Briefly: Gmail relaunches; AIM gets overhaul; Camera+ gets volume snap

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Google relaunched its iOS Gmail app after having to pull down a flawed version earlier this month while the AIM app received a complete UI overhaul that brings with it added features not previously found on the mobile version. Finally, popular third-party camera app Camera+ reactivates its volume shutter control feature.



Gmail relaunches



Google on Wednesday relaunched its Gmail app two weeks after being pulled from Apple's App Store due to a bug affecting iOS notifications. The Internet giant decided to take the app down mere hours after its initial launch on Nov. 2, citing a bug that would cause an error message to be displayed upon opening the app.



Gmail Product Manager Matthew Izatt wrote in a Wednesday blog post that the app was fixed, going on to say that customer feedback played an important role in adding new features to the software. He notes that customer comments have been the basis of adding improved handling of image HTML messages with pinch to zoom capability.



The iOS native app grants Gmail users access to their accounts through Apple devices, significant because the iPhone maker does not usually allow the sale of software that replicates functionality already available in its mobile platform.



Gmail's new universal app is compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and is available now through the App Store, though Izatt notes that users must delete any previous versions before downloading.



AIM gets UI overhaul and new features



AOL Instant Messenger's iOS app received a major overhaul, featuring a newly-designed interface and improved mobile functionality.



The update, which brings the software to version 5.0.1, adds new features like copy and pasting messages and setting quiet hours where sounds can be muted and push notifications disabled. Also added is the ability to take and send photos without leaving the app.



Users will see expanded social network integration with notifications from AIM, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, however the company's Lifestream social networking hub has been removed with the update.



Group chat functionality has also been added, bringing the mobile version of the service more in line with desktop clients.



A possible bug that would cause messages to be erased has been remedied as AIM now stores users' conversation histories and syncs them across platforms.



Screenshots from iPhone version | Source: iTunes



Camera+ regains volume button shutter control



In its most recent update on Wednesday, third-party camera app Camera+ regained shutter control via the iPhone's volume button, a capality that made the app popular when it first debuted last year. Camera+ is calling the feature "Volume Snap."



Originally, volume button shutter control was not an official feature of the app, and was instead considered a "hack" that leveraged URL schemes to activate the function. By visiting a URL through Safari, users can execute certain system commands as seen by the newly discovered shortcuts AppleInsider reported on Tuesday.



Because the workaround was technically breaking Apple's developer licensing agreement, the company temporarily pulled Camera+ from App Store, claiming that the unapproved functionality had the possibility of confusing users.



Apple's newest iOS 5 now also includes native volume button shutter control.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    Regarding camera +, camera genius gets an update this week and the update was to remove the Volume Snap/Shot as requested by Apple.

    I don't know why Apple still forbids that. But Camera + might get the same treatment next, to remove that volume snap.



    iTunes Link - Camera Genius
  • Reply 2 of 6
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by makingdots View Post


    Regarding camera +, camera genius gets an update this week and they just remove the Volume Shot as requested by Apple.

    I don't know why Apple still forbids that. But Camera + might get the same treatment next.



    iTunes Link - Camera Genius



    They forbade it but it was a better idea than what they had, now that they came up with the better idea everyone can use it.
  • Reply 3 of 6
    Very happy for the Gmail app.
  • Reply 4 of 6
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    A web-view? Embarrassing.
  • Reply 5 of 6
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    The volume + button thing was a great idea, but it was a private API and against the rules. All I can say is that dev guy is an ass, can't remember his name, but I've seen sereral occasions people calling for a boycott of their apps.



    Karma's a bitch.



    http://www.bynkii.com/archives/2008/...ybaby_cry.html
  • Reply 6 of 6
    IM+ Pro is the closest thing to Adium on the iPad. I know that's not really related to the AIM announcement, but I haven't used an 'official' client for any IM service in years.
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