Wallpaper Universe is hoping sex sells on the iPhone
Some days I like to check out what new applications are being released in the App Store. But seeing as there are usually well over a hundred (and sometimes several hundred) each day, it’s hard to pick out individual ones. But Wallpaper Universe got my attention today with something very obvious: Pictures of scantily clad women staring at me.
The app, which I assume has a large selection of wallpapers for your iPhone and iPod touch, chose only one screenshot to represent its product — and that screenshot contains 8 pictures of girls in their underwear, striking various poses, looking at the camera. The app’s maker, FunMobility, clearly isn’t planning to sell this app based on merit.
Some would argue there’s a tasteful way of doing these pictures, but Wallpaper Universe takes the opposite approach. It’s actually somewhat surprising Apple let this screenshot slide by the notoriously stringent and presumably prudish App Store approval process.
My favorite part is that one of the pictures has the caption: “i lick this one of me.” Another is labeled “Juicey” (yes, misspelled). Yet another is “innocent” (naturally). “Dirty” is the word that comes to my mind.
But what’s even dirtier is the price: $5.99. This is certainly one way to get people to pay more for iPhone apps. But considering there are plenty of other wallpaper apps out there, and some of them are free, why would anyone pay $5.99 for this? I’ll tell you why. You’re looking at it.
For those titillated, find the app here.
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About the Author, MG Siegler
MG Siegler writes about technology trends and new media for VentureBeat, with a focus on mobile topics, social elements and key news stories. Before that, MG wrote about technology on his blog, ParisLemon. Originally from Ohio, MG attended the University of Michigan where he studied film. He's previously lived in Los Angeles where he worked in Hollywood and in San Diego where he did web development. He now lives in San Francisco.