Scanning random news about dead people in HD was probably not the kind of thing Apple had in mind when they created their revolutionary iPad. But the developers over at 40 Foot Robot, have still decided to make it simple for anyone to find the deceased on the go with their debut app release.
Obituaries ($.99), for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, lets users view obituary postings from hundreds of cities across the United States and the United Kingdom. Listed among the dead, are specialized obit categories including Famous People, Fascinating Deaths and even Horror Film Legends.
Many listings on the app are linked to the online newspapers where they originated from, offering in depth back stories that make this app such a delicious treat to behold. Like the death of 1970's Chicago mobster Harry 'Hammer' Aleman, who died at Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg, Illinois. I'm certain that Aleman never imagined being immortalized on an iPhone.
"He was the hammer of the Chicago mob,'' said Lee Flosi, a former FBI agent who headed the Chicago office's organized crime section in the 1990s. "You never want him sitting in the back seat of your car.'' Source - The Miami Herald
Although this first release lacks an abundance of major cities, I expect developers will expand their listings if they want this app to become a serious contender.
Obituaries is an ideal app for experiencing iPad HD in a way that was never meant to be. Including grave site photos of famous people and notorious criminals with future updates would be a welcomed feature in time for Halloween.
There's no denying that having instant access to hundreds of obits is a gruesome time suck that's worth the price of admission.
Death has always been fascinating reading among the living. Which should make this app debut a killer hit with iPhone and iPad fanatics alike. But I wouldn't be willing to bet my life on that prediction.
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