Hottrix
Hottrix is a software development company that produces applications for mobile operating systems such as iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad), Android, Palm OS, and Windows. Their iPhone and iPod Touch software has been praised[2] by CNN, Newsweek, Time, and David Pogue for The New York Times. Their software has also been involved in intellectual property disputes.
 | |
| Type | Domestic limited liability company[1] |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Founded | Las Vegas, Nevada (July 18, 2008)[1] |
| Founder | Steven L. Priedel Maria H. Gara |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Website | www |
The company also sells physical "gimmix" to complement their magic applications.
Background
Hottrix is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3] Many of their "tricks" are invented by Steve Sheraton, whose first trick was "e-spresso", a virtual cup of espresso for the Palm Pilot.[4]
Notable Hottrix personnel include:
Recognition
In December 2008, Apple Inc. released a series of lists that showed the top downloads of the year from the App Store.[6] The lists showed the 10 most-downloaded applications from different categories, in no particular order. The iBeer application from Hottrix appeared in both the "Top Paid Apps (Overall)" and "Top Paid Entertainment" lists.
iBeer was also called a "must-have" application by CNN Money.[7] Hottrix was praised by Condé Nast Portfolio for their trick software, with iBeer singled out as "the perfect gift".[8]
Intellectual property
In October 2008, Hottrix filed a US$12.5 million lawsuit against Coors Brewing Company for developing an application called iPint for iOS.[9] The suit alleged that Coors violated copyright law by making a program similar to iBeer. Apple removed iPint from the App Store in the United States after receiving a complaint from Hottrix.[10]
List of iOS applications
App Store apps
These tricks are available at the App Store.
HottrixPhone
This trick gives the appearance of a phone call with a celebrity, including real pre-recorded voices of same. Multiple celebrities are available in the application, including Elvis Presley and Barack Obama, and the ability for users to add others.
iBeer
iBeer is a trick that gives the illusion that the device screen "fills" with many varieties of beer (including sound). If the device is tilted, the virtual beer swishes around to give the illusion of truly being filled with beer. The beer can be "drained" if the device is tilted enough, and a belch sounds when the beer has been completely drained. iBeer appeared in both the "Top Paid Apps (Overall)" and "Top Paid Entertainment" lists published by Apple in December 2008.[11]
iBug
iBug is a trick that gives the appearance of a virtual insect appearing on the screen of the device. It responds to touch and can get fat. The bug laughs when the device is shaken.
iMilk
iMilk is a trick similar to iBeer, but appears as different varieties of milk, such as chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and "martian milk." iMilk has a pay trick and a magic button to perform various tricks with money.
iMunchies
iMunchies is a trick that gives the illusion that the device is filling with many varieties of snacks such as candy, nuts, and popcorn. A person could then pretend to pull snacks out of the device by reaching beneath it and retrieving a previously-hidden snack using sleight of hand. The snacks can also be poured out of the device.
iSoda
iSoda is a trick similar to iBeer and iMilk, but with various soft drinks, such as cola, energy drink, and fizzy water.
Jarheads
Jarhead Bob, Jarhead Tim, and Jarhead Ned are tricks that have dungeon lab samples in potent juice. The heads roll their eyes when the device is tilted and the juice turns into blood when shaken. The liquid drains when the device is tilted enough, similar to iBeer.
Magic Wallet
Magic Wallet is a trick similar to iMunchies, but with coins in many currencies instead of snacks.
Premier apps
These tricks are like App Store apps, but are only available at Hottrix's Premier App Shop.
- iHypno, a card trick application, mentioned in The Wall Street Journal as an example of a legal workaround to the Apple iTunes Store.[12]
- MindBeam
- MB: Euro
- Snapshot
Simulated apps
These tricks play as a video on iOS's video player.
- iBugClassic
- iCharger
- iFireplace
- iGoldfish
- iGoyfish
- iRescueCall
- iSnail
- iVegas
- iYuleLog
- MMS-3D
List of Android OS applications
- iBeer
- iMilk[13]
- iChocolate
List of Palm OS applications
- AbraMath
- AbraPick
- e-spresso
- NerdAlert
See also
References
- "Hottrix LLC". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- "Hottrix Media Center". Hottrix.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
- "Hottrix Help Desk". Hottrix.com. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
- Quittner, Josh (December 4, 2008). "What Makes a Best-Selling iPhone App?". Time. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
- [Youtube Clip at 0:06]
- Kumparak, Greg (December 2, 2008). "Apple announces Top 10 iPhone App downloads of 2008". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
- Kimes, Mina (September 23, 2008). "Top 10 must-have iPhone apps". CNN Money. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
- "The Perfect Gift for The Tech Observer: iBeer!!". Condé Nast Portfolio. July 12, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
- Chen, Brian X. (October 13, 2008). "Indie iPhone Developer Sues Coors for $12.5M". Wired News. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
- Reed, Jim (October 17, 2008). "Virtual beer war hits the iPhone". BBC News. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
- Kumparak, Greg (December 2, 2008). "Apple announces Top 10 iPhone App downloads of 2008". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- Charny, Ben (August 13, 2009). "Developers Start To Look For Work-Around To Apple App Store". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2009-08-16. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- Apps by Hottrix for Android (Retrieved on March 10, 2012)
