Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Hacks, Odds and ends, Freeware, Apple, iPhone
AppFlow for the iPhone
AppFlow is a CoverFlow-style interface for launching iPhone apps and icons. You just install the app on your jailbroken iPhone, and then launching your favorite app is as simple as flipping to the icon and double-tapping. Webclips, we're told, are launched a completely different way, and thus not included in the flipping. But "maybe in a later update," our inside source told TUAW exclusively.
If this is the kind of stuff we're getting from Sadun before the SDK drops, just think what we'll see after. The woman's a genius. And it's almost surprising that Apple didn't think of this in the first place -- if it works in Leopard, and it works in the iPod of the iPhone, why didn't they give us the option to flip through apps in this way?
Update: AppFlow has been incorporated into XLaunch and now supports Webclips
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Pismodude said 7:03PM on 2-21-2008
Too cool!
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Ryan Trevisol said 8:08AM on 2-22-2008
I wonder how many marriage proposals Erica gets after she does something like this . . .
RS said 7:15PM on 2-21-2008
Stupid question. I cannot install this on my 1.1.3 jailbroken (zibris' method) zphone. Cannot download to iphone, downloading to mac does not launch it, installer on iphone does not see it. What am I do wrong. THX
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Fernie said 8:30PM on 2-21-2008
Using SSH, change the permissions to all the files in the appflow folder to 0755
blinkcowz182 said 7:32PM on 2-21-2008
I installed it in my Applications folder but when I run it, I see a Hello World screen and then the app crashes after 15-30 seconds...
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shaun said 7:36PM on 2-21-2008
Erica should be working for Apple...
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KeynoteKen said 7:44PM on 2-21-2008
"why didn't they give us the option to flip through apps in this way?"
It's the mystery of Apple. :) Depending on how it works, I may have one tap access to probably 7 apps. In default iPhone mode, I have access to 16.... actually 20.
It's cool, like in the Finder on a mac, BUT the Finder can display the text AND CoverFlow view at once which helps it to be more useful.
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ZeroCorpse said 11:51PM on 2-21-2008
...Which is why I haven't (and won't) jailbreak my iPod Touch. I see no point when most of the 3rd party apps are "gee whiz!" things that have no practical function.
ZeroCorpse said 11:52PM on 2-21-2008
That totally ended up in the wrong place as a reply. It was meant to reply to the NEXT post's reply, not to this one.
Weird.
Matt said 7:48PM on 2-21-2008
What's the point?
Don't get me wrong, Erica is an amazing hacker/coder, but this seems nothing more than a proof of concept to bring cover flow to other iphone apps.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but Cover Flow is mostly eye candy and only handy when I have no idea what I want to listen to or watch. Don't see how it would be practical for apps.
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Zombie Flanders said 7:51PM on 2-21-2008
My coverflow in iTunes is about 99% blank slides and never gets used, so I'm happy to see a use of coverflow where I can actually enjoy the slickness.
punkassjim said 8:01PM on 2-21-2008
Yeah, I'm with you. I can agree that it's an interesting usage of the tools at hand, but it falls into the biggest category of 3rd party apps so far: proofs of concept without much point (yet).
Alan G said 10:37AM on 2-22-2008
Yeah, I thought the same thing as I was reading. This is something I would Never use (maybe once or twice to show off the iphone... like the Touchpad app I installed yesterday). I like to quickly get to an app. Coverflowing to an app wouldn't be quick at all.
Joe said 11:25AM on 2-22-2008
Count me among those who think it's a nice idea and looks good, but doesn't improve usability. The current interface is like holding a remote control. This coverflow interface is like holding a booklet of buttons. Do you want a view of 16-20 visually distinct icons, or a single one and the need to mentally compute if the one you want is "before" or "after" the current one?
Unregistered said 4:57AM on 2-23-2008
It would be nice if it can be used as a coverflow-enabled dock at the bottom of the default Home screen.. keep the often used apps icon in home screen, and the lesser used ones in the coverflowing-dock
Unregistered said 5:05AM on 2-23-2008
It would be nice if it can be used as a coverflow-enabled dock at the bottom of the default Home screen.. keep the often used apps icon in home screen, and the lesser used ones in the coverflowing-dock
Darren said 7:55PM on 2-21-2008
How do I install this on my iPod touch. Is it available through installer.app?
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drosd said 8:09PM on 2-21-2008
just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you SHOULD do it. as slick as it is, coverflow is not the quickest method to launch apps.
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Staticoranges said 12:19AM on 2-22-2008
yeah, and the icons are really low resolution on top of that. it looks nice on a mac where the resolution is 512x512, not 60x60
Bob said 7:22PM on 2-26-2008
DOn't forget to chmod -r 0755 AppFlow.app after dropping the App in the Applications folder.
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