Facebook Quietly Kills Off 'Notify' News Alert App for iOS

[MacRumors]

Facebook has officially shut down Notify, its real-time, notification-based news app for iOS.

The company sent an alert to users of the app last night, explaining that it would be transitioning parts of the Notify service into its other products and that the app would no longer be supported.

Notify, which went live in November, enabled users to receive news notifications and choose their sources from over 70 publishers, with options for granular alerts about specific sub-topics of interest.

Notifications included short summaries and allowed users to tap through to view the news articles, but the app has clearly failed to capture the attention of Facebook's user base and the wider news-reading public. Facebook told TechCrunch:

Starting on Wednesday, we will begin integrating Notify functionality into other Facebook products, like Messenger, and will be removing Notify from the App Store. Since launching Notify, we've learned a lot about how to make notifications as timely and relevant as possible and we heard from people using the app that Notify helped them stay informed about things they cared about throughout the day.

With more than 900 million people using Messenger each month, we think there is a great opportunity for publishers to reach even more people interested in real-time updates from their favorite sources.

According to mobile app analytics startup SensorTower, Notify only achieved 63,000 downloads in its lifetime. Facebook's other iOS news-related app, the digital magazine-like Paper, appears to remain in the company's future standalone service plans, at least for now.

Article Link: Facebook Quietly Kills Off 'Notify' News Alert App for iOS

 

[keysofanxiety]

I genuinely hadn't heard of this app, or had any idea it existed. With 63,000 downloads in its lifetime, I surely can't be alone?

 

[WillO95]

I genuinely hadn't heard of this app, or had any idea it existed. With 63,000 downloads in its lifetime, I surely can't be alone?

Seems to be commen with Facebook that apps exist 8 months without anyone really knowing and then they ditch them....

Some would see it as a failure, but I have a feeling they use it as a testing platform before throwing it into the Facebook app to make everyone more confused!

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I genuinely hadn't heard of this app, or had any idea it existed. With 63,000 downloads in its lifetime, I surely can't be alone?

I'm with you. If I had known about it, I probably would have downloaded it and tried it out.

I wish Apple News offered a way of sending me notifications.

 

[WillO95]

I'm with you. If I had known about it, I probably would have downloaded it and tried it out.

I wish Apple News offered a way of sending me notifications.

Here in Belgium it still has to show its face! Have never had the chance to try it!

But WWDC round the corner means ios10 Betas are coming

 

[Shirasaki]

There are only two moments something will definitely be noticed:
One is it was created. One is it is being destroyed. This app for me falls to the later.
If Paper uses the similar concept, then Facebook would like to kill it off one year later.
Apple News app does the same thing as Paper does, or maybe it does the same thing this Notification does.

 

[Mactendo]

I'd love such app. Are there similar apps with customizable notifications?

 

[Glassed Silver]

Seems to be commen with Facebook that apps exist 8 months without anyone really knowing and then they ditch them....

Some would see it as a failure, but I have a feeling they use it as a testing platform before throwing it into the Facebook app to make everyone more confused!

Great, more notifications from Facebook I didn't subscribe to.
"<friend you barely know> uploaded a picture of a burger!"
"Check what you've missed whilst you were away [ON PURPOSE]"
"Do you know <Whowho Whateversen?"
...

Stop peskering me, Facebook.
I know I can turn off notifications for you altogether and I'm on the brink of doing just that, but then I also don't get notifications for messages.
Cause some friends insist on messaging me on FB, even though they know I despise using chat on FB, maybe save for the folks I only know on FB and nowhere else...

I'm this close to just uninstalling the apps and turning off notifications on OS X.
FB better be glad that I'm with them at all, instead they keep being pushy asshats.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[now i see it]

Facebook has officially shut down Notify,

and nobody cares.

According to mobile app analytics startup SensorTower, Notify only achieved 63,000 downloads in its lifetime

and 62,995 deletions off the devices

 

[Shirasaki]

I know I can turn off notifications for you altogether and I'm on the brink of doing just that, but then I also don't get notifications for messages.

I periodically check new updates on Facebook, but notification is OFF entirely on my iPhone.
If someone message me, I have Messenger.

 

[Vertigo50]

Facebook has basically admitted that the reason they split out apps like Paper and Messenger was so they'd have another shot at having users leave notifications on. Especially for those who already turned off notifications for the Facebook app.

But having an entire app just for the purpose of notifications of other apps? Not only is that absurd, I'm surprised the app was even approved by Apple in the first place.

 

[naeS1Sean]

I wish I knew about it. That's what I use the CNN app for.

 

[WillO95]

Great, more notifications from Facebook I didn't subscribe to.
"<friend you barely know> uploaded a picture of a burger!"
"Check what you've missed whilst you were away [ON PURPOSE]"
"Do you know <Whowho Whateversen?"
...

Stop peskering me, Facebook.
I know I can turn off notifications for you altogether and I'm on the brink of doing just that, but then I also don't get notifications for messages.
Cause some friends insist on messaging me on FB, even though they know I despise using chat on FB, maybe save for the folks I only know on FB and nowhere else...

I'm this close to just uninstalling the apps and turning off notifications on OS X.
FB better be glad that I'm with them at all, instead they keep being pushy asshats.

Glassed Silver:mac

For 3 months I've only been using Facebook through safari on my phone. I use Groups and Messanger, but for the rest the dedicated Facebook app is gone.

It has done wonders for my data usage! (1GB per month less usage!)
Battery is also very happy

 

[Glassed Silver]

For 3 months I've only been using Facebook through safari on my phone. I use Groups and Messanger, but for the rest the dedicated Facebook app is gone.

It has done wonders for my data usage! (1GB per month less usage!)
Battery is also very happy

Yeah, I don't even open Facebook on Mac or my iDevices a lot anymore, notifications are still on because of the reasons I gave, that's it.

I don't even want to delete or disable my account, all I'm doing is being a lurker every once in a long while and stop by if there is something really important.
That's it.

So I wouldn't even save a lot of data or battery, app practically never gets opened to begin with.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[WillO95]

Yeah, I don't even open Facebook on Mac or my iDevices a lot anymore, notifications are still on because of the reasons I gave, that's it.

I don't even want to delete or disable my account, all I'm doing is being a lurker every once in a long while and stop by if there is something really important.
That's it.

So I wouldn't even save a lot of data or battery, app practically never gets opened to begin with.

Glassed Silver:mac

Well the issue with the app it it's constantly in the background, that's why I got rid of mine, background usage was constant!

 

[Glassed Silver]

Well the issue with the app it it's constantly in the background, that's why I got rid of mine, background usage was constant!

Not for me.
I can't find it in the app battery usage page in Settings.
So I'll assume it's not clogging up battery or data consumption.

Maybe that may be different if you actually open the app from time to time.

Glassed Silver:mac