Since the original iPad came out last year, we’ve seen the device’s app platform mature and evolve into a rich marketplace for desktop-class apps like OmniFocus, 1Password, Reeder and Twitterrific. However, for as much as there are hundreds of thousands of apps for the iPad and many of them are fantastic pieces of software, users have always felt the lack of a beautiful, functional IM client for the iPad. There’s a number of apps in the Store to access AIM, Facebook Chat and Google Talk from a unified interface, but none of them have sported the typical attention to detail, simplicity and intuitive interface that you would expect from a native Apple app, in our case the iChat for iOS that was never released.

Verbs, the IM app that we’ve covered several times in the past here on MacStories, gained a universal iPad update earlier today, adding a new, great-looking iPad UI that will feel instantly familiar if you’ve used Verbs for iPhone.

Verbs for iPad retains the same interaction schemes, color palette and features of its iPhone counterpart. You can log in with Google Talk, AIM, MobileMe and Facebook, and set up multiple accounts; you can configure file sharing through CloudApp or Droplr so you’ll be able to upload images from a chat, and have them available elsewhere as well. You can browse your buddy list in a sidebar or inside a popover menu (Verbs for iPad supports both landscape and portrait orientations) and tap on a contact to start chatting. You can pinch on the chat window to open the Chats view, which lets you swipe between multiple open conversations so you can stay on top of everything. And just like the iPhone app, Verbs for iPad sells you a $4.99 in-app “Pro” purchase to unlock notifications and idle times up to 7 days. With the upcoming iOS 5 and Notification Center, receiving push notifications from an IM app like Verbs doesn’t sound annoying at all — Notification Center will help you keep track of all your missed chats. And if you’ve already purchased Verbs Pro on the iPhone, you can unlock it for free on your iPad too.

All the other features of Verbs for iPhone have been ported to the iPad: you can email conversations, send links to Instapaper, and view iWork documents right within the app.

Verbs is the only IM client I use on my iPhone, and starting today I’ll be keeping the app on my iPad’s home screen. Verbs looks great, it’s easy to use and doesn’t overwhelm you with information; it also lets me share files with my coworkers on the go thanks to CloudApp integration. I have no doubts many have been looking forward to today to start using an IM client on their iPad. Verbs is only $0.99 on the App Store.

We covered Verbs back when it was released in December and again in January; it’s a great IM client for the iPhone that has a nice design and excellent execution.

Today #include tech posted on their blog that they have introduced a Pro version in today’s update (2.0) of Verbs. Verbs 2.0 focuses on performance, memory management, improved Address Book integration and photo uploading issues from the camera.

Version 2.0 features and improvements:

• Enable Push Notifications and stay logged in for up to 7 days (Verbs Pro).
• The text entry field grows vertically as you type longer messages.
• Send Chat logs via email. (preview here)
• Send links in received messages to Instapaper for reading later.
• Horizontal swipe action in the chat view to switch between chats.
• Pinch gesture to zoom out a conversation.
• Tap and hold the unified accounts cell to sign in/out of all accounts.
• Faster buddy list scrolling.
• The collapse Offline buddies preference was not getting saved between launches.
• Now displays AIM buddies “Mobile” status with a blue icon.
• Shows buddy presence above the chat thumbnails.
• Fixed the delay when the buddy list favorite header is tapped.
• Resets the keyboard to display alphabets after sending a message.
• Fixed issues with uploading pictures taken from camera.
• Change application settings through URL Schemes.
• Bug fixes and better memory management.

(more…)

When I reviewed Verbs for iPhone a few weeks ago, I was disappointed by the lack of AIM support and the overall feeling that the app was rushed to the App Store. Verbs came with a delicious interface design and cool ideas such as a Messages-like approach to IM chats, but the fact that I couldn’t plug into my AIM account and I was forced to use Google Talk was a major downside for me. Also, there was no support for local notifications: once you were out of the app, you wouldn’t know if someone was writing to you on Google Talk. The app was beautiful and elegant, but I couldn’t use it at all.

The latest 1.1 version released in the App Store fixes all these issues, and has become the best AIM client for iPhone for me. Verbs is the same elegant and refined app I tested weeks ago, only I can actually use it now. (more…)

It’s not every day that a beautiful, elegant, new app comes out on the iPhone and I’m willing to spend $2.99 to purchase it. When I saw Verbs available in iTunes a few minutes ago, though, I couldn’t help but play Apple’s game and hit the Buy button. I wanted Verbs, for a reason: I know the first version wouldn’t support AIM, the chat system I use on a daily basis in iChat, but I really wanted to see how a nice Google Talk client would fit in my workflow. After all, it’s not every day that a Google Talk client for the iPhone is released, and it’s even got a UI to lay your eyes on.

So I bought Verbs. Is it beautiful to look at? It sure is. Is the ultimate Google Talk experience? More on that below. (more…)