Sparrow for iPhone goes live, overhauls iOS e-mail
updated 11:35 pm EDT, Wed March 14, 2012
Sparrow for iPhone ready to go
Sparrow on Wednesday answered a long-standing request and posted its iPhone app ($3, App Store). The mobile version of the formerly Mac-only app brings in a pane navigation metaphor that both draws on apps like Facebook and Twitter; swipes bring in the main navigation for folders and labels as well as quick shortcuts to deal with individual messages. Shortcuts also see a pull down to refresh, swipes to quickly filter down to unread or favorited messages, and swipes to jump through a conversation.
Other elements are intended to simplify the experience and add features that Apple itself has left out. Contacts and messages can sort by priority, users can mark all messages as read, and users' profiles feature prominently. Sparrow can attach photos directly from within the app, solving a problem even Mail has with having to go to the photo library first.
The app will work on any iOS device running 5.0 or later. It currently only supports IMAP mail accounts like Gmail, iCloud, or Yahoo. While it's not clear if POP3 accounts will ever get support, future updates will introduce a built-in web browser to save time with web links, a landscape mode, label and folder filtering, and the ability to archive as soon as a message is sent.
