Um-ba-rella-ella-ella

I had a good idea for an iPhone app the other day. I mean really good. It was so good, in fact, that I was ready to call off the job search and just wait for the iTunes Store profits to start rolling in. So long day job, dress shirts, and morning commute! Hello early retirement!

The idea was simple: build an app that mimics the Umbrella Today website. Especially with the schizophrenic weather we’ve been having, this app could be really useful. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to work in the morning without a jacket or umbrella because the sky was blue and cloud-free only to end up walking home in the rain. I even thought of using push notifications to notify users about the need for an umbrella with even opening the app. This app was poised to be a hit!

Sadly, I was beaten to the punch: an Umbrella Today app with all the features you could ever want already exists. I bought it myself too, since the clever people who built it deserve the support. I sure wish I was the one collecting all the iPhone app loot though.

UMBRELLA OVERKILL!!

Since we’re on the subject, how do you decide which apps to buy for your iPhone or similar devices? I tend to use friend recommendations on Twitter and Facebook, but I will occasionally buy a random game or app on a whim. I’ll also buy apps if I already know the brand, like Plants vs. Zombies.

What’s your method?