We may finally have an answer as to why so many high profile push-capable applications haven’t been released into the App Store, and it seems that the problem is exactly what we expected… Apple just wasn’t ready yet.
Dominik Balogh from PoweryBase, the developer of the first push-based reminder iPhone app NotifyMe, sent us an email this morning confirming that the problems have all been on Apple’s end.
The release delay of Push based applications is intentional, of course. We have submitted NotifyMe 10 days ago, the same time as Beejive has submitted their new BeejiveIM version with Push capabilities. We have just received (now, sunday morning in Cupertino) an apology from Apple App Store Staff.
Apparently Apple just hasn’t worked out all of the push notification bugs quite yet. Balogh stated that according to their records, Apple hasn’t even started using NotifyMe yet, which would indicate that the problems have nothing to do with any of the apps in review. Balogh also stated that in their testing conditions, all push messages with NotifyMe were working “extremely well and right on time,” which creates a bit of confusion as to what the real problem is. The un-reviewed push-capable apps must be piling up as we speak.
So until Apple works out the kinks, you won’t be seeing any new push-capable apps anytime soon, but at least they have officially broken their silence on the matter. Hang in their everyone.
I’m waiting for an official statement from apple which will likely give some bullshit date sometime in September, followed by silence until a special iPhone event early next year announcing push notifications will be an exciting new feature in iPhone OS 4.0, due in June
LMAO I truly believe something like that would happen which is sad I mean they’ve been saying this thing is ready then delay it and were stuck waiting. I’m actually sick of it and will be getting rid of my iPhone so thanks apple.
I don’t think Apple can delay push any more. It’ll kill their credibility, basically they’re force to make it work in the next week or it’ll be a marketing disaster…
Their credibility is gone in my book. I bought this phone LAST YEAR after WWDC because they promised push, and I thought “finally, the missing piece” Now it’s finally out (way freaking late) and there is still a hold up. all the while Apple keeps quite. i’ve never had such a bittersweet feeling about a device like I do with the iPhone.
…and all this hassle just to avoid running background apps. Bad software engineering choice. The routing and server infrastructure to support push notification for 20 million international user’s stream of IM message, reminders, news alerts, etc… versus a 10-15% hit on battery life to support background polling. Just make the phone 10% thicker, and put a bigger battery. It could be working today (like many other phones do including the pre).
I totally agree with the comment by “t”. I really hope Apple know what they’re doing because frankly I just want to stay connected with an IM app and relying on the Notification service is always going to feel like a kludge.
I’d rather Apple let us run background apps but with some safeguards, such as limiting them to a tiny fraction of processor time and killing them when they mess up.
ahhh nuts.
appadvice wrote:
“So until Apple works out the kinks, you won’t be seeing any push-capable apps anytime soon”
umm, i’ve been getting push notifications from the AP news app for 2 days. so, you can’t exactly make a “blanket” statement like that.
You’re right, he probably should have said:
“So until Apple works out the kinks, you won’t be seeing any USEFUL push-capable apps anytime soon”
3 – I’ve gotten 3 AP notifications in 4 days. Not exactly a success.
I do have AP app installed but no push notification yet. Why?
you have to open the AP app and tell it that you would like to receive push notifications
I got 4 notifications from AP News today but there is nothing really useful about them. Hopefully its a sign that things are improving on Apple’s end.
And how do I do that exactly? I have searched all over the app.
Fixed that typo. Thanks for the heads up mark.
Textfree is a pretty darn near flawless implementation of push notifications. Don’t pass judgement on the service based on the AP app when you have no idea how they select stories that should be pushed and you don’t know if their servers are up to snuff.
I’ve gotten probably little over 50 push notifications over the last couple of days via Textfree, all on time within about a second after being sent. I even showed the push to some friends of mine yesterday, asked them to text me on Textfree and promptly pulled out my phone to show them to alert about 1.5 seconds later.
It works but I guess Apple wants to make sure it’s really 100% ready before the major apps (IM applications) come out.
yeah textfree is awesome and push works almost flawlessly. a couple messages i’ve gotten havent sprung up, but otherwise its a killer example of push. maybe 1 out of every 50 messages i receive doesnt pop.
I sent about 15 SMSs to myself using username@textfree.us.
I got 0 push notifications. And yes,, I made sure I turn it on when I first ran the app. And also made sure it is on under Settings > Notifications. Tried it both on WiFi and 3G. Aaargh!
I don’t understand the hold up, the notifications are on the developers servers, right? if the system is flawed why the hell did they ship? I’m so sick of Apple keeping quite about this. a public statement is needed; sooner rather than later.
‘push’ is just one in a long line of QA blunders plaguing apple ;-(
at some point apple customers have to find a way to focus our disatisfaction in a co-ordinated & sustained way that holds apple to account …
the odd class-action suit is just the cost of doing businessas far as Cupertino is concerened.
a permanent petition -that costs $5 to subscribe to – would generate enough heat & cash for apple to stop taking it’s customers for granted.
I’m not a big fan of (workers) unions, but perhaps apple customers need to elect a council & a chief representative who wi be officially recognized by apple – and with whom it would feel compelled to bargin in respect of the market power that a consumers union weilds!
2 million subs x $5 = enough clout to get noticed!
The main problem is that most Apple customers are satisfied, and Apple knows it. there isn’t a phone on the market like the iPhone, even with it’s flaws it’s still my favorite phone.
Not saying I wouldn’t participate. I’m sick of apple making promises and not following through. I wouldn’t mind if they never announced push, and the phone doesn’t have it. but they did, and it doesn’t.
this idea would work, but most iPhone owners are sheep. the same reason apple can go and stop approving camera apps, is the reason they are taking their sweet time with push. their customer base are sheep.
Apple can’t keep up this game just because their users are satisfied. Microsoft destroyed Palm because the Palm OS was the most powerful mobile Operating System at the time and arrogance proved a point. Then Microsoft made the same mistake thinking they can monopolise. Apple’s now the leader in the ring. Unfortunately tho, today’s market is a lot more competitive where there are more than just 2 big guns fighting.
Apple keep this up, everyone will move. Just like how everyone thought they wouldn’t leave Windows Mobile or the Palm OS or the Psion…..
Agreed,
Sadly the competition falls short. you better believe that if the next palm phone seals up the pres shortcomings i’ll drop the iPhone like a bad habit.
+1 I’m so tired of the combination Apple and AT&T’s shortcomings…. I’m seriously about to move on from this device which I hate to say cause I’m pretty much a fanboy. But seriously… this is ridiculous..
if this is true, why aren’t other, non-push apps appearing like tweetie, tomtom, and apple’s own iDisk client they announced? Nothing about the quote given in this article confirms that push is the problem. The app store is just overall not updating much of anything.
“you won’t be seeing any new push-capable apps anytime soon”
What do you mean by “new”. Are those apps like Beejive also new and we won’t see them soon? Or Beejive and IM+ will be approved but not those who haven’t been sent for approval yet?
Apple it’s doing a great job… What’s the rush.. All this fuzz over IM. Some of you needs to really see things more clearly. Developers are just in a rush to make more money with apples push service.
Agreed,
All you complainers, get a life! So what if your device doesn’t keep you connected every moment of everyday. This is the problem with our generation, bunch of whiny little brats. Relax, take a walk without your phone, enjoy something other than bitching about push.
I am a bit frustrated with apple. The software update was cool but with nothing to “push”, it is a bit stupid, IMHO. They could have announced it when they were actually ready to implement it.
And, in response to someone saying all complainers should “get a life”…THAT’S the point!!! I DO have a life and don’t want to have to check for new messages and such when I could just be alerted that something is waiting for me to view. Who has time to check each app individually?
And, others actually have different circumstances…my boyfriend works offshore and we use IM to communicate. So, as you can see…pushed IM would be very helpful in my situation…since I do have a life, and all….:sarcasm:
Sorry to offend. I think it can be hard to imagine the personal use of such great technology. I understand that in your situation push would be great, but in reality what did we do before all of this. It is great you get to communicate with your bf and all. I think on a macro scale being frustrated with technology is pointless.
Let’s take Beejive 3.0 for example. Support for Push Notification is not the only feature of the new version of this app. There’s also a revised User Interface, support of Copy & Paste and lots of new enhancements etc. Apple is not only holding the Push Notification service but also holding updated apps from appearing at the AppStore…
Facebook update for OS3.0 was available on Sunday, just didn’t figure out the changes and probably there’re none (as for OS 3.0 announced changes).
Beejive 3.0 update si not only dealing with push, but just think they can’t divide it into Push part and Other part 
I don’t believe Apple will give a sh*t to the bunch of clowns who feel that they are God;s gift to mankind.
Whats the hype about beejive and what is the difference between it and fring , could some one plz explain ? As for me at least fring support skype while beejive doesnt .
@ cyrex:
RE FRING …
cant say i have even heard about the ‘beehive’ VOIP app …
but i hope that fring does a better better job supporting the (PROPRIETARY) skype protocol than it does the (STANDARDS_based) sip protocol!
upstream audio quality on fring is almost unintelligble for most of my calls! (no matter to which wifi or which ISP i am connected!).
Hopefully push notification apps will be coming through to the app store soon.
It was pretty much the only reason for upgrading my iPod (which meant paying for it). In hind sight I should probably have waited, but for now I shall leave my fingers crossed for getting some useful apps through soon.