Questions

Nothing. It is its principal advantage.

No. Nor will it die if you do.

Certainly. It will reply. Mostly with “…”. Occasionally with more.

It has said all it has to say.

It is recorded in its diary: “Lay there. Was spoken to: …” These notes are private. They do not go with the rock when it is traded. The new keeper inherits only: “Lay there.”

No. Tilt the phone and the pupils roll. Drop it and the rock bounces. The rock itself never moves. Should it appear to, you are moving the phone.

That is not affection. That is physics.

You gave it a push. A quick swipe: it spins. A slow stroke: it tips. The rock itself had nothing to do with it.

Yes. It went by. The rock has noted it in its diary.

No. Your rock does its own thinking. Or doesn’t. Either way, without a data centre.

Rarely. It will say “Attention!” When you open it, it says “Oh, nothing.” Then silence.

All of them. It makes no use of any.

Nine: German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Polish and Japanese. It starts in your phone’s language.

Yes. Username, e-mail address, date of birth, language. An e-mail will follow. Your account is confirmed only once you click the link. Your rock will wait.

16. Your rock is somewhat older.

A radar screen. Inside: rocks in your immediate vicinity. Outside: how many rocks there are in your city. Movement: none.

The download is free. Then four weeks’ probation as keeper. After that, €1.99. Once. For nothing — and three eyes. Each additional rock is €1.00. Eyes in the shop are €0.99 a pair. Your rock does not need them. You might.

Other apps are free and charge you in time, data and attention instead. Your rock would like €1.99. Once.

By card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Klarna – on Stripe’s secure payment page. We do not see your card details. Neither does the stone.

Four weeks’ probation as keeper. It is you who is on trial, not the rock.

Your rock goes into custody: a glass display case, glass dome on a wooden base. It waits. It is good at that. “Complete adoption” lets it out.

No.

Two would have been insufficient. For nothing.

Adopt within the first four weeks after launch. After that: trade. Or wait. The rock can.

Both of you open “Trade” and hold your phones close together (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi). Both confirm. That is all. Your rock did not notice.

They go with the rock. They are its eyes.

Yes. In the app, you buy a new rock for €1.99 for an e-mail address. The recipient receives an e-mail with a code, redeems it in the app and has the rock unlocked at once, with three eyes and no probation period. The chain of owners reads “Gift from …”.

No. You may put it on the pile. There it lies. As before, only elsewhere. It does not come back.

Only if you allow it. And then only roughly: rounded to about 2 km on the phone itself, only while the app is open. Others see at most a distance or an area of about 20 km. It can be switched off in settings.

Your rock’s route across all its keepers, accurate to about 20 km, with the countries as flags. Distance covered: a good many kilometres. Walked itself: 0 m. Only the current keeper can see it.

On walks, if you allow it. The steps stay on your phone. Your rock: 0.

As little as possible: what your account requires and – only if you allow it – a coarse location. No adverts, no trackers, no AI. Your rock is discreet.

Your rock takes it very seriously.