The new version of WordPress for iPhone (and iPod touch) app is now live and available for download in the iTunes App store. This version has a lot of fixes/enhancements that many people (including me) have been waiting for. I’ve been playing around with version 1.2 for a little bit and here are some of my first impressions.
New Features (and Some Comments)
- Landscape mode with extra wide keyboard
This is probably the most desired feature for this application simply because it is physically painful to type a full length blog post in the iPhone portrait keyboard. I am glad that the portrait keyboard restriction is now a thing of the past! - Link creation help
I wasn’t sure where this feature was hiding at first, but I soon found the trick to invoking this feature. Basically anytime you are writing, you can type something that resembles a link (for example “www.” or “http”) to invoke a little prompt that asks you if you want to create a link. Answering yes will bring up another prompt asking you to fill in the URL. I think this is slick interface although some people might find it a bit annoying. It would be nice to merge these two dialogs into one dialog and also have the option to turn this feature off. - Support for editing and creating pages
There’s not much to say here. Previously you weren’t able to create/edit pages. Now you can. Note that this feature is only available for WordPress.org 2.7+ or WordPress.com blogs. - Comment moderation
This is one of my other favorite enhancements because I usually spend more time moderating comments than writing blog posts. To be able to do this on-the-go without having to continually login and deal with browser cookies is quite convenient. Note that this feature is only available for WordPress.org 2.7+ or WordPress.com blogs. - Asynchronous publishing
There weren’t any visible changes for this feature, but I assume asynchronous is better than what was in the earlier version. - Photo resizing options
When this feature is enabled, all photos attached to the post will be resized to be no larger than 640×480 to save space and publishing time. It’s a nice feature to have, but I don’t think I will be using it personally.
Bug in Version 1.2
I know that you are thinking, “already?” right? Indeed, the WordPress for iPhone App team has confirmed the existence of a photo bug in this version. They are assuring us that the fix will be pushed out as soon as possible. It’s best for you to wait on the upgrade if you post photos with the WordPress for iPhone application. If not, then you should definitely upgrade and enjoy these great new features! Version 1.21 is out with this bug fixed. Go grab it now!
Go grab it!
You can get the WordPress for iPhone (and iPod touch) app for free at the iTunes App store.
I hope they come up with a version for Windows Mobile. 😀
keeps crashing… tried turning off and back on (a windows trick on Apple) but still crashing..
I had the same problem, and I think it has to do with the blog settings it migrated over from the previous version.
I deleted it completely from my iPhone, rebooted the iPhone, and re-downloaded and installed the app, then manually recreated the settings for my blogs, and everything works fine now.
I still can’t get WP iPhone app to work. I load my blog and it just spins forever and then crashes or restarts my phone. My Blog has over 15000 articles…but it sucks that I can’t write from my iphone 🙁
The irony is, when I first got this app, I too wanted the horizontal layout and typing, but since then I’ve gotten so used to — and so good at — thumb typing with the phone held vertical that I now hate trying to type with it horizontal.
This is a great iphone app !!! I can’t imagine doing everything with it, but at least I could update and create quick posts. Love it !!
I wish there is one like this for Windows Mobile also. Is there one?
I don’t think there is such an app for Windows Mobile.
I do hope they make one for Symbian OS
The update has completely broken the app for me. I start…it crashes. I predict a further update very soon, or it might as well be uninstalled.
Have you tried @Jerry’s suggestion above?
solved the problem…. on iPhone: full delete and re-install and on Server: another theme with proper xml…
It doesn’t work on my iPod touch, crash!!! please fix it.
Tom,
Have you tried @Jerry’s suggestion above?
I tried @Jerry’s suggestion, The app works now, but I can’t add my blog. I got the message “XML-RPC Service for you blog cannot be found…” I switched back to version.1.1 and it works fine.