I present to you … THE LIST:
(in no particular order)

Page 1:

1. Blinksale
2. Cigar Aficionado
3. Any Good Wine App
4. Meeting Place

Page 2:

5. Google Analytics
6. Google AdWords
7. Google AdSense
8. Local Event Schedules

Page 3: (coming soon)

9. HSBC
10. Meetup
11. Barrons News
12. Sim City Classic

Concept iPhone App: Google Analytics

By Google – Price: FREE

Why do we need this?

Seriously, how can you NOT need this. I mean – unless you’re not into web stats that is. But if you are in charge of a web property with any kind of significant traffic (especially e-commerce) you can’t deny your addiction to Google Analytics. There is nothing better than boiling your visitors down to little blue dots that you can manipulate with the help of this beautiful thing called Google Analytics. If nothing else, chronically checking Google Analytics is much more productive than minesweeper or solitaire.

Proposed feature set:

• View tons of super sweet graphs
• Landscape mode (if Bloomberg can do it – so can Google)
• E-mail reports

Current App Store alternatives:

• Oracle Business Indicators (??)

Concept iPhone App: Google AdWords

By Google – Price: FREE

Why do we need this?

I don’t mean to get into another rant here but I love stats. The primary difference between chronically checking analytics and chronically checking AdWords, is that you can lose your ass to AdWords if you’re not careful. So I tend to think it’s a bit more responsible. I’m sure Google would find value in extending this level of control to users of its #1 money maker.

Proposed feature set:

• Manage campaigns
• Manage keywords
• Manage settings

Current App Store alternatives:

• Yahoo! Search Marketing… nope
• MSN AdCenter…. nope

Concept iPhone App: Google AdSense

By Google – Price: FREE

Why do we need this?

Among the many other things that people check like they have OCD is Google AdSense. I don’t know if Google would really want a million more hits to their servers from a bunch of bloggers just checking to see if they made $.20 more since the last time they checked. It probably doesn’t help their bottom line anyhow having to pay for more server techs. What would be really cool is if they could push the dollar amount to the home screen icon without even having to open the app (like the calendar that shows the current date).

Proposed feature set:

• Display revenue by date
• Push daily dollars to home screen icon

Current App Store alternatives:

• none… there can be only one

Concept iPhone App: Local Events Schedule

By Anyone – Price: FREE

Why do we need this?

This is the type of app that lends itself to the iPhone platform. Usually people go to their local newspapers for this type of information but actually getting to an event requires planning, and all sorts of other annoying things to do like finding the paper to begin with. This kind of app would bring in all that information and place it around wherever you are. It would be great for promoters to get their information out to a mobile crowd, and great for people who go out right after work.

Proposed feature set:

• Display upcoming events in many categories
• Allow user submitted events
• Allow filtering to try and sort through the noise

Current App Store alternatives:

• LMK if you know of a good one. I’m sure there are many but it’s late and I’d like to go to bed now.

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Page 3 (coming soon)

I just can’t want to find the next great App. I understand the App Store is still in its infancy, apps are difficult to monetize, and people are scrambling to get their product out the door even if it’s buggy as hell. But I don’t care – the bottom line is that I’m impatient and so I’ve put together my own fantasy world list of apps that I would like to see. The criteria isn’t extremely objective; some of my apps may seem obvious and for the others I’ll offer up a bit of explanation.

I present to you … THE LIST:
(in no particular order)

Page 1: 
1. Blinksale
2. Cigar Aficionado
3. Any Good Wine App
4. Meeting Place

Page 2:

5. Google Analytics
6. Google AdWords
7. Google AdSense
8. Local Event Schedules

Page 3: (coming soon)

9. HSBC
10. Meetup
11. Barrons News
12. Sim City

Concept iPhone App: Blinksale

By Fire Wheel Design – Price: FREE

Why do we need this?

Because having your accounting info on the go is handy. Think about when you’re killing time – might as well keep those names of people who owe you fresh in your memory. You could also email an invoice immediately after presenting the deliverables, or record a payment received when you’re depositing the check at the bank. I suppose the reality of my reasoning behind this app is that I love Blinksale. I love it’s interface, I love it’s simplicity, and I think it deserves an app.

Proposed feature set:

• View all invoices
• Record a payment received
• Create and send an invoice
• Manage clients

Current App Store alternatives:

• Cashboard

Concept iPhone App: Cigar Aficionado

By Cigar Aficionado – Price: FREE (+ subscription version)

Why do we need this?

The last issue of Cigar Aficionado had a ‘top rated’ tear-out that you could bring with you to the cigar store and read about the selection a bit before buying. It was a very nicely designed tear out and fortunately I spent enough time reading it on the can and memorized the ratings and general descriptions of those on the list. My only problem now is that when I go to the store, I have to try and remember what the heck was on that list. If I only had an iPhone app to lower my thinking requirement…

Proposed feature set:

• Top rated cigar list plus…
• …Social commentary
• Upcoming events in my area
• Featured articles from the latest issue
• Order the latest issue or subscribe

Current App Store alternatives:

• NOTHING ?! C’MON

Concept iPhone App: Wine Pro

By Anybody – Price: $14.99

Why do we need this?

There’s a lot that goes into mystifying wine. (ex: Region, varietal, vintage, etc.) What does all that mean anyhow and how can I sort it out? If you drink wine and own an iPhone, chances are you’ve looked at the current offering of apps. I think they all each hit on one of the core features that a good wine app should have, but there isn’t one that just nails it. This app proposes to combine the best of everything.

Proposed feature set:

• Record your wine info (photos, details, rating)
• Research and read descriptions of wines
• Learn definitions and food pairings
• Read and contribute to social commentary
• Check out deals and order bottles
• Stores info locally and remotely
• Accessable via web app

Current App Store alternatives:

• iTasteWine – buy it
• Wine Snob – buy it
• Wine Log buy it
• Wine List – buy it
• Wine Pad 2 – buy it
• Vinoriffic – buy it
• Wine Words – buy it

Concept iPhone App: Meeting Place

By Anybody – Price: $.99

Why do we need this?

To be honest we don’t really NEED this app. It’s a pretty cool idea though you have to admit. Think “meet me near the ______.” The way it would work is fairly simple – just open the app, it get’s your location, and displays the most recognizable landmark (photo + description) by distance from you. In theory, you’d also be able to go to a map interface and find landmarks in a destination area or something. Another problem is that it would be entirely user generated content driven since this information doesn’t likely exist elsewhere. However, once there’s some data in the system, you could let people vote on each landmark.

Proposed feature set:

• Display the most common landmarks near you
• Find landmarks in destination areas
• Contribute photos and descriptions
• Browse through your own “bookmarked” places
• Stores info locally remotely

Current App Store alternatives:

I doubt there’s something like this already. I’m not even going to look into it.

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