spelled "capital".

Note the period is -outside- the quotes. You don't spell capital with a period.

Sorry. Call me the grammar police police.

[infowarfare]

Hmmm.. As much as I like my iPhone, I don't for see investing heavely in a home automation system to take advantage of this. I could for see myself adding something to the lights say in the living room etc. Pulling up to my drive way hit a button on the iPhone and the lights all come on. But even that would be a little chunk of change.

I already have a remote that can do all of the above, from within my house. That is of course if I wanted to invest in the home lighting or hvac. Why would I use my iPhone in the house when my current remote can do it. With the exception of the above, scenario.

Next please.......

The point of iControl isn't just to use it as a remote when you are in your house, it allows you to do things such as, for example, if you are a parent at work and you want to make sure your kids got home safe, you can view them on video in real time on the iPhone, or if you are coming home from vacation and you had the A/C off for a week and you know it's going to be hot, you can turn it on hours before you get home. And there's all sorts of other security measures that are beneficial with iControl and the iPhone... you guys just need to open your minds a little bit more.

And of course, this isn't for some poor schlub that saved up all of his allowance just to buy an iPhone, it's obviously for those homeowners that already have home automation or can afford to have it built in (and considering that there are a well over 300,000 millionaires in Los Angeles alone, take in the rest of the U.S. and the World and that's a pretty huge market!)

[frankfurter]

and regarding those apps - boooooo.

How about something useful?

Home automation, while cool and all, is not even close to mainstream. And Whrrrrrllllll sounds like one of those apps that sounds great on paper, but you just can't seem to get anyone to use it.

Next.

[infowarfare]

The word is actually spelled "capital."
Since you appear to be a stickler for details, you should technically say:

....actually spelled "capital".

Note the period is -outside- the quotes. You don't spell capital with a period.

Sorry. Call me the grammar police police.

Wow, you are actually SO wrong.

This site is a really good quick reference for Grammar and Punctuation rules. There is also a quick quiz you can take to see if you remember the rules you have just learned. Do some research:

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp


Rule 1
Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks, even inside single quotes.
Examples The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.
She said, "Hurry up."
She said, "He said, 'Hurry up.'"

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

I think these were very good choices. I wonder what else was submitted and what the next sponsored app will be.

[L3X]

The point of iControl isn't just to use it as a remote when you are in your house, it allows you to do things such as, for example, if youa re a partent at work and you want to make sure your kids got home safe, you can view on video them in real time on the iPhone, or if you are coming home from vacation and you had the A/C off for a week and you know it's going to be hot, you can turn it on hours before you get home. And there's all sorts of other security measures that are beneficial with iControl and the iPhone... you guys just need to open your minds a little bit more.

And of course, this isn't for some poor schlub that saved up all of his allowance just to buy an iPhone, it's obviously for those homeowners that already have home automation or can afford to have it built in (and considering that there are a well over 300,000 millionaires in Los Angeles alone, take in the rest of the U.S. and the World and that's a pretty huge market!)
good points

[Project]

This isn't a desktop computer where "bundle-ware" is much less apparent to the end-user. Bundled software on an iPhone would be *bam* right there on the front screen. That's quite some "free" recognition to just give away.

Attempting to compare the two very different platforms like you just did is just wrong.

Whatever man.

Like the dude a few posts above just pointed out that there are plenty of 3rd party services already on the iPhone.

Or the Flickr and YouTube integration in Apple TV.

Or the YouTube integration in iMovie and Keynote.

Or the Google Maps and Google AdSense integration in iWeb.

Or when Internet Explorer was the default browser in the Mac OS.

Apple isn't afraid to give prime time space to 3rd party apps on ANY platform.

[kavika411]

I've glanced through this post, but haven't seen this question asked or answered. If it has, my apologies.

Regarding iControl, I don't understand the method by which the signal is transmitted from the iPhone. I guess it can't be bluetooth because you could only do it in close proximity (as opposed to turning on your house lights from your driveway). I may be showing my lack of understanding of the "antennas" on the iPhone, but I'm just confused on (1) which antenna will send the signal, and (2) whether that signal will have to then travel through a cell tower and/or my computer and/or something else altogether before getting to the "receptor" (e.g. the thermostat's "antenna").

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[frankfurter]

Wow, you are actually SO wrong.

This site is a really good quick reference for Grammar and Punctuation rules. There is also a quick quiz you can take to see if you remember the rules you have just learned. Do some research:

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp

I'm surprised you have time for this, with all the hob-nobbing and jet-setting between L.A. and the rest of the world....

Regardless, I don't need some funky website to know I'm right. In the context of his sentence, the period belongs outside. Rather than doing some research, why not use something lacking these days - logic and common sense. Just because it's on the internet doesn't make it the golden word.

[nastebu]

Wow, you are actually SO wrong.



I can't resist a good grammar dispute. The period rule varies depending on where you are. American usage puts it inside the quotations marks. British usage--which is followed in the Caribbean but not Latin America--puts it outside.

[frankfurter]

I've glanced through this post, but haven't seen this question asked or answered. If it has, my apologies.

Regarding iControl, I don't understand the method by which the signal is transmitted from the iPhone. I guess it can't be bluetooth because you could only do it in close proximity (as opposed to turning on your house lights from your driveway). I may be showing my lack of understanding of the "antennas" on the iPhone, but I'm just confused on (1) which antenna will send the signal, and (2) whether that signal will have to then travel through a cell tower and/or my computer and/or something else altogether before getting to the "receptor" (e.g. the thermostat's "antenna").

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Probably just repackaging what's been done for years - network control of your automation system through the internet. http://www.x10.com/automation/automation_software.html

[rhett7660]

or if you are coming home from vacation and you had the A/C off for a week and you know it's going to be hot, you can turn it on hours before you get home.

Hmm... can already do that without the use of an iPhone


you can view them on video in real time on the iPhone,

This is a nice feature!

[hayduke]

Regardless, I don't need some funky website to know I'm right. In the context of his sentence, the period belongs outside. Rather than doing some research, why not use something lacking these days - logic and common sense. Just because it's on the internet doesn't make it the golden word.

Um. Interesting response. Not sure how better to inform you, but you are mistaken. That is, you are *not* right. I don't know how you go about acquiring knowledge, but colloquial mis-usage of grammar does not define it as "correct." (Note the placement of the period.)

[duck69]

:eek: iControl "Subscription Service IS REQUIRED" What a Rip Off ! :mad:
;) Although few; There is Home Automation software already available for the Mac that does what this will do & more WITHOUT A SUBSCRIPTION. Plus there is all kinds of hardware available. :cool:

OH ! You want it because it works on your iPhone :apple: !!!
Duh ! Your iPhone has a web browser; Well doesn't it :confused:
Then, DO YOUR HOMEWORK..... Cause that's all you will need. :D:D:D

[Dr.Gargoyle]

The current iPhone already has 'Locate me', which is very good in some areas, and good enough for this in many areas.
Just how exact is it compared to GPS? Urban resp. countryside. Doesn't that technology implies very expensive data roaming charges if you are outside your own network?

[stagi]

Well, it may be a niche, but it could be a rather big niche. Apple is a niche computer, remenber ;)

Here's a scenario: You occupy a home, but both work, so your heat/AC (depending on season) and lights are off most of the day, but come on at preprogrammed times (thermostat & timers). But still, your utilities average $200/month (and about to go higher).

What if you could buy a controller device that could save you 10% a year on utilities by providing finer (better) monitoring and control of just your HVAC/Lights?

Say, such a controller device cost $200 with a simple plugin install. You could recover the cost in less than 1 year.

And, you could monitor & control the device (and HVAC/Lighting) remotely from anywhere via the iPhone-- Running late? Don't turn on the HVAC until 10 minutes before you arrive... yadda, yadda, yadda.

2 bills is not a backbreaker.
True, I think that this could be a pretty big market and these VC firms are not dumb, they are investing in these companies to make money and they look into the future to see what is going to be the next big thing. Maybe home automation isn't huge right now and might be pricey but make it easy and more affordable and it could be huge. If they did have a $200 device I would buy it.

[woodekm]

The first thing that popped in my mind for the iControl was "Homelink", like allot of cars currently have installed by the factory. My honda has it. You can program it to operate garage doors, open gates etc. After its programmed you dont need a separate remote to control specific items. Just push one of three set buttons on the ceiling of the car.

Nice, if you have that type of stuff to operate (I dont, so its pretty much useless for me).

[frankfurter]

Um. Interesting response. Not sure how better to inform you, but you are mistaken. That is, you are *not* right. I don't know how you go about acquiring knowledge, but colloquial mis-usage of grammar does not define it as "correct." (Note the placement of the period.)

Like using 'Um'. Thanks for clearing that up, teach.

[twoodcc]

wow, can't wait til WWDC. looking forward to these apps

[thaitillidie]

[QUOTE=MacRumors;5488192]http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

When Apple announced the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) in March, they also announced the creation (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/03/06/ifund-to-offer-100-million-in-seed-money-to-iphone-developers/) of a $100 million dollar "iFund" by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Businessweek reports (http://businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080526_465550.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_news+%2B+analysis) on the first two companies that have been chosen to receive funding out of over 1700 submissions.

Pelago's (http://www.pelago.com/) Whrrl application ties the iPhone's mapping capabilities to help find out restaurants and services in your
area:
The other application to receive funding is iControl (http://www.icontrol.com/), a home automation application
that would allow you to remotely control devices in your house (such as
lighting, air conditioning, etc..) through your iPhone.
Kleiner Perkins has reportedly extended one more offer to another company
and has 10 others they are seriously considering. Though no agreements have
been put in place, Pelago is optimistic that they could be featured by Apple
either at the WWDC keynote or even as a bundled application with the iPhone.
[url=http://www.macrumors.com/2008/05/27/first-venture-captial-funded-
iphone-apps-whrrl-icontrol/]


Boy oh boy, this event in less than 2 weeks had better be the greatest product unveiling in the history of product releases or mark my words Apple will lose a substantial contingent of its die-hard loyal fan base. Sure, even if the update is crappy and doesn't live up to the hype (how could it possibly?) they'll still sell enough of them to newbies to make headlines, but for we connaisseurs who've been through this before with Apple, well, we're just fed the f$#! up and we're not gonna take it anymore! We'll revolt in the form of simply keeping our current phones, downloading whatever half-a$$ firmware update they issue and let that suffice...until they release a product ALL-INCLUSIVE of features that meet --- no, EXCEED --- our high demands and descriminating tastes. Let Steve Jobs release some ol' ********* come June 9th. Just let him. Ohhh I want him to do it soooo bad! I dare him, dammit! And see what happens!!!

[Mal]

[QUOTE=MacRumors;5488192]http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

When Apple announced the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) in March, they also announced the creation (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/03/06/ifund-to-offer-100-million-in-seed-money-to-iphone-developers/) of a $100 million dollar "iFund" by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Businessweek reports (http://businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080526_465550.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_news+%2B+analysis) on the first two companies that have been chosen to receive funding out of over 1700 submissions.

Pelago's (http://www.pelago.com/) Whrrl application ties the iPhone's mapping capabilities to help find out restaurants and services in your
area:
The other application to receive funding is iControl (http://www.icontrol.com/), a home automation application
that would allow you to remotely control devices in your house (such as
lighting, air conditioning, etc..) through your iPhone.
Kleiner Perkins has reportedly extended one more offer to another company
and has 10 others they are seriously considering. Though no agreements have
been put in place, Pelago is optimistic that they could be featured by Apple
either at the WWDC keynote or even as a bundled application with the iPhone.
[url=http://www.macrumors.com/2008/05/27/first-venture-captial-funded-
iphone-apps-whrrl-icontrol/]


Boy oh boy, this event in less than 2 weeks had better be the greatest product unveiling in the history of product releases or mark my words Apple will lose a substantial contingent of its die-hard loyal fan base. Sure, even if the update is crappy and doesn't live up to the hype (how could it possibly?) they'll still sell enough of them to newbies to make headlines, but for we connaisseurs who've been through this before with Apple, well, we're just fed the f$#! up and we're not gonna take it anymore! We'll revolt in the form of simply keeping our current phones, downloading whatever half-a$$ firmware update they issue and let that suffice...until they release a product ALL-INCLUSIVE of features that meet --- no, EXCEED --- our high demands and descriminating tastes. Let Steve Jobs release some ol' ********* come June 9th. Just let him. Ohhh I want him to do it soooo bad! I dare him, dammit! And see what happens!!!

Umm, I seriously hope you just missed your meds or something, but do you even know what the heck you're writing? I can't make any sense of it at all, especially since this news wasn't even about Apple directly, it's about two other companies creating products for the iPhone.

jW

[savar]

(This is based on the little info in the article.)

While the home automation tool seems alright but Whrrl? How is this supportable and actually generate money outside of the Apps purchase price? You can already search for restaurants via Maps (search = food type, zip code.) Connections into social networks to find local activities? What happens when those sites change their APIs? Will the app be updated/supported for free or will users be forced into paid upgrades?

This just seems like it could be a web app not a native app. With a web app you could continue the revenue stream with ads. If the native app goes the route of the announced ZUNE strategy with ads on the device, I doubt it will take on.

Both apps are pretty unoriginal, but with good execution could be nice products. The "web 2.0" way to make money on Whrll is to have context sensitive ads... "Looking for a hoagie in 12345? Try John's Hoagie at the corner of 1st and Main."

Anyway, to the point of social networking APIs -- they release those APIs specifically so that their business partners don't have to retool everytime Facebook changes the way something works. The API is designed to be stable for a long time.

X-10 Automation is pretty lousy too. I've been wondering for years what the next standard will be. X-10 has been around since the 70's and it's sophistication reflects that.

[Aeolius]

X-10 Automation is pretty lousy too. I've been wondering for years what the next standard will be. X-10 has been around since the 70's and it's sophistication reflects that.

You might want to research Insteon, then. Here's how I would automate my home, if money was not a concern: ECU (http://web.mac.com/aeolius/house/ECU.html)

Here's a VIDEO (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q-iighX42U) of a guy already using his iPhone for home Automation.

[thaitillidie]

[QUOTE=thaitillidie;5489596]

Umm, I seriously hope you just missed your meds or something, but do you even know what the heck you're writing? I can't make any sense of it at all, especially since this news wasn't even about Apple directly, it's about two other companies creating products for the iPhone.

jW


That was my point EXACTLY: "...news wasn't even about Apple directly, it's about two other companies creating products for the iPhone." Couldn't have phrased it more eloquently myself!! Just for future reference there's a touch of facetiousness in nearly all the comments that I make...as will continue to be the case until I, along with many other like-minded, frustrated individuals, receive NEWS THAT I CAN ACTUALLY USE!!!!...related DIRECTLY to the updated device as far as what it looks like, what it's new features are, etc etc etc. And at the rate we're going looks like no other details or relevant rumors will be forthcoming until the 9th of freakin' June! Argghhhh!

C'mon, dude. Let's be real about it. Nobody really cares about this other fluffy rumor stuff. And it's about time somebody stood up and said it!! I want iphone news...3G iphone news...not news about some feature being developed by some other company or collaborations of other companies that nobody will ever use more than likely (exhibit A: Apple TV).

So, please, if ya don't mind, I'd rather not go back 'n forth on this with you like a couple o' school girls...instead, let us both bow our heads...and pray...for good news...and news that we can actually use!!!

[Mal]

[QUOTE=Mal;5489637]


That was my point EXACTLY: "...news wasn't even about Apple directly, it's about two other companies creating products for the iPhone." Couldn't have phrased it more eloquently myself!! Just for future reference there's a touch of facetiousness in nearly all the comments that I make...as will continue to be the case until I, along with many other like-minded, frustrated individuals, receive NEWS THAT I CAN ACTUALLY USE!!!!...related DIRECTLY to the updated device as far as what it looks like, what it's new features are, etc etc etc. And at the rate we're going looks like no other details or relevant rumors will be forthcoming until the 9th of freakin' June! Argghhhh!

C'mon, dude. Let's be real about it. Nobody really cares about this other fluffy rumor stuff. And it's about time somebody stood up and said it!! I want iphone news...3G iphone news...not news about some feature being developed by some other company or collaborations of other companies that nobody will ever use more than likely (exhibit A: Apple TV).

So, please, if ya don't mind, I'd rather not go back 'n forth on this with you like a couple o' school girls...instead, let us both bow our heads...and pray...for good news...and news that we can actually use!!!

Grow up a bit.:rolleyes:

I for one find this news very interesting and relevant, as the apps that will run on the new iPhone software are far more potentially useful than the new iPhone features that are rumored (or rather, the new features are made useful by the software that can take advantage of them). It's exactly the type of stuff that I want to hear about. Besides, while I know this is a rumor site, it's nice to hear something solid. There aren't any iPhone rumors that are even somewhat solid, so you can't blame the site for reporting stuff that's solid and quite interesting.

jW

[DiamondMac]

I will probably use the first application for places to eat but I doubt I will touch iControl as I am fine using my devices at home for lighting, heating, etc....

[TwinCities Dan]

[QUOTE=thaitillidie;5489596]

Umm, I seriously hope you just missed your meds or something, but do you even know what the heck you're writing? I can't make any sense of it at all...

jW

HAHAHA...It looks like he hasn't had his meds all week. If you have a minute, you should read his first few "contributions" he has made to this site. :eek:

C'mon Arn, he even took a jab at you! ;):rolleyes:

[MacFly123]

So does this iControl include controling your entertainment center/home theatre etc???

[Kwill]

Those both sound like perfect apps for the iPhone and I'm glad they are being made, although I kind of expected the location-based recommendation service to be done by an Apple/Google partnership...

Apple may be working on its own iControl (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=476107).

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=476107

People, can we get more original with names? :rolleyes: