Interview: Behind the Real Mug Shot iPhone App
11:34 am, January 14th, 2010, Nicole Martinelli
The iPhone app Busted! Real Mugshots serves up police pics from around the US with full names, birth date, age, arrest date/time plus the offending crime.
Dubbed “Facebook for criminals” by a pithy CoM reader, the app, offered gratis on iTunes, launched January 11, generating controversy faster than an ACLU lawyer can say “FOIA.”
Cult of Mac talked to Jeff Jolley, president of the app’s maker Fountain Dew.
He told us about getting the app approved (easier than you’d think), the “bad karma” aspect, and more importantly, how to get your mugshot removed after that artsy late-night prank ended in tears.
CoM: How did you get the idea?
Jeff Jolley: We read an article on the popularity of mugshot pages on newspaper websites
and thought that could be extended, in a more interesting, mobile and viral manner, to the iPhone.
CoM: How do you get the photos?
JJ: We search the Internet for publicly available (and regularly updated) mugshots, and then make them available for use in the app. We continue to look for new sources to expand the available repository of mugshots.
CoM: Are the mugshots storeable and searchable?
JJ: Not at this point. You always stream the photos and you always start with the most recent mugshot available. This could be a good future feature.
CoM: What’s in the next release?
JJ: We will probably add the ability pick up with the last mugshot you were viewing, instead of always starting at the beginning when you come back to the app.
If you’ve been looking at mugshots for an hour and then get a phone call, you come back to the app at the newest mugshot. Voting on your favorite mugshots, being able to access your favorite mugshots quickly, and being able to see everyone else’s votes in the world are coming soon along with several other features.
CoM: There’s a “hide me” link on your website, what’s that about?
JJ: We will remove anyone whose mugshot has appeared on the app from our
database upon request.
CoM: What was the app approval process like?
JJ: It was a 5-month process. Not the easiest release we’ve ever had, but it’s
out there now. We have seen improvements over this time period, so it’s good now.
CoM: Any complaints so far?
JJ: No user complaints on functionality at all. Some of the reviews and tweets
on the product have been about “bad karma” and that we should feel bad about creating this app.
We won’t speak to the karma thing, but mugshots have been sold in standalone publications and featured on websites for years.
This a great app. Controversial? Sure. But it keeps users engaged by providing a continual stream of fresh, often fascinating, but never dull content.
CoM: Any other upcoming projects?
JJ: We have an Android version coming out, plus some other law
enforcement-related apps.
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in Interviews, News, Top stories, iPhone, iPhone Apps | Comment on this article
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Theses developers are sad and lost people. The world and APPLE doesn’t need this type of energy. SAD SAD SAD…….
Gabriel, on January 14th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I’m wondering if these “developers” are truely MAC/APPLE type “people”? Becuase they seem more the PC/Hackintosh type…..
Gabriel, on January 14th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I wonder if these app developers have considered the defamation angle of their product. Having a mug shot does not mean the subject is a criminal, or that they have engaged in the criminal conduct set forth on the mug shot. Accusation of a crime is per se defamation and actionable, even without proof of damages. Hope their liability insurance is paid up……
T J River, on January 14th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
The sad thing is not this application. It’s sad the pictures are freely available in the first place.
MMNW, on January 15th, 2010 at 3:37 am
I think the APP is funny. Maybe you guys are too highbrow. i put it in the level of enjoying TMZ and Jerry Springer Show.
Besides, i think we should focus on important issues. Important things like the earthquake in Haiti, who Tiger Woods banged and why Apple won’t allow Porn in the app store?
Just because you got arrested doen’t make you guilty, but playing with this APP is a guilty pleasure. In the scheme of things, it doesn’t alter anything. it doesn’t alter their cases, and chances are people you know won’t see you do to the sheer volume of arrest every day, and that there isn’t a search feature… yet.
I am sorry you are all so sad (and you whiners are pretty sad), but i was laughing it up with my buddies at a restaurant with this app. One man’s depressants is another man’s joy and happiness!
M Reyes, on January 15th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
ya u and ur buddies must be high on the food chain, to get amusment from others pain…. lucky buddies u all r…
Gabriel, on January 16th, 2010 at 12:14 pm