As we mentioned yesterday, Apple has begun load testing of their Push Notification Service. Certain developers have been given promo codes to a special version of AP News that, when installed, can be configured to utilize Push Notification. This means that screens we've seen previously via code digging can now be seen for real, and there are a few interesting things therein.
The setup seems not dissimilar to how GPS was handled on the iPhone 3G. A popup identifies the app and requests permission to send you Push Notifications, and you can choose "Don't Allow" or "OK". A Notifications panel in Settings lets you choose to globally turn the service On or Off, and lists the apps using the service so you can individually toggle Sounds, Alerts, and Badges On or Off as well for each one. (i.e. if you want Twitter to badge but not alert, IM to sound but not badge, etc. you can have it your way).
More screenshots after the jump, and check out our massive iPhone 3.0 Walkthrough for even more!
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Reader comments
iPhone 3.0: Push Notification Settings Redux
Will I be able to get push on e-mail? I would like to see a screen like they have on SMS now for e-mail. I think when they have a pop-up screen they should have the close or reply even if the phone is locked. IUt is a pain in the neck to have unlock the phone then go to the SMS app to replay or close.
This confirms what I believed all along regarding allowing users to selectively turn notifications on and off.
Rene, does this also quell your fear about having to tap through multiple notifications to close them? It seems all you would have to do would be is turn on alerts only for the apps you want them. For me, the badge notification will likely be the one I use most. I think it would be cool if a new version of Tweetie sent me an alert for a new DM but only badged new @ replies.
Yeah most likely for 90% of the things i use notification for i will use Badges. For an IM application i might just consider using a pop-up. Not sure.
I am excited but a little confused. I want to use im and get the alert pushed. But in order for someone to send me a im I have to be signed in and therefore have the app open making the im push irrelivant. Does someone have a better solution? Am I looking at this wrong? Same with Palringo and Facebook. I will appear offline if the app isn't open.
Did anyone see the push in effect already in the AP application?
I've installed it a couple of hours ago, and have yet to see any visible sign of push notification...
And yes, I've made sure everything was enabled for the test to be meaningfull. ;-)
@Piercedirish regardless, you would have to launch the app to login, etc to start the push process. I can't imagine every app taking advantage push notifications so I don't think it is a big deal.
@iPhoneMilk Me too :-)
@jason I would think so. Having three options is kind of nice actually.
@Piercedirish apps such as BeeJive keep you logged in for up to 24 hours, this is how they will know to push an update to your phone.
@Eurocile, looks like a slow news day. Could be why.
I cant wait for PNS to come out with 3.0, its really exciting! Does anyone what to describe what the "Alert" for the AP app sounds like?
We need the push to for GoodLink services to work properly. That will go a long way to bringing the iPhone to the enterprise.
PCWorld has a story on this with a cautionary take:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/165127/appletestspushnotificationsbutarethey_ready.html
Its interesting to see how many of the comments in relation to that story are from Anti-Iphone people.
One thing that is not clear:
With Notifications coming ONLY Via Apples's infrastructure, does this put Apple in a position to know your passwords on these 3rd Party services, or do the services simply notify an Apple server with an Apple Account ID? If so is it a MobileMe account or just an Itunes account, or something else all together?
What I really want to know is does it vibrate with each push thing, I'd prefer this to any sounds badges as this is how I do text and email.
Can't they just have a window slide up from the bottom or something? I hate having my session interupted by pop up notification. Even if I get an SMS right now, I'd want it to notify me, not interupt my typing.
You can't make everyone happy, I think what would be more useful is the ability to use combination of visual and auditory alerts. Somethings I still want an alert, but I don't necessarily want a badge to pop up. Twitter sounds like one, like I'd like an auditory queue.
I think PUSH for email would be a GREAT idea.
I think you can get a screen so easily filled with 100 of messages so it will come very annoying I would rather prefer how Android does it with status bar
Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing as Rob. I wonder if it'd vibrate with each Push notification. A PUSH for email would be a great idea yeah. I could make a lot of use with that, lol.
my push notification does not work.. i ise whatsapp and y!meseenger but when i am using other apps and some one msg me it does not pop up. in my settings the notification is on.
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