SEATTLE, Washington — August 11, 2008 — Übermind, Inc. 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.

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

For the past decade, Übermind has been engaged in developing both consumer and enterprise solutions utilizing the same core technologies that now power the iPhone. Übermind’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.

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

Every great story begins with an inciting incident. It’s the event that proceeds all others; acting as the catalyst that sets each of the following events into motion.

When the iPhone SDK was announced, everyone on the team was really excited about getting their hands on this puppy and seeing what it could do. There was a palpable sense of excitement and, perhaps more importantly, wonder. Yes, I typed it, and I’ll type it again. Wonder. We all became five-year-olds again, letting our imaginations run rampant with the possibilities that programming for the iPhone would afford us. Needless to write, everyone had a lot to say on the subject of what our first app could and should be. (Building an app wasn’t even a question.) For several days, the entire team was all atwitter with literally hundreds, and hyperbolically tens of millions, of really great ideas. But, throughout it all, one idea came to be recognized by the entire team as both truly outstanding and eminently cool. With our two criteria for app selection being met in spades, we set to work.

For the next month, we toiled tirelessly (some less visionary individuals might say obsessively) blending the technologies we were developing with an absolutely stunning flame designed by an Academy Award-winning special effects artist. While the majority of that time was focused on creating the core code, a fair portion was spent fine-tuning absolutely everything. (I did mention the obsession thing, right?) And thus, iLightr was rent from the muses and made an electronic reality.

So, flowery language aside, just what is iLightr, anyway? I spent some time talking to a friend today answering that exact question. (It’s not my fault. He asked me about it, honest.) At it’s very core, iLightr is a tricked out flame simulation wrapped in a sweet-looking lighter case. Both the case and, way more importantly, the flame are fully interactive in real time, which as anyone who’s worked on fire simulations could tell you, is nothing to sneeze at. 

You could use iLightr to entertain a baby (it does makes sound and light), or as a beacon for your taller than average friends attempting to find you in a large crowd. You could get a bunch of iLightrs and use them as a cake topping for your extravagantly wealthy friend’s birthday party (be sure to invite me). But, let’s get down to brass tacks. This app was crafted with one true purpose in mind: concerts. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, you’re at a Wyclef Jean concert and he breaks out with Industry. You’re gonna want to show your love by busting out a lighter and waving it around. It’s only a three minute track, but if you’ve ever held onto a lit lighter for that long, you know that it gets a little warm. And, when he follows that up with Grateful, you’ll be cursing yourself for being too fashion-forward and not bringing your asbestos gloves.

But, as I discovered at the end of my conversation, the best way to understand iLightr is to see it in action..