Wanted feature for OS 4.0: link mapping

[yetanotherdave]

I just had an idea for a cool new feature, that would take a new SDK to implement because the devs would need to write it into the apps, so maybe we could persuade apple for version 4.0.

Basically, have a way of telling iPhone to open specific links with specific apps, from within any app.
Say I'm in tweetie, and I click on a link for an amazon product, it would be great if it opened in the amazon app, or I click on a twitter.com/#tweetID in safari or facebook and it opens in tweetie or my twitter app of choice. Most of us have a lot of apps that optimise specific websites on our iPhones, ebay, amazon, rightmove, twitter, facebook, the list goes on and on, it'd be great to use them fully.

So, in the general settings, have a links settings tab. Just like the notifications tab, have a list of all apps that support universal links, and an on/off toggle. Off and it uses default behaviour (youtube/safari) On and it uses that app for that link type.

yes, I have posted this to http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

 

[ViViDboarder]

I just had an idea for a cool new feature, that would take a new SDK to implement because the devs would need to write it into the apps, so maybe we could persuade apple for version 4.0.

Basically, have a way of telling iPhone to open specific links with specific apps, from within any app.
Say I'm in tweetie, and I click on a link for an amazon product, it would be great if it opened in the amazon app, or I click on a twitter.com/#tweetID in safari or facebook and it opens in tweetie or my twitter app of choice. Most of us have a lot of apps that optimise specific websites on our iPhones, ebay, amazon, rightmove, twitter, facebook, the list goes on and on, it'd be great to use them fully.

So, in the general settings, have a links settings tab. Just like the notifications tab, have a list of all apps that support universal links, and an on/off toggle. Off and it uses default behaviour (youtube/safari) On and it uses that app for that link type.

yes, I have posted this to http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I'm not sure... but I think this does exist in some form. I think that's how some apps open other apps. http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/07/12/boxcar-brings-twitter-push-notifications-to-the-iphone/ for example. They can open one of two twitter apps by using a command similar... I think.

If not they could do something like they do on a computer.

EchoFon could register twitter://
Aim AIM://
Amazon amazon://

And so on. Then you can have the iPhone handle the apps properly.

 

[yetanotherdave]

I'm not sure... but I think this does exist in some form. I think that's how some apps open other apps. http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/07/12/boxcar-brings-twitter-push-notifications-to-the-iphone/ for example. They can open one of two twitter apps by using a command similar... I think.

If not they could do something like they do on a computer.

EchoFon could register twitter://
Aim AIM://
Amazon amazon://

And so on. Then you can have the iPhone handle the apps properly.

The first option is very app specific, you have to have one of the target apps the dev has programmed for, I'm talking a universal system, From any app, to any app.

And the second one means the link has to be written specifically for opening in an app, again, I want ANY twitter link to open in tweetie, not just twitter://#userID links.

 

[ViViDboarder]

The first option is very app specific, you have to have one of the target apps the dev has programmed for, I'm talking a universal system, From any app, to any app.

And the second one means the link has to be written specifically for opening in an app, again, I want ANY twitter link to open in tweetie, not just twitter://#userID links.

I think that may be less likely unless they were official apps. Mostly for the reason that it would allow an app to hijack any URL. Anyone would be able to create an app and register it to open Amazon.com links otherwise.

Apple could require the devs to prove that their app is official to get links handled, but then Twitter would likely be out of luck.

 

[thelatinist]

I am annoyed enough by links which open up the app store. Why in hell would I want links to be able to open up any app they please?

No thank you.

 

[yetanotherdave]

I think that may be less likely unless they were official apps. Mostly for the reason that it would allow an app to hijack any URL. Anyone would be able to create an app and register it to open Amazon.com links otherwise.

Apple could require the devs to prove that their app is official to get links handled, but then Twitter would likely be out of luck.

That's one of the reasons I would have an on/off switch
1) people might be happy with the safari behaviour
2) people might have several twitter apps (for example)
3) keep the user in control, it's not going to happen until you either specifically tell it to do this.
4) prevent this sort of thing, of course apple vetting apps should help that lots too.

Select the on option, and a pop up comes us
"allow all amazon.co.uk links to open in app "Amazon Mobile UK?" Allow/cancel

 

[ViViDboarder]

That's one of the reasons I would have an on/off switch
1) people might be happy with the safari behaviour
2) people might have several twitter apps (for example)
3) keep the user in control, it's not going to happen until you either specifically tell it to do this.
4) prevent this sort of thing, of course apple vetting apps should help that lots too.

Select the on option, and a pop up comes us
"allow all amazon.co.uk links to open in app "Amazon Mobile UK?" Allow/cancel

The exact reason why this would not be the way it's implemented. Apple isn't much a fan of keeping the user in control. They think they know what's best. My guess is if they do something like this, there would be no option. Just like they don't have an option for multitasking, or themes, icons hiding default Apple apps.

 

[yetanotherdave]

I am annoyed enough by links which open up the app store. Why in hell would I want links to be able to open up any app they please?

No thank you.

No, only if you specifically choose for that to happen. in my idea, you like the default behaviour, you keep the default behaviour. You have apps that are highly optimised for their specific website, facebook web interface is bad, the app is good, why not use the app you have /if/ you want to.

With the app store, and itunes store, I don't see how else they could do it...

 

[ViViDboarder]

No, only if you specifically choose for that to happen. in my idea, you like the default behaviour, you keep the default behaviour.

With the app store, and itunes store, I don't see how else they could do it...

Haha, yea... There is no web view for app store links in ANY browser.

 

[Tilpots]

Correct me if I'm wrong, don't have an iPhone, but wouldn't your launching of a new app close the one you had open? Wouldn't that be super inconvenient?

 

[yetanotherdave]

The exact reason why this would not be the way it's implemented. Apple isn't much a fan of keeping the user in control. They think they know what's best. My guess is if they do something like this, there would be no option. Just like they don't have an option for multitasking, or themes, icons hiding default Apple apps.

It could definitely be a more open system that's the price for the nicest phone on the market. Apple seem to be slowly opening it up with each software release. First no apps. Then only web apps, then apps, then more api's allowing apps to use the camera properly, the ipod library, bluetooth networking etc etc.

Maybe, just maybe by version 7 we'll be able to set a background.

 

[yetanotherdave]

Correct me if I'm wrong, don't have an iPhone, but wouldn't your launching of a new app close the one you had open? Wouldn't that be super inconvenient?

Yes it would, but most apps can now remember where you were when you re-open them. eg tweetie remembers where I was on my feed, or if I was looking at a specific post, facebook does the same.
It's something that will not be sorted properly until apple allow multitasking, but it's no more inconvenient than trying to view a rightmove listing in the tweetie browser for instance. Or an ebay listing in safari.

 

[Tilpots]

Yes it would, but most apps can now remember where you were when you re-open them. eg tweetie remembers where I was on my feed, or if I was looking at a specific post, facebook does the same.
It's something that will not be sorted properly until apple allow multitasking, but it's no more inconvenient than trying to view a rightmove listing in the tweetie browser for instance. Or an ebay listing in safari.

Didn't know the apps remembered where you were. Thanks.

That's pretty cool, but multitasking would be a whole lot cooler!

 

[yetanotherdave]

That's pretty cool, but multitasking would be a whole lot cooler!

Agreed, tell that to apple!

 

[robbieduncan]

The iPhone has a very limited/specific form of this right now. http://maps.google.com (that are not coded to open in a new window) open in the Google Maps app...

 

[yetanotherdave]

The iPhone has a very limited/specific form of this right now. http://maps.google.com (that are not coded to open in a new window) open in the Google Maps app...

Yes, I like that option, but it's only google maps, and that's because apple know that maps in installed on every iphone it sells. with an ever expanding app store, expanding this functionality seems like a good move.

 

[robbieduncan]

Yes, I like that option, but it's only google maps, and that's because apple know that maps in installed on every iphone it sells. with an ever expanding app store, expanding this functionality seems like a good move.

Yeah, my point was that there is already the code in place to examine every http:// link and route it to another application. So the amount of new code required to support this is somewhat lower than if this was not the case.

 

[yetanotherdave]

Yeah, my point was that there is already the code in place to examine every http:// link and route it to another application. So the amount of new code required to support this is somewhat lower than if this was not the case.

Good point, it seems like an easy addition for such a large new feature in terms of useability. But then adding themes/wallpapers wouldn't be hard and we all know how apple seems to have that.