Apple launches Invites app: Know availability, key features and other details

Apple on Tuesday launched a new app called Invites which allows users to create personalised invitations for any event.

"With Apple Invites, an event comes to life as soon as the invitation is created, and users can share memories long after the event," Brent Chiu-Watson, Apple’s senior director of Worldwide Product Marketing for Apps and iCloud, said in a press release.

He added, "The app brings together features from iPhone, iCloud, and Apple Music, making it simple to plan special occasions."

Creating invitations on Invites

Users require an iCloud+ subscription to create an invitation on Invites. Anyone can RSVP, even if they don't have an Apple account or device.

When making an invitation, users can choose a photograph from their library or pick one from the app’s gallery. The app also works with Maps and Weather, so it can give guests directions to the event and let them know the weather forecast for that day.

Also Read : JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon almost joined Amazon after talking to Jeff Bezos

Invites: Major features

Participants can add photos and videos to a shared album for each invite, allowing them to save memories and re-visit the event later. Apple Music subscribers can also create a collaborative playlist for the event, which guests can access directly from the invite.

Users can design unique invitations using Apple’s Image Playground to create custom images. They can also use Apple’s Writing Tools to help write the invitations.

Hosts can manage their events, share invites via a link, and check RSVPs. They can choose which details to display in the invite preview, such as the event background or home address.

Also, guests can view and reply to invitations either through the app or online. They can control what information others can see and have the option to leave or report events.

Partiful and other competitors

The launch of Invites is Apple’s latest example of “Sherlocking” a service, which means introducing a new feature or app that provides the same functionality as an already popular third-party app.

Also Read : Why Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with Donald Trump is key to Gaza ceasefire

In this case, Invites is very similar to Partiful, a well-known invitation app named Google Play’s Best App of 2024. Along with Partiful, Invites will also compete with startups like Posh and other popular services such as Evite, Paperless Post, and Sendo Invitations.

FAQs:

How can Apple Invites be accessed?
Apple Invites is free to download on the App Store for all iPhone models running iOS 18 or later, and can also be accessed online at icloud.com/invites.

What is Partiful?
Partiful is a popular invitation and event planning app that allows users to create and manage events easily. It lets people design custom invitations, share them with guests, and track RSVPs.