Press Release: Ubermind announces iLightr for iPhone

by Eric March on August 13, 2008 at 12:25 am

I like useless things that are cool. I don’t know why, but I’m totally mesmerized when something comes along that does absolutely nothing productive or useful, but it does it with such style that I can’t stop playing with it. Like MotionX Dice. I have absolutely no use for dice. I don’t play games that involve them, and I haven’t yet found myself in a situation where I’ve said, “I could really use a set of D6’s right now,” yet I love playing with it because it’s just that cool.

So it is with Ubermind’s iLightr, who seem to be another outfit that has taken a page from Motorola’s book of naming conventions. But that doesn’t matter, because unlike that steaming pile known as Crazy Lighter, iLightr does the virtual lighter thing almost spot on. Check it out:

Seattle, Washington – Ubermind, Inc. today unveiled iLightr, a compelling new entertainment application released exclusively for the iPhone and iPod touch. By harnessing the iPhone’s revolutionary user interface, iLightr creates the most realistic virtual lighter experience available for any mobile device.

“Understanding the unique features of the iPhone has allowed us to produce a particularly captivating app,” said Bryan Hansen, iLightr’s Lead Developer. “Our obsessive attention to detail is what separates iLightr from other entertainment apps currently available.”

Rather than a static image or stale, unchanging video loop of a flame, iLightr combines high-resolution OpenGL graphics (designed by an Academy Award winning special effects artist), dynamic sound effects, and accelerometer support to create the only truly interactive lighter simulation available.

To learn more about iLightr, go to the iLightr homepage.

Pricing and Availability:
iLightr is now available for purchase from the Entertainment section of the Apple App Store for $0.99.

iLightr
App Store Link
Screenshots/App Icon
Video demonstration

For the past decade, Ubermind has been engaged in developing both consumer and enterprise solutions utilizing the same core technologies that now power the iPhone. Ubermind’s exceptional level of technological expertise, combined with its knowledge of designing intuitive user interfaces, has provided a solid foundation for developing high-quality software products.

You’ll notice I said almost, and I meant it. While the app is undeniably cool and you just want to sit there and play with it endlessly, flicking the cap open and closed, spinning the sparkwheel, waving the flame around, moving your finger through its absurdly realistic, heatless flame, it does suffer from one not-quite-fatal flaw: The flame rendering is just too slow to be truly convincing. I don’t know if it’s a limitation of the iPhone/Touch’s processing chutzpah or if they intentionally made it slow so you could leisurely appreciate the lovingly crafted virtual reactions to physical stimulii in languid slow motion, but as much as I appreciate being able to ogle the pretty, dynamically reactive flame, I can’t help but feel iLightr would be better served by more real-time motion. Still, as it is, it’s tremendous, utterly pointless fun. Have a gander at the video below.