The subject has already much discussed on HN. I don't see how making the association with the bubble sheds new light to the App phenomena. I doubt the compariso

The subject has already much discussed on HN. I don't see how making the association with the bubble sheds new light to the App phenomena. I doubt the comparison even applies, or if it applies you could put the label "bubble" to anything trendy (and many that is what is going on... the bubble of using the word "bubble"). Apps can only be traded one way, you can't sell them back to someone else. At least the target market for the iPhone apps is growing and a stepping stone to the iPad or any other device to come that will adopt IOS. The author doesn't use many apps on your phone. I can bet he is not using many apps on his PC either. There are tons of things people buy or offer that remain never used.