Early this morning developer of the iPhone Facebook application, Joe Hewitt, posted that Facebook 3.03 is on it’s way to squash a few bugs. Even bigger news is that update will then be followed by Facebook 3.1 which will include push notifications.
Facebook happens to be one of the most used iPhone applications today while push notifications is the most sought after missing feature from the application. Techcrunch brings up a few valid points regarding how these notifications are currently handled and the potential issues that can arise from an application that will pop up more than a few notifications on your screen. The major issue being if you receive more than one notification you are completely lost as to what the previous notification(s) were for.
Personally I tend to turn off the alerts in certain applications that push a lot of notifications to my iPhone. Applications such as Beejive and Twitbit are just a few that I simply leave the “badge” option on so I can just see how many messages I have. That still does not change the fact that I want a better push notification system…
What are your thoughts on the current push notification system and how would you like to see it improved? Sound off in comments below!
For those of you who are a bit disappointed with your current iPhone Twitter client because of the lack of a little something called “push notifications” – You must check out Twitbit 2.0. [$2.99 Sale Price - iTunes Link] We’ve had the pleasure of testing the 2.0 build for quite some time now and we are happy to report this update has been finely tuned while adding a boatload of new features, so many that you’ll have to wait for our full review.
- A completely new look
- Push notifications for direct messages and mentions
- Rich media integration to share all of your media which now includes Flickr
- Significant performance boost
- Configuration: Set up Twitbit 2.0 exactly the way you want it
- Free updates!
Still not convinced enough to make the purchase? Try out Twitbit 2.0 Lite. [Free - iTunes Link] You’ll get all of the same great features, new and old, minus push notifications and Flickr support.
Stay tuned as we will bring you a detailed review shortly!
Metallica has just released Live Metallica [$0.99 - iTunes Link], their very own companion application to go along with their LiveMetallica.com website. With it fans can purchase official recordings of each and every single live show since 2004 and listen to the latest concert streaming for free.
Purchase the app, log into your existing LiveMetallica.com account or register as a new user, and voila . . . every show you’ve purchased is there under the “listen” tab, along with a free stream of the latest show on the tour! You can listen to samples of over 5,300 live songs from close to 300 shows, and if you hear something you like, purchase it through the app and it will automatically stream on your phone . . . of course you can download your purchase to your computer later at your leisure. Shows from the free “Vault” section of the site are always streaming, and you can check out photos and notes from almost every show going back to 2004 when the site launched.
Metallica claims to have gotten this idea back in the day when they saw fans bootlegging their shows and figured they would make it more convenient by doing the recording themselves and cashing in. So you have to pay $0.99 to gain access to yet more content you again will have to pay for to access, minus a few free streams and jpegs of the band.
Any hardcore Metallica fans out there going to give this a shot? Let us know in the comments!
[Thanks to Phil for the tip!]
So you’d like to have the convienence of depositing your hard earned work check straight from your iPhone into your bank, no matter where you are? Well, there will soon be an app for that – USAA – a very small bank/insurance company is in the process of updating their current app.
USAA only contains one branch in San Antonio Texas and mainly serves military personnel. So with most of the bank’s customers deployed all over the world, this is an excellent idea. To make the deposit, simply take a photo. Take one of the front of the check and one of the back, and hit the send button. That’s all there is to it. There is not even a need to physically send in the check — just void it and go on your merry way as it is all completely handled electronically.
Now we don’t know about you but if our banks had an app like this, we’d be all over it. Any of our readers bank with USAA and are willing to give this a try once the update is released?
[Via NYTimes]
Twitbit [$4.99 - iTunes link] is a Twitter client for iPhone and iPod touch that includes built-in push notification for not only @mentions but direct messages as well.
It was not long ago that Rene introduced us all to the app, and we wouldn’t be telling the truth if we didn’t say things started off pretty rough with the initial launch. TiPb is happy to report, however, with the latest upcoming update, 1.1, things have changed greatly.
- More granular push configuration
- Selectively push DMs, mentions, neither, or both.
- Better push support while the app is running (new message badges, vibrations, etc.)
- New direct message workflow
- Summary/inbox view that’s modeled after the built-in “Messages” app, organized by user
- Threaded conversations
- Landscape tweet and direct message composition
- Built-in photo browser with landscape support
- Landscape mode in the built-in web browser
- Saved searches
- Person search
- Saved timeline position
- More tweet actions (open in browser, send in email)
- More browser actions (send in email, post link in tweet)
- Customizable tab order
- Customizable re-tweet format
- Fix for the “HTTP 401″ error when posting tweets and direct messages.
- Lots of other UI enhancements and bug fixes
TiPb has been putting this latest beta through it’s paces the past two weeks and so far so we’ve been impressed. Look for Twitbit 1.1 to hit Apple’s App Store any day now.
Pictures of Twitbit 1.1 in action after the break!
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It was only a matter of time before some developer, in this case IntuApps, created an application revolving around the Swine Flu and why not, it’s actually pretty informative and it will be free. According to Techcrunch you can expect the following features:
“you can see the current Threat Level for the disease, a map showing confirmed and suspected cases, a symptoms area to inform people, and an alert page for breaking news on Swine Flu.”
This one can be very useful for a lot of people but now the big question is when will this application be approved?
Another screenshot after the break…
[Via Techcrunch]
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If you are a Twitter addict and are following Trent Reznor (Yes, it really is the one and only TR), you would be well aware that the official Nine Inch Nails application is making it’s way onto the App Store any time now, for FREE.
You may be thinking “many bands have apps in the App Store”, which may be true. But to be honest, they are pretty poor attempts. If anyone can get a iPhone application done the right way, it would be Reznor.
“Anyone who’s an executive at a record label does not understand what the internet is, how it works, how people use it, how fans and consumers interact — no idea, I’m surprised they know how to use e-mail. They have built a business around selling plastic discs, and nobody wants plastic discs any more.”
For a full run down on the app from the man himself be sure to check out the video on wired.com. This is an app that any NIN fan will not want to miss.
If you’re Bono, however, you’re well warned to avoid this one, especially after yesterday’s RIM shot…
[Via Wired.com and thanks to Phil for the title!]
Posted on Friday, Feb 20, 2009 by Jeremy Sikora
File Under:Apps, Jailbreak Apps, News, Web Apps; Tags: app, Apple, cydia, jailbreak, South Park Mobile, Streaming
You really have to love Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park:
“We’re always in favor of people downloading. It’s how a lot of people see the show. And it’s never hurt us. We’ve done nothing but be successful with the show. How could you ever get mad about somebody who wants to see your stuff?”
Well Apple drops the ball yet again with the official South Park app in the App store… and yet again a 3rd party picks up the slack. South Park Mobile is available via Cydia and if you are not jailbroken, check out www.southparkmobile.net on your iPhone. What this app allows you to do is stream full episodes of South Park for your viewing pleasure right on your iPhone. Every single episode, from every single season is available for you to stream. Keep in mind this is not something official from Mr. Stone and Mr. Parker but it’s the best we currently have available to us.
*You must be on firmware 2.2+ in order for this Jailbreak App to work.
[Thanks to Jaun for the tip!]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 by Jeremy Sikora
File Under:App Store Apps, Apps, News; Tags: app, app store, Apple, iPhone, Rejected, rejected apps, south park
Today is a depressing day for all of the South Park fans out there. The South Park app that Dieter told us about back in October has been rejected once again by Apple.
We first announced our iPhone App back in October, after we submitted the Application to Apple for approval. After a couple of attempts to get the application approved, we are sad to say that our app has been rejected. According to Apple, the content was “potentially offensive.” But Apple did admit that the standards would evolve, citing that when iTunes first launched it didn’t sell any music with explicit lyrics. At this point, we are sad to say, the app is dead in the water. Sorry, South Park fans.
Who is Apple to say what is offensive and what isn’t? They let fart apps in the App Store in groves. Who is to say those do not offend anyone? How about Wobble? An app that gives you the ability to make certain female body parts jiggle around your screen. That doesn’t offend anyone? That is a choice the consumer should be making, not Apple. Ok, I’ve made my point.
There is one simple solution to something that may offend someone. If you are offended, don’t buy it!
[Via Southparkstudios.com]
This past week has not been a good one for Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Reports of the company preparing for a bankruptcy filing have been all over the news. On the bright side of things, uSirius StarPlayr, which allows you to listen to all of your favorite satellite stations streamed directly onto your iPhone, is on the horizon.
It seems the only delay at the moment is the final approval from Apple. Looks like it may be 2-4 more weeks before we see this in the App Store. Some of the features of StarPlayr are:
- Works with iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch
- Edge, 3G, WiFi
- Sirius or XM accounts
- US and Cananda
- Suggested Retail Price $12.99
So with a price tag of $12.99 how many of you are willing to pick this up to carry your favorite channels with you on the go?
Update: Yes, you indeed do need a monthly subscription to Sirius Xm.
