Sparrow Alternative Email Client Making Its Way to the iPad - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Sparrow Alternative Email Client Making Its Way to the iPad

by

Sparrowipad
Sparrow, the popular alternative email client, is coming to the iPad. The company has posted a teaser page where interested users can sign up to be notified when the client is closer to public release, as noted by The Next Web.

The iPhone version of Sparrow was missing a huge feature -- push notifications -- some would think necessary to an email program. The developers behind Sparrow have announced that they're working on an alternative method to enable push because Apple has refused to allow Sparrow to use the APIs necessary to make push work natively.

The Next Web thinks Sparrow's push notification service might be announced at the same time as the iPad app, speculating that next week's WWDC conference would be an excellent time for both announcements.

Top Rated Comments

nuckinfutz Avatar
186 months ago
Will I have to pay again?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pakaku Avatar
186 months ago
... to me its an email client that looks like a Twitter app...

Hence the name "Sparrow"?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ImTheTechGuy Avatar
186 months ago
Sparrow is a nice app.

Unless they add Exchange/MAPI/ActiveSync support and not just IMAP + POP, this app won't gain too much traction.

Also, it doesn't seem to address any issue that Mail.app has... to me its an email client that looks like a Twitter app...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dr McKay Avatar
186 months ago
Hopefully with iOS6 Apple will allow you to swap what app defaults. Like choosing another browser or default email client.

It's such a handy tweak on Jailbreak.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SpyderBite Avatar
186 months ago
A spam filter would be nice... wouldn't believe it doesn't have one if I wouldn't have 2 iPads and an iPhone. Spam filters are something so basic its just mindbobbeling that it's not standard in all email clients.
The most effective spam filter is on your mail account. Any spam filter in the mail client should just be picking up strays that slip through. If you rely heavily on the client side spam filter then the spam filter on your mail account is either not turned on or really sucks.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
186 months ago
Am I the only one that thinks this is an odd coincidence? I'm thinking Sparrow might have been working with Apple and implemented some new developer feature in iOS 6.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone duo

Apple Announces Foldable 'iPhone Duo'

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:56 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "iPhone Duo," a new kind of iPhone featuring two screens and a foldable inner display. The two halves of the iPhone Duo connect into a single continuous frame with the same aspect ratio across both displays, and Apple said the transition between open and closed is designed to feel fluid. When fully open, Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone ever made, with an...
Surprise and Shine Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and More Expected

Wednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...
apple surprise and shine event

Apple Event Today: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo Cheat Sheet

Tuesday September 8, 2026 10:24 am PDT by
Apple's biggest event of the year is almost here, and all eyes are on Cupertino. With the first foldable iPhone expected to headline Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, the rumor mill has been running full throttle, fuelled by the biggest single design change in the life of the iPhone. To get you up to speed, here's a quick reference...