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First Google Voice App Hits the App Store

Posted by timothy on from the waiting-for-cheaper-data dept.

silverpig writes "The first Google Voice app has hit the app store, and it's called GV Connect. Providing a front end to the Google Voice service, GV Connect allows users of devices running Apple iOS platform to have a native app with which to interact with Google Voice. What will be interesting to note is the order that these apps are approved in. I know Sean Kovacs was first out with GV Mobile back before Apple banned Google Voice, and while he is in the approval pipeline, this other app has some first mover advantage. I wonder what it means when Google gets their app officially approved, as surely it'll be free."

64 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. Fail by Kickboy12 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No Push Notifications = Fail
    Basically just a front-end for the web interface. Not worth the money.

    --
    google.slashdot
    1. Re:Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      translation: my shift key is broken and i can't afford an iphone

    2. Re:Fail by rickyb · · Score: 3, Informative

      No, this is a front-end to the web interface. At least it has all the other Google Apps as well.

    3. Re:Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sean has said he wants to implement push notifications ASAP... Look for it in the future I'm sure.

    4. Re:Fail by MogNuts · · Score: 1

      Google's mobile version of GV is so elegant I'd rather use it. This app however does 1 thing the web app can't: using your GV phone device & not only your cell.

      The only way I've found to work around this is load the desktop version on Safari via the older interface, & initiate the call that way.

    5. Re:Fail by MogNuts · · Score: 1

      Are you sure you want push notifications? The way the IPhone interrupts you, lately the less notifications I get, the better. :)

    6. Re:Fail by jpapon · · Score: 2, Informative

      woh you have a keyboard where "=" doesn't require a shift key?

      --
      -- Let us endeavor so to live that when we pass even the undertaker shall be sorry. -- M. Twain
    7. Re:Fail by MikeFM · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The iOS versus Android argument to me comes down to that I prefer open source but what is the point of having the source to crap. Not that Android is really crap but the UI is poorly designed and the lack of control of end devices by Google results in a wide, and confusing, user experience. I get frustrated at the number of people new to open source or not even developers that like to rant about the evil that is Apple and the good that is Google. Obviously they haven't a lot of experience with the nice way Google makes it difficult to hack around on other devices they sell such as the Google Search Appliances (which I have). I think both Apple and Google are leading technology companies and both make some great products.

      If I was going to make my own device I'd start with Android to build from but I'd copy a lot of iOS design decisions at the UI level and iDevice design decisions. I'd also keep a lot more control than Google has done as I think Android gets a lot of the negative light coming off of the devices it runs on. And many devices are difficult to even run an unlocked copy of Android on which defeats the entire benefit of having the source. And comparable Android devices are no cheaper, and often are even more expensive, than an iDevice. I'm looking for a good Android tablet to develop on but there Google seems to be unsure if they want to push Android or Chrome OS.

      Apple's biggest short coming is lack of third party devices. If I was Google, along with fixing the UI and ecosystem issues, I'd be all over that as a way to really be better than Apple. I'm not talking supporting USB and SD, which are anti-features IMO, but defining good interfaces for mobile devices, licensing it for free, and really pushing it.

      Since nobody is paying me to make my own device I'm going to choose to own iDevices. At least until I see an equal Android device and see the Android ecosystem become equal.

      --
      At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
    8. Re:Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      What? On US keyboards, = doesn't require a shift key.

    9. Re:Fail by socsoc · · Score: 1

      I haven't tried this one and I really don't enjoy GV Mobile, so I'll likely continue using the web interface. Notifications about SMS and voice to my Google number get sent to my gmail and then I see them. I don't see how it is that different than push, unless your phone is silent or you ignore e-mail. The only time it has caused problems for me was a conference in Berkley, but it was cause AT&T had little service, so I was screwed whether folks had my Google number or my AT&T number.

    10. Re:Fail by socsoc · · Score: 1

      or ~ or @ or # or $, etc

    11. Re:Fail by yeshuawatso · · Score: 1

      Considering how long it took Apple to approve this app, push notifications won't come via an update any time soon. At least this settles the FCC inquiry. I was worried when Apple reviewed my app for three days, I couldn't imagine the anxiety of waiting on Apple to finish a year long "In Review" status update.

    12. Re:Fail by yeshuawatso · · Score: 1

      Should have read at least the /. summary before posting. I got excited and thought Apple was trying to play nice with Google again. Well, nothing to see here. Everyone back to work and/or batin'

    13. Re:Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      In terms of software obviously having an open platform is way better.

      The carriers certainly agree, and they love the fact that Android is open, because it allows them to maintain control of the device and lock users to their own services!

      Yay for open source: maintaining the "wireless carriers fuck over their customers" status quo. What a triumph of the noble ideals of FOSS.

      If all you can say is "Android is open," as an improvement over iOS, then it's not an improvement, because for the vast majority of people, it's just as locked down as an iPhone. For about .001% of the phone-buying market, it's "open". For the rest, it's simply a tool the carriers will use to control the customers.

    14. Re:Fail by Nerdfest · · Score: 1

      I actually prefer many of the UI features of Android over that of iOS. I don't have a huge amount of exposure to either, but from a small amount of exposure to both, I prefer Android. Perhaps it's a matter of what you get used to.

    15. Re:Fail by stephanruby · · Score: 1, Insightful

      And many devices are difficult to even run an unlocked copy of Android

      Even with a locked Android phone, I can still do things that an iPhone user couldn't possibly dream of doing because his phone is so locked down. And besides, not all Android phones are like that, some get rooted right away.

      on which defeats the entire benefit of having the source.

      Not if you're a developer, if you're doing anything complex, having access to the source can significantly cut down your development time.

      And comparable Android devices are no cheaper, and often are even more expensive, than an iDevice.

      And for good reason, superior hardware is expensive. For instance, Steve Jobs was given the chance to make the iPhone 4 with a Super-AMOLED screen, a bigger screen, and with a GPU three times faster. He just chose not to have those. Now, the Android devices, that have superior hardware, are definitely more expensive. That's certainly true enough, but you should only blame Steve Jobs for skimping on hardware.

      I'm looking for a good Android tablet to develop on but there Google seems to be unsure if they want to push Android or Chrome OS.

      To develop on?? Developing what? Right now, I do not know of any good tablets that are good for development purposes. In any case, your statement is true enough about Google not wanting to push Android on tablets yet, but don't think it's because of Chrome OS. Chrome OS can only run on netbooks/tablets that require a lot of power, active cooling, and plenty of swap memory space. And Android is just the opposite, it uses passive cooling, less power, and has no swap memory. In other words, Chrome OS and Android are **not** interchangeable. It would be like somebody comparing the OS on an iPad with the OS of a Mac Book Pro. Each requires a very different architecture and a very different way of programming. And neither architecture is going away anytime soon.

      I'm not talking supporting USB and SD, which are anti-features IMO

      And what do you think of having a phone with a replaceable battery, is that an anti-feature too?

      Obviously they haven't a lot of experience with the nice way Google makes it difficult to hack around on other devices they sell such as the Google Search Appliances (which I have).

      Are you kidding me? The Google Search Appliance was never directed at people who could roll their own solution. If they could roll their own solution, why even bother with an expensive time-limited Enterprise-level appliance anyway?

    16. Re:Fail by rsborg · · Score: 1

      Even with a locked Android phone, I can still do things that an iPhone user couldn't possibly dream of doing because his phone is so locked down.

      Care to elucidate?

      --
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    17. Re:Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "And for good reason, superior hardware is expensive. For instance, Steve Jobs was given the chance to make the iPhone 4 with a Super-AMOLED screen, a bigger screen, and with a GPU three times faster."

      You know, I can understand if you complain about one of the actual disadvantages in an iPhone 4, but you're making shit up at this point. Super-AMOLED is fail, and even Samsung is moving away from it now. As for a bigger screen, how big do you want? I think some of the 5" devices are a little bit big. I'd rather not go back to wearing a beltclip from 1996 for my phone, thanks. If that works for you, that's great --- but it's not a coincidence that nearly all other phones on the planet are smaller than that. And which phone has a 3x better GPU? I'm genuinely curious. What benchmarks?

      I'm not even going to bother breaking down your ChromeOS v. Android comparison. Do you even understand basic computer technology? Your introduction of active/passive cooling into the argument is so ridiculous that it's mind-boggling.

    18. Re:Fail by Spliffster · · Score: 1

      If all you can say is "Android is open," as an improvement over iOS, then it's not an improvement, because for the vast majority of people, it's just as locked down as an iPhone. For about .001% of the phone-buying market, it's "open". For the rest, it's simply a tool the carriers will use to control the customers.

      Not everyone lives in the USA, well actually most people don't! I mean, lockdown by carriers seems to be pretty bad in the US if it's true what people say here on slashdot. But this doesn't apply to most other countries (our telco market over here is regulated, once you own a phone you really own that phone).

    19. Re:Fail by srussia · · Score: 1

      plus its for the iphone = fail

      translation: my shift key is broken and i can't afford an iphone

      translation: my apostrophe key is broken and i can't afford an iphone FTFY

      --
      Set your phasers on "funky"!
    20. Re:Fail by Zagadka · · Score: 1

      Yes it is. Type alt-+

    21. Re:Fail by Zagadka · · Score: 1

      A few things off the top of my head:

      Install an alternate input method (eg: Swype), run an emulator that lets you run downloaded software (eg: Ftodo 64 or NESoid), automatically adjust volume settings based on criteria like location, time or phone orientation (eg: Locale, Off the hook or Volume timer), automatically upload photos/videos to sharing services (eg: Pic push).

      Don't forget that it wasn't too long ago that you couldn't even play Pandora in the background on the iPhone, and even now the multitasking on iOS is bizarrely restricted (eg: you can do arbitrary things in the background as long as you also audio).

    22. Re:Fail by Zagadka · · Score: 1

      Your argument would hold more weight if it weren't for the fact that AT&T has had many negative effects on iOS despite the fact that iOS isn't open. (recent example: tethering) So yes, carriers can exploit the openness of Android to screw their customers, but they also can, and have, make Apple do their bidding. So it appears that the issue of whether your carrier will screw up your phone is orthogonal to whether the OS is "open". In that case, I'll take open.

    23. Re:Fail by LodCrappo · · Score: 1

      "I'd copy a lot of iOS design decisions at the UI level "

      please god no. have you actually used an Android device? The UI is much more powerful and well designed. prettier, no. able to do more, with less effort on my part, absolutely.

      --
      -Lod
    24. Re:Fail by MogNuts · · Score: 1

      Seriously, just stop. Don't start a flamewar yet again, fanboy.

      How the hell did this get modded up???

    25. Re:Fail by tekgoblin · · Score: 1

      The app will be more worth it when it supports VOIP

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      TekGoblin
    26. Re:Fail by Phoghat · · Score: 1

      Absolutely right. I'll wait until Google makes one available, probably free

      --
      Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
    27. Re:Fail by Wovel · · Score: 1

      Where are you from?

    28. Re:Fail by Wovel · · Score: 1

      None of which were in the guy's message. He meant = and he is a moron...

    29. Re:Fail by haninaguib · · Score: 1

      use gvmax together with prowl and you get push notifications

    30. Re:Fail by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure why this was modded down and the post I was replying to up? Is one of my claims incorrect? Anyone????

  2. Re:A Better Google Story by wmbetts · · Score: 4, Insightful

    wtf is going on with people pretending slashdot comments are twitter now?

    --
    "Ubuntu" -- an African word, meaning "Slackware is too hard for me". - stolen from Dan C alt.os.linux.slackware
  3. Re:A Better Google Story by jdong · · Score: 2, Funny

    @wmbetts it's not?

  4. Re:A Better Google Story by wmbetts · · Score: 1

    I'm waiting for /. to crash and a whale to show up.

    --
    "Ubuntu" -- an African word, meaning "Slackware is too hard for me". - stolen from Dan C alt.os.linux.slackware
  5. *Apple App Store by placatedmayhem · · Score: 2, Informative

    Can people quit saying "the app store" when they mean "the Apple app store"? This usage bothers me because it assumes there are no other app stores (or at least none worth mentioning). Android Market is the notable rub here and there are at least ruminations plenty more popping up all the time. On top of this, and probably more importantly, it's confusing and ambiguous until you get half way through the summary and realize they're talking about something else entirely.

    1. Re:*Apple App Store by socsoc · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There is no other "app store" worth mentioning. You are speaking of "Android Market"

    2. Re:*Apple App Store by rickyb · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Probably has something to do with the fact that it's the only one with "App Store" it its name. Notice that "App Store" is capitalized?

    3. Re:*Apple App Store by Gazzonyx · · Score: 1

      What about Cydia?
      Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it isn't worth mentioning. I got my google voice app from Cydia a long time ago.

      --

      If I mod you up, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with what you've said, sorry.

    4. Re:*Apple App Store by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Notice that "App Store" is capitalized?

      So is "First", "Google", "Voice", "App", and "Hits".

      This is kind of a nitpicky who-gives-a-crap thing, but I agree. I initially thought they were talking about the Android Market too and was like..uh, yeah, we've had that for like a year an a half...

    5. Re:*Apple App Store by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      What about Cydia? Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it isn't worth mentioning. I got my google voice app from Cydia a long time ago.

      Yeah, and from now on, in articles about eBay, can everybody be sure to mention Bidz.com ? It is an auction site too, you know.

    6. Re:*Apple App Store by Gazzonyx · · Score: 1

      Right. If the article stated that for the first time ever you could purchase widgets online at Ebay, when in fact I got a widget online from Bidz about a year ago, wouldn't it be worth mentioning?

      --

      If I mod you up, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with what you've said, sorry.

    7. Re:*Apple App Store by Americano · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What about Cydia?

      Like the man said... "There is no other app store worth mentioning."

    8. Re:*Apple App Store by Americano · · Score: 1

      Why would it be worth mentioning? The story is about the first Google Voice app to hit the App Store, not about "the first time a Google Voice app is available!"

      The Cydia version of the GV app wasn't the first time GV was available, either, was it? So why does Cydia deserve special mention?

    9. Re:*Apple App Store by govenar · · Score: 1

      The title in my browser for this page is "Slashdot Apple Story : First Google...", the title above the summary says "Apple: First Google...", and the URL of this page starts with apple.slashdot.org.

    10. Re:*Apple App Store by socsoc · · Score: 1

      Right. If the article stated that for the first time ever you could purchase widgets online at Ebay, when in fact I got a widget online from Bidz about a year ago, wouldn't it be worth mentioning?

      Ummm no? I once bought a burrito at Taco Bell, but it still would be worth mentioning if Subway started selling them.

  6. Re:hallelujah by boxwood · · Score: 1

    Not useful to you therefore its not useful to anyone.

  7. Re:A Better Google Story by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

    #Worsttwitterimitationever

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  8. Not first by mr100percent · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Technically this isn't the first Google Voice app in the app store. There were GV apps years ago, then Apple yanked them in short order. This marks the return of GV apps, not a new arrival of the kind.

  9. Re:hallelujah by Americano · · Score: 2, Informative

    Uh... who spent $500 on an iPhone?

    On ATT's website, an iPhone 4 cost you $199 for a 16GB version, vs. $199 for a comparable Samsung Android model: Samsung Captivate, 16GB.

    On Verizon, a Droid X is $199. HTC Droid Incredible is $199. Samsung Fascinate - $199. Motorola Droid 2 - $199.

    Pray tell, where are the iPhones that cost 2.5x as much as these Android phones sold?

  10. Re:A Better Google Story by Americano · · Score: 3, Funny

    RT @wmbetts: I'm waiting for /. to crash and a whale to show up.

  11. Re:hallelujah by Reaperducer · · Score: 1

    Uh... who spent $500 on an iPhone?

    I know someone who did. A week after she got her 3G it was snatched right out of her hands by a thief in Rome. You only get the discount from AT&T once every 18 months, so to replace it she had to fork out around $700. This was before "Find My iPhone" was available.

    --
    -- I'm old enough to have lived through six different meanings of the word "hacker."
  12. Re:hallelujah by boreddotter · · Score: 1

    those are most likely subsidised prices with a mandatory 18-24 month contract depending on your carrier.

    a factory unlocked available in many countries but not the US iPhone with no contract costs around $500-$700 depending on which model you want. almost every other smart phone will cost around that much with no contract.

  13. Re:A Better Google Story by hachete · · Score: 1

    wow, grandad, calm down. It's not your mothers internets now

    --
    Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious
  14. Re:hallelujah by appleguru · · Score: 1

    I just spent $1000 on mine (Well, $1000AUD; ~$940USD today)... 32GB unlocked iPhone 4 from Apple in Australia...

    --
    appleguru.org
  15. Re:hallelujah by peted56 · · Score: 1

    And you only have to lock in for 2 years and have a minimum plan. There are Android phones that are only a little more than this and no plan and no lock in. To buy outright with no plan they are not $199.

  16. Re:hallelujah by Americano · · Score: 1

    Sure it's subsidized - all the android phone prices are, too.

    If you want comparable features, you will be paying about the same amount for an android phone, so the point that everybodys spending 500 on an iPhone when they could be getting much cheaper android phones is bullshit, presuming you're not also sacrificing features and capability.

  17. Re:hallelujah by Americano · · Score: 1

    And how much does a *comparable*, unlocked, 32GB Android phone cost from Motorola, HTC, or Samsung? Not the cheapest phone that runs Android, mind you - one comparable to an iPhone 4.

  18. Re:hallelujah by Low+Ranked+Craig · · Score: 1

    Uh... who spent $500 on an iPhone?

    Me. In 2007.

    --
    I still cannot find the droids I am looking for...
  19. Re:hallelujah by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    shhh stop telling the facts... gives people one less thing to inaccurately bash apple on.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  20. Re:hallelujah by Americano · · Score: 1

    Uh huh. And how much was a comparable android phone selling for at that time, with the same terms & conditions as the iPhone?

  21. Re:hallelujah by mjwx · · Score: 1

    Pray tell, where are the iPhones that cost 2.5x as much as these Android phones sold?

    Try looking at the unsubsidised market. These prices are from the UK and before you rabbit on about tax, being from outside the EU, we dont pay VAT (tax).

    Iphone 3GS 8GB GBP 425/US$670

    Iphone 4 16GB GBP 698/US$1095

    HTC Desire GBP 340/US$535

    Samsung Galaxy S GBP 375/US$590

    Brand new HTC Desire HD GBP 430/US$675

    So do you see that an Iphone that is over a year old is competing with the latest Android releases. For phones that are barely older then the latest Iphone you're looking at almost half the price.

    I love the tears of fanboys in the morning, comparing subsidised phones to subsidised phones is pointless as carriers will just try to bilk as much money out of you as possible without you noticing.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  22. Unlocked by aclarke · · Score: 1

    GP was probably not referring to unlocked iPhones, but here are 2 links where you can spend significantly more than US$500 on an iPhone:

    http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?cid=WWW-NACA-IPHONE-NAV
    http://store.apple.com/ch-fr/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

    --

    www.clarke.ca
  23. Re:hallelujah by Chosen+Reject · · Score: 1

    Isn't the iPod Touch just an iPhone with out the 3G antenna? The 64GB version of that is only $400. Does it really cost that much more to add an antenna?

    --
    Stop Global Warming!
    Just say no to irreversible processes!
  24. Re:hallelujah by boreddotter · · Score: 1

    well the previous iPhones had a camera and the iPod Touch didn't, the new iPhone 4 has a better screen and better camera, also it's built differently using different more expensive techniques. Also I am not sure of the numbers but maybe the iPod Touch benefits more from economies of scale?

    It also might be licenses they have to pay for the chips and technology?