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MobileNotifier dev snapped up by Apple to work on iOS framework?
We said that MobileNotifier unobtrusive notifications might be the single best reason to jailbreak your iOS device, and it sounds like Apple may agree -- Redmond Pie reports that lead developer Peter Hajas has been spirited away by the Cupertino computer company to work on iOS itself. Hajas wrote that he was taking a break from MobileNotifier, and some newfangled detective work dug up the rest -- a thinly-veiled reference to Steve Jobs, a tweet mentioning a California "fruit" company, and finally an alleged screenshot of Hajas' entry in Apple's employee database. We're feeling slightly bittersweet about the whole thing, to tell the truth, as while we'd rather not have to smash our iPhone chains, the notion that this is all happening now suggests we won't see greatly improved notifications in iOS 5, come Monday. [Thanks, Jeff]
iOS notifications might be getting a jailbreak boost (Updated)
When Steve Jobs takes the stage next Monday to introduce the world to iOS 5, one of the things we're most hoping to see is an update to the notifications system -- it's a little old at this point, and we've seen some really innovative suggestions on how to spice it up. Like, for example, this design scheme, put together by a designer named Peter Hajas. In fact, wouldn't it be great if Apple saw this design, and actually hired Hajas to work on an official iOS release? In point of fact, that might be exactly what happened. Last week, the iPhone Download Blog noticed that Hajas posted on his blog about "taking a break" from the public eye and his jailbreak work (his notifications were created as a jailbreak app called MobileNotifier), and Redmond Pie points out that he later tweeted about he's going to work for a "fruit company" in California. It's not too big a jump to guess that he doesn't mean one of California's many citrus-based farms, right? No, we're joking, he very likely has gone to work actually designing notifications for Apple. In fact, the RP post now features an official-looking screenshot of Hajas' internal directory entry, listing him as an employee in iOS apps and frameworks. Hajas posted on May 9 that he was heading out to Cupertino, so it's unlikely we'll see his work right away in any iOS 5 preview on Monday. Still, his story shows that Apple is watching the jailbreak community closely and hopefully bringing some of the best features over into the official OS. This isn't the first talent grab by Apple that might impact notifications. A year ago, former Palm developer Rich Dellinger was bodysnatched to Cupertino, which drove speculation around Apple's plans for revamping the notifications.
MobileNotifier: iPhone alerts improved (video)
If you haven't jailbroken your iPhone yet then MobileNotifier might just push you over the edge -- a place you're probably already teetering upon given Apple's pathetic push notification implementation. MobileNotifier beta v3 is a free open-source rewrite of iOS' notifications from Peter Hajas (lead developer) and Kyle Adams (UI and UX). Perhaps the biggest feature of MobileNotifier is the addition of unobtrusive alerts that appear at the top of your existing app. Unlike Apple's interfering popups, MobileNotifier alerts can be ignored, leaving them on the display without inhibiting use of the device. You can also take immediate action on alerts or tap them away for later. Pending alerts can be found in the AlertDashboard -- the previously unused area above the app switcher, accessible with a double-press of the iPhone's home button. Pending alert counts are also displayed as a line item on the Lockscreen. We've been running MobileNotifier for a few hours. While it's not perfect (opaque windows?) we have no plans to remove it either. At least not until we see what Apple has in store for iOS 5 which, with any luck, will be revealed on Wednesday for a summer launch. Another screenshot and demo video can be found after the break.
