MyNewPlace iPhone App Now Available for Download

July 21st, 2009 by Matt DiChiara| Posted in New Features & Releases | 4 Comments »

Today, we are very excited to announce the availability of the MyNewPlace iPhone application, which combines the standard apartment search features of our site with the iPhone’s functionality.

Not only does our application bring the power of our nationwide apartment search into the palm of your hand, but it actually has some features, which are making even our award-winning site jealous!

Want to download it now? Head over to the app store and get it for free.

Check out our video demo, or read on:

The Best Apartment Search on the Web Gets Better with Location Awareness

You already know and love our search, with options to narrow down results based on price range, number of beds and baths, and pet-policy. We packed them all in and added one more: search radius. Our app works with the iPhone’s built-in GPS to find apartments nearby. It’s kind of like adding a “you are here” beacon on our apartment maps, allowing you to search for nearby properties—you can even change the search radius to tell us how far away you want to look.

Get Directions from Your Current Location to Any Apartment

Finding apartments nearby is great, but it’s only half the battle. That’s why our app integrates with Google maps so you can get directions from your current location to any apartment in our database. Just tap the Google Maps button on any apartment listing (below). Want to find out the quickest way to check out a couple of apartments on a Saturday afternoon? Our app helps you do that. Living in Des Moines but moving to Denver? We’ll tell you whether the movers should take I-70 or I-80.

Embed Your Own Notes & Photos Right on a Property’s Listing

We figured that as long as you’ve got a camera at your disposal, you may as well use it. Our application allows you to take photos and make notes that you can save right onto a property’s detailed listing screen. This way, after you’ve visited an apartment, you can remember the size of the bedrooms, and even the view from the living room window. All your photos and notes will be stored in the Notes & Photos section of that property, and we’ll automatically save that property to your Favorites so you can easily track it down later. Just be sure to remember to take your iPhone out of your pocket before you do the mandatory hot-tub inspection.

Viewing Apartments – Map and List Screens

Make no mistake, the MyNewPlace iPhone app is not an abridged version of our website. Our search results screen has two versions that you can switch between, a list view and a map view, both of which provide links to the detailed listing screens for any displayed property. The screenshot below shows the List View, which you can switch to map view with the button on the right, or you can filter your search results with the button on the left.

Full Details on Every Apartment, Facebook Connect, and More

Our property detail screen links to the property’s description (shown below). There are full details and amenities for every apartment, plus photo galleries you can swipe through. You can even see individual units and check their availability by calling or email the property directly from the application. We even included Facebook Connect, just like on our website, so you can share the apartments you’re interested in on Facebook and get the opinions of your friends.

When designing our iPhone application, we wanted to take into account the fundamental differences between performing an apartment search on a computer versus using an iPhone. The iPhone is more than just a mobile browser and a downloaded application allows users to easily customize their experience by using the application in conjunction with the iPhone’s other features.

The MyNewPlace iPhone app is free to download, and is available for both the iPhone and iPod Touch in Apple’s App store beginning today. Visit the app store to get it now.