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Apple's New "Cards" iPhone App Sends Real Holiday Cards

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Apple today introduced a new iOS app called Cards. It's an iOS version of the greeting card-maker built-in to iPhoto, but with a twist -- instead of printing shipping cards to the user, Apple takes care of printing, mailing, and postage -- and sends the card directly to the recipient, with a push notification going to the phone upon delivery.

As iOS SVP Scott Forstall explains, "you create the card on your iPhone, and we'll do the rest."

Users will take pictures, design the card (choosing from 21 different designs), customize the greeting and Apple takes care of the rest. Cards will cost $2.99 each when mailed within the US. The Cards app itself will be a free download, launching October 12th.

Image courtesy This Is My Next

Article Link: Apple's New "Cards" iPhone App Sends Real Holiday Cards
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/04/apples-new-cards-iphone-app-sends-real-holiday-cards/
C

commander.data

macrumors 65816
Nov 10, 2006
1,058
187
Was this some manager's pet project that they managed to get approved? With all Apple is doing, starting to compete against Hallmark and getting into the printing business seems an odd choice.
 
nagromme

nagromme

macrumors G5
May 2, 2002
12,546
1,196
Oh no, iCards lives! :eek:

Actually this solves a real-world problem for me—I’m ALWAYS really lame about getting cards out when I should.

And I could use my own art (even painted on iPad) instead of photos, so they'd be more personal than a store-bought card too.

commander.data said:
Was this some manager's pet project that they managed to get approved? With all Apple is doing, starting to compete against Hallmark and getting into the printing business seems an odd choice.
Click to expand...

Apple’s been printing cards, via iPhoto’s service, for years. This is an evolution of that. Only a small feature. But what’s wrong with developing small features sometimes? I’d hate to use a platform with only the big features!
 
9

9822737

Cancelled
Jul 23, 2008
773
15
commander.data said:
Was this some manager's pet project that they managed to get approved? With all Apple is doing, starting to compete against Hallmark and getting into the printing business seems an odd choice.
Click to expand...

They were already in the printing business beforehand with the cards they did from iPhoto so it's not a major step.
 
nwcs

nwcs

macrumors 68030
Sep 21, 2009
2,722
5,262
Tennessee
I can see some usefulness for this app. Especially among those people who really like to send thank you notes, reminders, and such. The Post Office will surely love this, too...
 
C

commander.data

macrumors 65816
Nov 10, 2006
1,058
187
nagromme said:
Apple’s been printing cards, via iPhoto’s service, for years. This is an evolution of that. Only a small feature. But what’s wrong with developing small features sometimes? I’d hate to use a platform with only the big features!
Click to expand...
Hmm. I didn't know it was already done in iPhotos. I guess it's a natural extension and a sign that Apple won't be pulling out of this area any time soon.
 
N

None Such

macrumors 6502
Sep 17, 2006
352
13
"Find My Friends" is bad news. It might as well be called Husband Tracker. You know you can't refuse to share your location with your wife.
 
nutmac

nutmac

macrumors 603
Mar 30, 2004
6,057
7,320
Cards would've been pretty cool if it integrated with iMessage. Missing iPad support is another missed opportunity.
 
HiRez

HiRez

macrumors 603
Jan 6, 2004
6,250
2,576
Western US
firewater101 said:
I thought I was on the Onion site... this is... an Apple without Steve Jobs.
Click to expand...

I was waiting for him to say "We believe the future is in printers!" Seriously, there is nothing wrong with a cards service, but I think it left a bad impression to lead off with that because you know everyone in the audience (and investors watching from home) was thinking "So this is Tim Cook's first big idea?". Not fair, but it was there.
 
P

puma25uk

macrumors member
Aug 21, 2008
30
0
UK
Stoneraven said:
We created the first app that sends printed cards from an iPhone over a year ago. Our price was and still is $2.99. You can also send postcards for just $0.99. I may have to contact Tim about this. Any idea what to do about this situation?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photoraven-send-postcards/id370197152?mt=8
Click to expand...

Samsung would love to hear from you. Bet they'll do anything to help put an injunction on any Apple product (or slavish copy of an existing idea ;))
As a fellow developer (non iOS), I feel for you. Sucks to feel gutted, I'm sure...

Seriously, Apple are starting to have too many glass roofs to be throwing stones around :rolleyes:
 
justperry

justperry

macrumors G5
Aug 10, 2007
12,558
9,750
I'm a rolling stone.
Stoneraven said:
We created the first app that sends printed cards from an iPhone over a year ago. Our price was and still is $2.99. You can also send postcards for just $0.99. I may have to contact Tim about this. Any idea what to do about this situation?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photoraven-send-postcards/id370197152?mt=8
Click to expand...

If you did not patent it you can't do anything about it.
Also, it seems to Me this is so common that you really can not patent it.
So yeah, as Nonameowns said you're ****ed.
 
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