Apple released Cards for the iPhone and iPod touch in the App Store today. Scott Forstall introduced Cards at Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone” event last week.
Cards lets you create and send beautiful greeting cards to friends from your iPhone on iOS 5. Once you design your card in-app, you can pay to have Apple ship it anywhere in the world.
“The new Cards app from Apple lets you create and mail beautifully crafted cards personalized with your own text and photos — right from your iPhone or iPod touch. Take a quick snapshot and with a few taps and swipes, an elegant thank you note or “wish-you-were-here” card is on its way to any address in the world. Choose from 21 designs and customize your card with a personal message and photo. Then select an address from your Contacts and place your order in seconds. All your cards are saved automatically, so it’s easy to send an invitation or birth announcement to more than one person.”
You can create custom letterpress cards, with 21 design choices for 6 different occasions (Thank You, Holiday, New Baby, Birthday, Love, and Travel). Each card is made on cotton paper and imprinted with a “elegant debossed design.”
If you send a travel-themed card, your iPhone will automatically add your GPS location. You can choose a photo from the area you’re in to add to the card.
Apple will send your card for $2.99 anywhere in the US, including postage. To send a card internationally, a card will cost $4.99 to send. Payment is tied into your Apple ID.
One really neat feature of the Cards app is that it can send you a push notification the day that US Postal Service delivers your card. That way you know if your card made it to your friend or loved one.
Cards is available in the App Store for free. iOS 5 is required.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
