I, like many smartphone users, belong to many social networks. I’m not nearly important enough to demand instant updates for the networks I subscribe to, but at the very least, I’ll know exactly how unpopular I am. Yes yes, I don’t get wall posts or @replies often, so when I do, I’d like to know when they happen. Since there are dozens of Twitter apps, multiple ways to get to Facebook and several other things I’d like push notifications for, make it all inclusive so I will not need a dozen applications to keep track of all my services. This is where Boxcar really takes the cake.

Boxcar is a multi-client, multi-service push notification application for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Boxcar works by setting up an account where every setting are can be saved (should a new phone be purchased or restored). This account has your list of services and the specific actions desired for each notification. Boxcar stays logged into all applicable services in the background and will send a notification when the pre-determined action is triggered, then the appropriate action is executed. For example, I have Tweetie as my Twitter client. When I get an @reply, I have Boxcar play a bird tweeting sound. Upon unlocking the device, Boxcar will automatically open Tweetie instantly (taking about one second in between for Boxcar to make the pass). Boxcar supports nearly every Twitter application in existence including many I’ve never even heard of (so don’t worry about it). It also has some interesting actions, like the ability to open the Facebook web site instead of the iPhone application.

Boxcar comes with one service to push at no additional cost. New services can be added for $0.99. What good would adding new services be if what is pushable is lame? Don’t fret, Boxcar supports several services: Twitter, Facebook, Email, RSS/Atom Feed, Twitter Search, Growl Notifications, Twitter List, and Twitter Trends. Twitter is obviously pretty dominating here, but keeping tabs on this stuff can be important. Twitter just happens to work really well for pushed data of quick updates. Like @ComcastCares searching for “Comcast Sucks!,” it would be important to be on top of that. Email push is useful for those with non-exchange email accounts. Facebook is already push enabled, but for no apparent reason, the real Facebook application doesn’t make a sound or vibrate the iPhone. Growl Notifications usefulness is apparent immediately to anyone that uses Growl. Then again, it could be pretty spammy depending how you have Growl configured. The rest make enough sense on their own.

My person setup includes the following:

  • @replies/DMs to my Twitter account - Open Tweetie 2
  • Twitter list (a list of about fifteen people and their tweets that I just do NOT want to miss) - Open Tweetie 2
  • Facebook notifications - Open Facebook
  • A non-push email account - Open Mail

All in all it works pretty swell. Some quick tidbits: Boxcar takes security very seriously, so I wouldn’t let that concern an average user. Although it is probably not a good idea to DM your bank account number anyway. Each notification can have its own unique sound, and it comes with several. Finally, they are overwhelmingly responsive to customers via email or Twitter. Ultimately, I can’t recommend this application enough. Fine tune controls, multitude of client and service support make this application a must get.

Boxcar

Disclaimer: Boxcar was paid for by GuruClark