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Push Email Coming to Sparrow for iPhone, Promises Developer

Wednesday April 4, 2012 8:41 am PDT by Jordan Golson
Last month, popular OS X alternative mail client Sparrow arrived on the iPhone -- but without "push email", something considered essential for a modern email client.

The reason Sparrow lacks push is related to which notification API's Apple allows app developers to use, but the developer promises a fix in a blog post today about the new Sparrow version 1.1 update:
What’s up on Push?

Thanks to your amazing support, we feel confident that Apple might revise its position on the Push API. We’ll submit a first version of Sparrow 1.2 including it. This might delay Sparrow 1.2 validation but we’re already working with some partners to include Push in future versions of Sparrow without needing Apple clearance.

Push is coming. With or without Apple.
Sparrow for iPhone is available for $2.99 on the App Store. [Direct Link]
[ 38 comments ]

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enklined
Posted: 15 months ago

I'm not sure what the hold up is?
Can't they just turn notifications on and route the emails through a server that would tell them when you have new messages?


That's probably what they were referring to with the "without Apple" part.
Rating: 5 Positives
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3bs
Posted: 15 months ago
How is it coming with or without Apple? Doesn't Apple still have to approve it for people to be able to download it? Or do they mean Cydia?
Rating: 4 Positives
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metallikop
Posted: 15 months ago
Now if they can get full Exchange support I'd have a real replacement for the default Mail client.
Rating: 3 Positives
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coolspot18
Posted: 15 months ago
What's wrong with the default mail client or Mail.app in OSX?
Rating: 3 Positives
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jclardy
Posted: 15 months ago

I'm not sure what the hold up is?
Can't they just turn notifications on and route the emails through a server that would tell them when you have new messages?


That is a way to do it, but it requires them to receive everyone's incoming mail.

I doubt they could afford the server costs for more than a month with their current price point.
Rating: 3 Positives
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dukeblue91
Posted: 15 months ago
Why is this not universal and no support for the iPad.
I'm okay with the mail app on the iPhone but would like something nicer on the iPad.
Rating: 2 Positives
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Nickerbocker
Posted: 15 months ago
I'll probably jump on board and check this out once they add PUSH. Might inspire me to use email more than Facebook for personal communication (which I think would be better from a privacy standpoint).

I wouldn't hold my breath for Exchange support. Perhaps IMAP/POP3 support. I think with Exchange/ActiveSync support they would have to pay licensing to Microsoft.
Rating: 2 Positives
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applesith
Posted: 15 months ago
I always think of the paper airplane game app when i see that icon.
Rating: 2 Positives
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skillz1318
Posted: 15 months ago
I love the app and haven't misse push but it will be nice to have it.
Rating: 2 Positives
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rwilliams
Posted: 15 months ago

I've seen some of the features on their website, but nothing looks too far off of what the default mail app offers. To anyone who uses the Sparrow app, what makes it better than the default mail app?


The UI is nicer, and it just feels much faster and lighter than the stock mail app. I thought I'd miss push email, but I'm glad that the phone isn't chiming or the dock badge updating all the time.
Rating: 2 Positives

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