An app aiming to end all apps has started an online storm.

Created by a team of Republic Polytechnic students, the app named Apple Tree has a lofty aim: to make people spend real face time with friends and family.

The app locks the phones when they are placed together and a virtual apple tree will start growing on the screens. The longer the phones remain untouched, the more apples there will be. The team hopes to partner with vendors such as cinemas to offer discounts in exchange for the apples.

They were awarded $30,000 to develop the app at the Splash Awards yesterday.

Instead of celebrating youthful exuberance and creativity, some netizens were just so hard to please.

An app for ... what?

But you still need to use your phone?

Are there any technical difficulties? 

Apple is not the only fruit in the smartphone market.

But obviously it's not created for this clever netizen.

Some came up with clever analogies.

Some showcased their sense of humour.

Uh oh. Telcos are going to be #underhappy.

Few were supportive.

Some gave them no quarter.

Others gave no constructive comments

There's already an app for that?

Take that, haters.

Top photo from here.

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