Push Email Coming to Sparrow for iPhone, Promises Developer

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]

Top Rated Comments

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enklined

96 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 Votes

jclardy

96 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 Votes

3bs

96 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: 2 Votes

metallikop

96 months ago

Now if they can get full Exchange support I'd have a real replacement for the default Mail client.

Rating: 2 Votes

Nickerbocker

96 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 Votes

skillz1318

96 months ago

I love the app and haven't misse push but it will be nice to have it.

Rating: 2 Votes

PlaceofDis

96 months ago

its a great app. i actually prefer their iOS app to the built in mail app. to get around the push issue/notifications i left the default mail app's notifications on but use sparrow to read and write my emails. its a much better interface and i love that we know what they're working on because some of the little issues i've had with it are features they're going to add.

Rating: 2 Votes

rwilliams

96 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 Votes

applesith

96 months ago

I always think of the paper airplane game app when i see that icon.

Rating: 2 Votes

skillz1318

96 months ago

I completely agree. After a few days I saw the lack of push & notifications as a feature. Even if they enable them I might turn them off after realizing how "calm" my phone can be without them.

+1 I thought I would miss the notifications, but I enjoy having a much "calmer" phone as well. When I want to check email I click the icon and in 2 seconds it updates with any new mail. I don't receive urgent emails like phone/text that require immediate attention. When I have time to review my mail I check my mail.

Rating: 1 Votes

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