How much money iconic iBeer app made its creator as he explains why it was so popular
The inventor says he now 'lives comfortably' thanks to the quirky 2008 app
It's 2008, the iPhone has taken the world by storm and there is one unforgettable app that is ruling the iTunes charts.
It might feel as though it was yesterday, but it's been 18 years since the novelty iBeer was released. We're getting old, aren't we?
The entertainment app simulates a glass of beer (and other drinks) on your phone screen.
You tilt the device to 'drink', shake for foam, and can even make a burp sound, creating the illusion you’re swigging from your iPhone.
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The app has been downloaded more than 120 million times and was even once hailed as the 'Best of iTunes'.
Swiss-born magician and physical comedian Steve Sheraton is the brains behind it.
He was originally a Magic Castle magician, headlining Las Vegas and Monte Carlo, as per his website, before iBeer changed his life.
Steve was propelled to The Ellen Show, SNL and even Sesame Street at the height of the app's fame.
And so you might well be wondering what the inventor is up to now.
A while back, Steve took to Reddit for an 'Ask Me Anything', encouraging people to chime in with their questions about himself and the wildly popular app.
One person was curious as to how much money he made from iBeer - and what he was up to now.
Steve certainly didn't shy away from the truth.
In response, he candidly wrote: "A few million dollars. Most of it went right back into other technology projects and lawyers."
"I live comfortably now," he added.
Considering the app was priced at $2.99 and has been downloaded millions of times, it's not surprising!
"Currently I'm working on more specialty apps for professional magicians, something I've been doing since the Palm Pilot in the 1990s," Steve continued.
"I usually work on multiple things (not just technology). Today, for instance I welded a prototype for gaffers to simplify hanging lights on non-permanent sets."
Further on, he explained why the app was so popular and whether a similar concept could still take-off today.
"Yes. So long as it (also) adheres to the oft cited law by Arthur C. Clarke: 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,'" Steve said.
He added: "When the iPhone came out people had NO idea what this thing was and what it could do. Fake-splaining it with 'it makes beer' hooked right into that."
Steve has since relocated to Spain, where he lives 'a peaceful life on a farm', as per Your Story.
Safe to say he has his priorities right!
Topics: Nostalgia, Reddit, Social Media, Technology, iPhone
Ellie Kemp