Many Fail to See Humor in ‘I Am Rich’

When Jim Gust rants about art, you know something's up. Something about Apple, perhaps?

Ah yes! The New York Times reports a to-do over one of the iPhone applications that Apple encourages developers to write. Apple distributes the apps, typically costing next to nothing, at its iTunes app store.

But this particular app, created by Armin Heinrich of Germany, cost $1,000. When downloaded to an iPhone, it displayed the image of a multi-faceted ruby and broadcast the message, "I am rich." That's all.

“I found that some users complain about prices for iPhone applications above 99 cents,” Mr. Heinrich said. “I regard it as art."

Apple, it seems, was not amused.