WorldCat for iPhone

So, the ACTUAL url for this is here:

http://mobileworldcat.org/

That is the URL to use on your iTouch/iPhone with the Safari browser, yes. And Jim also reminded me that we'd be better off to have you download the app from the actual Apple site: http://www.apple.com/webapps/searchtools/worldcat.html. He was saying that he thinks the mobile app really highlights the strengths of WorldCat. See how I need an iPhone so I can know these things and point you in the right direction the first time?

Is this application still available? I can get the link for mobileworldcat to work in Safari, however, no results for WorldCat appear in the iPhone AppStore. When I checked the online AppStore, I found a listing for the application, but not option for download.

I've been using the mobileworldcat, and would really like to see any additional features available in the App!

Well, I tried searching the app store both online through iTunes and on my iPhone Apps under OCLC, WorldCat, OCLC WorldCat, MobileWorldCat -- nothing comes up. I also tried the URL you provided but while that brings up a description of the program there is no way to download the app from there to the iPhone. So, if someone figures out what this is filed under in the Apple App Store, please give us a hint. There is a backlog at Apple to release apps -- have they really released this as an app yet?

I used a first generation iPod Touch, with iPhone 2.1 software update. It works with that combination as well.

I went to the Apple site URL and the button said "View Web App". That took me to a sidecar.apple.com site and then on to http://mobileworldcat.org.

Once there, I then added a Safari browser bookmark as well as an icon on my iPod Touch home screen.

Kimberly, Arnold, Rushton...thanks for your comments. I will check with Bruce, the WorldCat moblie app developer, to see if he can tell what the status is, with Apple. The way I understand it (not having an iPhone myself), it may simply be a browser-based site at the moment. There may not BE an app to download.

In other news, completely unrelated to this thread. My significant other declared he was buying an iPhone today. I reminded him that his birthday wasn't yet until October. He declared it wasn't a birthday present. So I may get to test out the functionality a lot sooner than I thought!

The iPhone application is, basically, a website that was designed to work on the iPhone. It isn't a stand-alone iPhone-only application.

The web app was submitted to Apple for inclusion in their App Store a while ago, but as yet it hasn't shown up. There's known to be a backlog at Apple in accepting App Store requests.

Until it's in the App Store, an iPhone user can use Safari and go to apple.com, search for "worldcat", and see a link to this apple webapp page: http://www.apple.com/webapps/searchtools/worldcat.html. That page has a "WorldCat" link to the mobileworldcat.org site. Once you've reached the web app, you can use the iPhone to bookmark the site, add an icon for it to their iPhone home page, etc.

I have an iPhone and went to my App store on my iPhone and did a search for world cat. It could not find it so maybe it is not available yet??

Thanks Bruce, for that explanation. Yes, Candace--as Bruce mentioned in his comment (he's the developer), it hasn't shown up yet.

In other fun-yet-related news, check out these prize-winning cupcakes on Flickr.

Alice,
I tried it and the web app works pretty well. One interface irritation that might go away once you have a full app (instead of the current web app) is when you type in your zip code for local locations you have to remember to click the "go" button next to the zip code entry box... NOT the "go" button on the pop up entry area. That one doesn't send the zip code search.

thanks for letting us know about the web app. I'm looking forward to the full app appearing soon.

Thanks Mark. Bruce I'm sure is noting this interface change as we speak, if it's possible to change it. Looking forward to playing with the new toy, if in fact an iPhone walks in the door this evening...

Thanks for posting this. I like the web app! It's intuitive and has the basic functionality that you would expect. As for the iPhone, I actually prefer applications that are a little paired down and easy to use on the phone, and I do my more serious work on the computer. I ran into a problem with the "find in libraries" option, where it just wasn't working. I've not been able to replicate it, though, so it could be user error. :)

I think most people have discovered that it's a web application, not an application you download. In this case, where the application is largely based on information that flows across the network, that probably makes sense -- why build an entire application when it can be easily fed across the network, updated easily, and is intended (I hope) to remain free?

The webapp itself works fairly well -- clean interface which displays nicely. Whoever wrote it knows what they're doing with iPhone webapps, rather than slapping something casual together. It also has reasonable speed, even when accessed via EDGE.

I wonder if something like Google's predictive search (the box that pops up trying to guess what you are searching for, together with number of searches) could be had? Or a "My Reading List" function that could let you flag titles that you'd like to read at some point.

And, yes, having it remember your zip code would be nice...although, while I probably wouldn't have much use for it myself, having it use Apple's Core Location service and telling you which libraries geographically close to your current location have the book would be...amazing. :-)

Hi Dipesh, thanks for your comments and great ideas! I did want to point out that WorldCat.org (the regular Web browser version--not the mobile app for iPhone) DOES have list-making functionality, where you can flag titles you want to read later and even add notes to yourself, etc.

Thanks to Mark, Lauren, and others for reporting issues related to entering a zip code. The issues we know of should be fixed now, but please let us know if others turn up.

We like the idea of using the iPhone's core location feature to assist in linking to libraries. It appears as those that feature isn't yet available to web apps, however.

In addition to some bug fixes, we updated the app with a couple of new features. The "search options" now include an ISBN search and various ways to sort results. Search results are initially limited to recent publications but can be easily expanded to include them all.

Does this app work with "branded" versions of WorldCat Local? I am graduate student working on my MLS. I am in the midst of an internship at Ball State University Libraries, and when I showed this blog posting to my supervisor, he directed me to ask this question. If an academic library such as this one were to move to WorldCat Local, would this iPhone/iTouch app work with it (and show the "branded" version)?

Thanks Todd, for that excellent question and idea for our development team. Our plans for supporting mobile access to WorldCat Local sites are still evolving; we'll pass along your note of interest to the rest of the team.

And good luck completing your internship and MLS!

Thanks for your thoughtful reply!

I showed your response to my supervisor, and he asked if this app would also work with Apple's iPod Touch. Does it?

If so, would you be interested in testing assistance from an academic library such as ours?

Have a great weekend!

It's bigger so I guess that's nice. Regular WolrdCat works just fine on the iPhone except for the automatic location guessing. I'm not sure that the web app makes enough improvements to be worth using.

Thanks for sharing your perspective with us, Alex.