AppleInsider Staff
Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS Software, unveiled the new application during his company's media event on Tuesday. Users will be able to use their own photos to create custom cards for any event that will be printed on high-quality 100 percent cotton paper.
For $2.99 in the U.S. and $4.99 anywhere else in the world, Apple will design the postage for the card and mail it for customers. Those who place an order will receive a push notification of mail delivery to their iOS device through the U.S. Postal Service.
A total of 21 different designs will be available through the application. Users will be able to create the cards on their phone, and Apple will handle the creation and mailing of the card.
The free application will be available on the App Store on Oct. 12.
David Schloss
Wesley Hilliard
Marko Zivkovic
Andrew Orr
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
17 Comments
For a second there I got all excited, thinking my long lost and lamented iCards (from the old iTools) was coming back. Instead, it's just a dead trees solution with the same function that apps like Postino have offered for years. Oh well.
When they first said iCards my heart skipped a beat and I thought this would be Apple's version of a mobile electronic wallet. Then I saw they were gunning for Hallmark.
Lame.
Why would someone want to pay $3+ to send out custom greeting cards, when they can already get them for less than a $1 at, plus a Free Trial !?!
Because, foolish advertising spambot, this is Apple. The cards will be high quality, the designs will be first rate, the interface to make them will be a fricking piece of cake, and the account used to pay for them is already in one place on the device.
Because, foolish advertising spambot, this is Apple. The cards will be high quality, the designs will be first rate, the interface to make them will be a fricking piece of cake, and the account used to pay for them is already in one place on the device.
Absolutely right. These "convenience" services will also likely be tied to Siri, so you could set a card to be ordered and delivered for various birthdays, or other occasions.
Should integrate beautifully with the entire iOS experience. AAMOF, I could easily see Siri integration and cross-promotions with every service that Siri can identify (that's just about every listing in the phone book, folks!)....
Absolutely right. These "convenience" services will also likely be tied to Siri, so you could set a card to be ordered and delivered for various birthdays, or other occasions.
Should integrate beautifully with the entire iOS experience. AAMOF, I could easily see Siri integration and cross-promotions with every service that Siri can identify (that's just about every listing in the phone book, folks!)....
Imagine if Siri gets HANDS FREE. Imagine if Siri becomes VOICE-ACTIVATED as well as controlled. Just call it by name and it will do crap for you. That way, if you're doing something (say, in the kitchen with filthy hands), you don't have to go out of your way to get stuff done.
Siri: Sir, you set a reminder to tell you to do something for your niece's birthday.
You: Oh, okay, Siri, when is my niece's birthday?
Siri: Today, sir.
You: Frick. Um, Siri, send my niece a birthday card with iCards.
Siri: iCards is open, sir. What would you like to say?
You: Happy birthday, Katelyn! I hope your birthday is wonderful! Love, your uncle.
Siri: *reads it back*
You: Er… heaven's sake, Siri, how old is Katelyn?
Siri: Katelyn is ten.
You: Siri, modify the message. Change 'I hope your birthday is wonderful' to 'I hope your tenth birthday is wonderful'.
Siri: *reads it back*
You: Good. Siri, choose the 'Kid's Party' template.
Siri: Template chosen, sir.
You: Siri, send it.
Siri: Message sent, sir.
You: Ah… I better call her, too. Siri, call Katelyn.
Siri is going to be a revolution. Conversational voice control.
But when it's always listening for you, THEN it will be truly astounding.
And "Siri" is phonetically unique enough to not get confused with much else and operate as a good command delineator.