iMessage App 'Checkmate' Available for Free as Apple's App of the Week

[MacRumors]

Each week, Apple chooses an "App of the Week" to highlight, which means it can be downloaded for free. This week's pick is an iMessage app called Checkmate, able to be played with friends using Messages.

Checkmate is one of the first iMessage apps to be named App of the Week, and it is normally priced at $0.99. With Checkmate, you can play a game of chess with a friend entirely over iMessages. Apple's notes on the game:

We use iMessage for everything from keeping up with family news to sending stickers to our significant others. Sometimes, though, we just want to duke it out with knights and kings on the chessboard. What makes Checkmate so great -- aside from its super-intuitive interface -- is the way we can chat with (and smack-talk) as we play... or take as much time as we need to contemplate our next move.

Starting up a game with Checkmate requires you to go to the App Drawer and select the Checkmate icon. From there, updates on moves in the game are sent using iMessages. Checkmate can only be played within iMessage and it needs to be installed through the Messages App Store.

Checkmate supports multiple matches, so you can play with multiple people at one time, across all of your devices. Checkmate has no in-app purchases and regularly adds new themes for free.

Checkmate can be downloaded for free for the next seven days. [Direct Link]

Article Link: iMessage App 'Checkmate' Available for Free as Apple's App of the Week

 

[AngerDanger]

iMessage: boldly going where desktop computers were in 2000.

 

[Sasparilla]

Apple you need to make iMessage multiplatform now, this would be great with my many friends who are on Android (~80% of the market?). Thinking of it as a way to keep people on iOS is not the right angle - have the best solution, not protect how things were. JMHO....

 

[pat500000]

Love this

 

[Mansu944]

How is this better than an app?

 

[69Mustang]

I wonder how far Apple is going to take this WeChat/Whatsapp philosophy.

 

[Porco]

Looks quite nice.

If you're going to play before going to sleep, all that blue light emanating from the board makes me think it might be a good idea to play using iOS' Knight Shift function. (sorry).

 

[Fzang]

I wonder how far Apple is going to take this WeChat/Whatsapp philosophy.

If it's not multi platform it's not far enough.

 

[foobarbaz]

Apple you need to make iMessage multiplatform now, this would be great with my many friends who are on Android (~80% of the market?). Thinking of it as a way to keep people on iOS is not the right angle - have the best solution, not protect how things were. JMHO....

Well, iOS app extensions wouldn't work then, either.

It's either high functionality only for iOS users or low common ground for everybody. And there are already plenty of chat networks doing the later ... Who needs *another* WhatsApp?

 

[craig1410]

iMessage: boldly going where desktop computers were in 2000.

Kinda missing the point aren't you? This isn't the first chess game on iOS...

Apple you need to make iMessage multiplatform now, this would be great with my many friends who are on Android (~80% of the market?). Thinking of it as a way to keep people on iOS is not the right angle - have the best solution, not protect how things were. JMHO....

The problem Apple have is implementing iMessage on Android while still achieving the desired level of security. I don't believe at this point they are excluding android devices for commercial reasons.

 

[darkarn]

Time to check this out mate!

 

[Pakaku]

Does anyone here remember MSN and those games you could play over it? Very nostalgic.

 

[Master-D]

Does anyone here remember MSN and those games you could play over it? Very nostalgic.

My wife and I played hundreds of games of chess over Yahoo messenger when we first knew each other and were living in different countries. Agree it's a shame there is no android version to connect with more people

 

[69Mustang]

The problem Apple have is implementing iMessage on Android while still achieving the desired level of security.

Where did you get this idea? iMessage has end to end encryption just like several other messaging apps that are cross platform. Apple has never said there was a security issue with porting iMessage to Android. Security being an issue comes from the mind of some, not all, Apple fans.

I don't believe at this point they are excluding android devices for commercial reasons.

It funny you don't believe this. I say funny because commercial concerns are the exact reason given for Apple not making iMessage cross platform. Security. Tee hee.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-explains-why-imessage-hasnt-expanded-to-android.1978150/

 

[RickInHouston]

I wonder how far Apple is going to take this WeChat/Whatsapp philosophy.

They have to keep following. If weChat / WhatsApp accidentally comes up with the killer add-on and apple can't counter fast enough, apple could lose their lock on apple sheep, I mean customers via iMessage. Then $$$$ hits the fan. Apple must protect the golden goose and be on the lookout that could bring them down. They must continue to watch for the Trojan horse.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Looks quite nice.

If you're going to play before going to sleep, all that blue light emanating from the board makes me think it might be a good idea to play using iOS' Knight Shift function. (sorry).

"Amen to that"! says the bishop
[doublepost=1501848305][/doublepost]

Time to check this out mate!

Would that need the consent of the king?

 

[mazz0]

How is this better than an app?

It's within a conversation. Much friendlier. No need to app switch to chat, or have many different chat threads going on (one in each game you might play).

 

[shareef777]

Kinda missing the point aren't you? This isn't the first chess game on iOS...



The problem Apple have is implementing iMessage on Android while still achieving the desired level of security. I don't believe at this point they are excluding android devices for commercial reasons.

And somehow WhatsApp and FB Messenger have no problems with end to end encryption on multiple platforms. It's just Apple living in the past.

 

[diamond3]

Each week, Apple chooses an "App of the Week" to highlight, which means it can be downloaded for free. This week's pick is an iMessage app called Checkmate, able to be played with friends using Messages.

Checkmate is one of the first iMessage apps to be named App of the Week, and it is normally priced at $0.99. With Checkmate, you can play a game of chess with a friend entirely over iMessages. Apple's notes on the game:

Starting up a game with Checkmate requires you to go to the App Drawer and select the Checkmate icon. From there, updates on moves in the game are sent using iMessages. Checkmate can only be played within iMessage and it needs to be installed through the Messages App Store.

Checkmate supports multiple matches, so you can play with multiple people at one time, across all of your devices. Checkmate has no in-app purchases and regularly adds new themes for free.

Checkmate can be downloaded for free for the next seven days. [Direct Link]

Article Link: iMessage App 'Checkmate' Available for Free as Apple's App of the Week

I can’t be the only one that wishes two people could both play inside the app at the same time if you’re both in it. It’s rather annoying when you are playing someone and you’re both able to play relatively fast for a while, but you have to keep sending messages back and forth between each turn.

 

[Zirel]

Apple you need to make iMessage multiplatform now, this would be great with my many friends who are on Android (~80% of the market?). Thinking of it as a way to keep people on iOS is not the right angle - have the best solution, not protect how things were. JMHO....

It’s not your friends got the wrong phone, it’s you who got the wrong friends.

 

[b11051973]

Is there a good checkers iMessage app? I'm not smart enough to play chess.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Looks quite nice.

If you're going to play before going to sleep, all that blue light emanating from the board makes me think it might be a good idea to play using iOS' Knight Shift function. (sorry).

(Drumroll for you...!)
[doublepost=1501864444][/doublepost]

iMessage: boldly going where desktop computers were in 2000.

Multiplayer on a mobile device that's always connected to the internet?
I don't think so. Well, I had mobile data back in 1995, but it was sort of an exception. Most people could only dream about it back then.

 

[hotgril]

iMessage: boldly going where desktop computers were in 2000.

Aw yeah, chess over XMPP/Jabber with extensions.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Apple you need to make iMessage multiplatform now, this would be great with my many friends who are on Android (~80% of the market?). Thinking of it as a way to keep people on iOS is not the right angle - have the best solution, not protect how things were. JMHO....

EXACTLY!

Apple please don't make the same mistake as BlackBerry did with BBM. The market caught up VERY quickly and right now there is already at least 1 similar app on Android. Not sure if majority of users on various manufaturers use their own messaging platform or an app in Playstore. ex Sony has their media messaging app that jumps into your media library but unsure about plug-ins. I'd presume Samsung has their equivelant - if not then NOW is the time to strike!!