This seems like a good day to make the final post here at Useless Productivity. It’s been a long time since our last post and in the meantime a bunch of things have happened (or haven’t happened) to get to where we are today.

First, let’s talk about some good news. We wrote about Apple’s editorial decision to not approve a “fun” app called Pull My Finger way back in early September. Well, “our long national nightmare is over” because Pull My Finger is finally available! And with more than a dozen different sounds this surely more feature-packed than anyone had any right to expect. 

And I love their product description:

Hundreds of thousands of people viewed the demo. Thousands cried out for its availability in the app store. Petitions were formed. Candles were lit. And now, in Apple’s Infinite Graciousness, they have allowed it to be available to you!

We asked ourselves over and over, why must I always carry a phone, iPod, AND electric fart machine? Can’t something be done to converge these oft carried items?

Today, friend, innovation has struck again. Now you can have your choice of sounds with you always, waiting and ready for when the perfect moment arrives. Tap a character’s finger, and it plays a unique sound. Some people say this is no big whoopee, but we think it’s a work o fart.

I know I lit a candle…

Useless Productivity Rating:

Cost: $0.99

Learn More:

• Air-O-Matic Website - Pull My Finger
• Get Pull My Finger from iPhone App Store

Pull My Finger was exactly the kind of app for which this blog was started. But in late September a couple things happened. First, Apple made it a lot harder to see which new or updated apps were available (this functionality was pulled from the App Store). Plus, truth be told, traffic to this site really didn’t take off. Maybe it was the name, maybe it was my lack of effort to market it, or maybe there just wasn’t room in the marketplace for a website that reviews farting apps. 

It’s okay. I’ve got plenty of other projects, and I don’t regret for a minute the time spent setting up the blog, customizing the Coffee Desk theme, and so on. I’ll probably start a personal blog in 2009 that will allow me to blog about these kind of apps but without the pressure to trying and do at least one app review a day.

In any case, it’s been fun. Hope you enjoyed it.

This is about as heartbreaking as they come. As you may know, Apple approves all applications for sale in the iPhone App Store. They do this to prevent unwelcome applications (porn, apps that crash the phone, etc.) and for the most part this is a good idea. And, judging by the quality of some of the apps, Apple isn’t doing a lot of let’s say “quality control.”

So, it is with great surprise to see that the new application Pull My Finger was rejected. What does this app you ask? Well, if you have to ask you probably don’t want to know - because for those who suspect they know what this app is all about, let me confirm it is everything you expect and more more more! This is one of the most pull featured, um… “finger pulling” simulators ever! There’s an amazing array of customization settings with this application. It’s destined to become a pop culture classic, if only Apple would allow it to go on sale.

According to MacRumors, here is the rejection letter:

Hello Developer,

We’ve reviewed your application Pull My Finger. We have determined that this application is of limited utility to the broad iPhone and iPod touch user community, and will not be published to the App Store.

It may be very appropriate to share with friends and family, and we recommend you review the Ad Hoc method on the Distribution tab of the iPhone Developer Portal for details on distributing this application among a small group of people of your choosing.

Regards,

Victor Wang
Worldwide Developer Relations
Apple, Inc.

But, good news folks. The smart fellas over at Air-o-Matic.com have released a video of this stupendous app. See it in action!

Limited appeal? I don’t think so. This is the broadest of broad appeal. So, there is your call to action, folks! Leave a comment on the YouTube video and tell Apple you want to Pull My Finger!

Learn More:

• Air-o-Matic.com
• Pull My Finger YouTube video