Art Authority Blog

Introducing Art Authority for iPhone

By Art Authority November 27, 2014 ,

 

We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of an iPhone version of our award-winning Art Authority for iPad app. Of course, some of you may be wondering: isn’t there already a version of Art Authority for iPhone? Well there was, but that version was not based on Art Authority for iPad (an experience unlike any other, according to the New York Times).

The original version of Art Authority for iPhone did use the same database of over 70,000 paintings and sculptures as the iPad version, but other than that it was quite a different animal. Long-time Art Authority fans may remember that the previous iPhone version was derived directly from our original day-one iPhone app, iEnvision. The iPad app, on the other hand, was a from-scratch re-design, specifically targeted for Apple’s new, magic iPad, and also available on day one of that device.

We have been quite busy since the iPad’s introduction over four years ago now. With help from our summer intern program, we’ve nearly doubled the number of works in the database, and added thousands of article links. We’ve pioneered many ground-breaking features, such as Art Real Size and Art Near Me. At teachers’ requests, we’ve come out with an iPad version specifically for the K-12 environment. Not to mention a Macintosh version and our related Art Alert app. And we’ve received many awards 🙂

We have not, over that time, devoted much effort to the original iPhone version, beyond minor updates for iOS 4, 5, 6 and 7. The iPad just seemed so much the better platform for looking at great works of art. Things changed significantly, however, with Apple’s recent introduction of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Although not quite a retina display iPad, these two phones are getting close to the iPad mini in terms of display and capabilities. And they clearly surpass the iPad in terms of mobility (one of the main focuses of the new Art Authority for iPhone).

To bring the iPhone app up to snuff, and to enable the addition of new mobility and iOS 8 features, a complete re-write was needed. The new Art Authority for iPhone app is based on Art Authority for iPad, with added mobility features mainly from our Art Alert app.

AAiPhone     AAiPhone2

     Art Authority for iPhone screenshotArt Authority for iPhone screenshot

Here is an overview of what to expect:

  • Access to the same 70,000+ works from 1000+ artists
  • The same 8 periods, period highlights and shuffle by period
  • The same access to in-depth information on each artist
  • An improved gallery-like, scrolling thumbnail view
  • NEW: Access by location (museum) as well as by period and artist
  • NEW: Detailed location maps, address and other info on over 800 locations
  • NEW: Art Near Me: find art wherever you find yourself
  • NEW: Art Real Size: instantly see and understand the actual size of works
  • NEW: Thousands of articles on specific pieces, and on all locations
  • NEW: Search by title
  • NEW: Save works to Favorites
  • NEW: Keep track of works you’ve seen in real life
  • NEW: Share works through AirDrop, mail and social networks
  • Major speed improvements. including caching

Of course Art Authority for iPhone 4.0, which requires iOS 7.1 or later, is a free upgrade from the previous version, and is available immediately in the App Store (80%-off for the introduction this Thanksgiving weekend!). And we’re certainly not done yet. The new code base gives us plenty of room to grow. Art Authority for iPad fans may notice a few features still missing from the iPhone version. Look for these and other additional items in the months ahead.

 

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