The hit Fox show House M.D. is known for its whip-smart writing and acerbic line delivery by title character, Dr. Gregory House, so my expectations for the new show-centered iPhone app InHouse (free) were high. Although its developers have the right thing in mind with rotating content, ultimately the app’s convoluted design and minimal content make it only a must-have only for the most devoted of fans.
Divided into seven sections, InHouse relies primarily on behind-the-scenes photos and videos to comprise its current content. What’s nice, however, is that the developers plan to update the app with new content after each new episode airs until the season finale in May. Users can register to win signed props featured in that week’s episode, get a glimpse inside the writer’s room, see the writer’s favorite “House-isms,” and listen to alternate music selections. New content did appear in-app after this week’s episode; however, not in all sections and not without doing a full app update. Once the season ends, users can look forward to weekly three-minute “appisodes” featuring Nurse Jeffrey, beginning on May 24.
Adding content on a weekly basis is a model other television shows should emulate when designing their own apps, but InHouse needs to step it up in terms of what that content actually is.
