It looks like Wolfram Alpha’s computational knowledge engine, which churns out the complicated data to the common user in understandably presentable way, somehow couldn’t get the iPhone app market’s pulse. From the day the Wolfram Alpha iPhone app released and till today it’s the case, even after the vocal outcry on its price ($50) from the iPhone community. When the app got released, it kept the mobile website, which is optimized for iPhone, available for free to the users. So iPhone users were very happy to use it for free instead of burning a hole in their pocket to purchase the Wolfram Alpha’s native app.

Two days before, the “computational knowledge engine’s” team shut down it’s iPhone-friendly mobile website and put up a pop-up to entice the users to buy the still ridiculously priced app when you browse their site on iPhone. Already this has been worst tactics, anyway that will never work out, the Wolfram’s product manager for the iPhone app, Schoeller Porter, mentioned the reason for killing the mobile site was “not enough people were using it.” If that’s the case, he better remove the app from the app store, as many people do also not use it.

The Wolfram Alpha team understands it very clear. Because of the free webapp people are not buying it’s iPhone app. But, what they didn’t understand is, it’s the price that’s driving people to it’s iPhone-formatted website from it’s paid-app. Somehow the marketing team cleverly (?) came up with a plan, shut down the free website version and people will definitely will buy it. If that’s the plan, I am sure, it won’t work out.

Even after the wide spread negative publicity on the price of the app, Wolfram Alpha is so adamant on it’s egoistic pricing of the app and still keeps it for $50. That’s sadly funny!

Last few days, I have covered few Black Friday apps that can help you to search for the items you want to purchase and prepare a shopping list for this holiday season. Okay, now you have a list and you know where the best deals are on the big Friday, nearby your location. But, what if you don’t know exact store location in the mall where your wish-list product is available for a best deal or you will be lost in the maze in the big malls. It’s of no good, even if you come up the deals list but if you can’t arrive at the store on time before the deals are run out. How about having an app help you to easily and quickly spot the store in the malls so that you can grab the best deals. There is an app for that too.

Mall Maps – You Are Here from MEDL Mobile helps you with its comprehensive database of malls, shopping centers and plazas across the US. This was submitted to the App Incubator, an app where anyone can submit ideas for a new iPhone app, get it developed by MEDL Mobile team and could earn from it, by Tech Guru, Shayne Faerber of Naples, FL.

Mall Maps features more than 1,000 shopping centers across all 50 US states with detailed floor plan of stores in those malls. So consumers can just get in and out of the mall very easily and quickly without wasting time on finding a store.  You can find the malls and shopping centers near by your location with GPS location-based search or zip code, city or statewide search feature. Also, you can get mall’s address, telephone and website information on the go and use Google Maps directions to guide you to the destination for your last minute shopping.

You can choose a store from its alphabetical list of stores in a particular mall, or search by name for a specific store to hunt for a gift for your beloved-ones. As it’s the start of the holiday shopping season, you might want to frequent the stores where you found the best deals, so you can add a store to your favorites in this app for quick access for future shopping-trips.

While Mall Maps app makes a good companion for your holiday shopping, it’s a must need for people who travel during holiday season. It lets you find a perfect gift anywhere on the way and surprise family and friends.

Price: $2.99
Compatible With: iPhone and iPod touch
Required OS Version: iPhone OS 3.0 or later
Download Link: iTunes

Are you a serious user who can pay $50 to find out what relation is your ”mother’s father’s nephew” to you? If yes, as you may know, Wolfram Alpha’s native iPhone app has arrived at the App Store with a pricy tag. It has an optimized interface for iPhone to access the “vast resources” of Wolfram|Alpha computation knowledge engine, as per the company.

The search engine site describes the app like this “The Wolfram|Alpha app is an indispensable tool for almost any iPhone user, including: financial analysts physicians scientists engineers students teachers journalists parents economists nutritionists systems analysts marketing managers pilots sportsmen and many, many more…”

Yes, it’s a tool for everyone who can squander $50 for almost same information that’s freely available through safari browser rather.

Although the app provides more features like special notation keyboard, customized iPhone output, editable history, and integration with maps and other iPhone services on the native client, the required information can be accessed through safari browser.

Here are few safari browser screenshots that I compared against the app’s gallery images. I got same result without burning a hole in my wallet.

Wolfram|Alpha wants to target the app at the high-end iPhone users. Well, I am not one of them like most of the iphone users. If at all I need to compute any formulae, I can do it at free of cost. You know how.

iTunes Link To Download