iBird Winged Explorer Newsletter
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iBird Got Even Better – You Won't Believe These Game-Changing Version 13.5 Features!
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Improved Customer Support – Get Instant Help with Our New Zendesk Interface!
We're excited to introduce Zendesk to our app support system, offering faster and more efficient service. Our new system uses tickets to help us resolve issues quickly and keep you informed throughout the process, ensuring a seamless customer experience. To reach us, please use this link: Zendesk.
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Unlock iBird in a Flash! Access the One-Tap Widget from Your Lock Screen!
With the new iBird Pro widget, you can open the app instantly—no FaceID or unlocking required! Now, when you spot a bird, simply tap the iBird widget, and it launches in one step. Even cooler: the species rotates every 15m and opens to that species. And there is an option to play its song.
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Stay in the Loop! – Never Miss an Upgrade with Our Real-Time Notifications!
We're excited to introduce notifications to our iBird Pro iPhone app! With notifications enabled, you'll receive timely updates on app features, birding tips, and critical alerts, ensuring you never miss a thing. In our commitment to respect your time and attention, we’ll send notifications on an as-needed basis only.
Uncover Secrets to Better Birding with ChatGPT!
Are you intrigued by AI used in birding?
Artificial intelligence is transforming many fields, and birding is no exception! If you’re not familiar with ChatGPT, the AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, now is the time to explore its capabilities. ChatGPT can assist bird enthusiasts by combining species data, bird descriptions, and specific details from your observations to help identify the birds you see. Simply describe the bird’s appearance, behavior, or location, and ChatGPT can provide suggestions or even confirm the species. You can try ChatGPT for free or upgrade to the $20/month plan for additional features, such as extended usage and the ability to generate images. Learn more and give it a try here: ChatGPT from Open AI.
Be Part of Something Big! Apply to Beta Test iBirdGPT Today!
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Calling All Tech-Savvy Birders: Test iBirdGPT!
Are you a rare breed of birder passionate about nature and technology? If so, we need your expertise!
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Just click this link to become a tester
We're working on an exciting new feature for iBird that harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence.
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As a tester you will get a free subscription
Your mission? Challenge the iBird Bot with tough questions, and uncover its strengths and weaknesses. If you're interested in helping us develop iBirdGPT, we'd love to hear from you! Please send an email to support@ibird.zendesk.com with the subject line "iBirdGPT Tester". In your email, tell us a bit about yourself and why you're excited to test the iBird Bot. Your feedback will play an important role in shaping this feature!
Biggest iBird Photo Sleuth Discount of the Year – Act Fast Before It's Over!
Are you looking to identify birds with ease? Now's the perfect time to try iBird Photo Sleuth, our powerful AI-driven bird identification app for iPhone. Whether your photo is crisp or blurry, big or small, Photo Sleuth can accurately identify the species. Simply snap or upload a photo and let the app's neural network—trained on 10,000 images of 1,000 North American species—do the rest. Plus, if you own iBird Pro, with one tap, Photo Sleuth will open iBird to the species page for the bird it identified. You can then dive deeper into the species' profile, listen to its call, view its range map and more.
For a limited time, we're slashing the price from $9.99 to just $4.99—that's 50% off! Don't miss out on this hot deal, perfect for birders of all levels. Act fast before the sale flies away! Click or tap here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ibird-photo-sleuth/id1364271023
Struggling to Identify That Bird? Get Instant Help from the WhatBird Forum!
Have a blurry photo of a rare bird, and you can't quite figure out what it is? Have you tried using iBird Photo Sleuth and didn't get any matches? If you're in a remote area without birding groups or simply prefer birdwatching solo, we have the perfect solution.
Welcome to the WhatBird Forum! Our community of birding experts is ready to assist you, day or night (except when they're catching some sleep). Joining is quick and easy, and you can post your mystery bird photos along with a question, then sit back and wait for the experts to accept your challenge.
Your Birding Questions Answered in the iBird FAQ – You'll Be Surprised by #3!
What is this FAQ About?
In August 2022, we transitioned iBird Pro from a one-time purchase to a subscription model. This FAQ explains why we made this change and answers common questions about the new subscription.
Did any features change when you made this switch?
Yes, the country databases for Hawaii, the United Kingdom and Palau were previously paid add-ons and are now included in iBird Pro at no extra cost. These databases allow us to offer a more complete subscription experience.
How many species, illustrations, photos, range maps and songs are now in iBird with these new countries?
It may not be apparent, but when we switched to a subscription model, we merged all the paid add-on country databases (UK, Hawaii and Palau) into the app. The North America database has 967 species and added to that are 343 species for the United Kingdom, 226 species for Hawaii and 169 species for Palau, for a total of 1,705 species. There are 8,770 high-resolution photos, 5,620 bird calls and songs, and 1,718 range maps. No other birding app has such a vast quantity of information about birds.
I don't want a subscription. Can I have my old iBird app back?
We understand that some users prefer one-time purchases. However, the paid version of iBird Pro has been discontinued and is no longer available. The subscription model allows us to improve the app with new features and updates continuously.
Can I get a refund for the $14.99 I paid for the iBird Pro app in 2010?
Refunds for app purchases can only be processed by Apple, as they handle all transactions through the App Store when Apple charges your credit card. Apple does not provide developers with customer information, including names, email addresses, credit card details, or proof of purchase. As a result, we cannot issue refunds directly. You can request a refund by visiting reportaproblem.apple.com. We apologize for any inconvenience, but this is how the App Store works.
When I bought iBird in 2015, I was told it was a lifetime purchase. Why isn't that honored?
We appreciate your support and understand your concern. However, software licenses are subject to terms that allow changes over time, including the transition to subscription models. You can review Apple's licensing terms here. Essentially, there are fundamental differences between buying software, made up of a pattern of bits in a computer memory, and buying an object made of atoms, such as a book.
Why did you switch to a subscription model?
The switch to a subscription model allows us to maintain and enhance the iBird app with regular updates, new features and ongoing support. Many leading apps have made similar transitions to provide better service and improvements over time.
I feel like you took something I purchased away from me, like a book off my shelf.
We understand this analogy, but unlike a book, the software requires continuous maintenance and updates. Platforms like smartphones and smart tablets are constantly updated; therefore, any software that runs on these devices must also be constantly updated. Subscriptions help fund the ongoing work needed to keep iBird Pro functional and up to date with the latest technology and birding data.
What does "lifetime purchase" mean?
We understand that "lifetime" can be a bit ambiguous. In the case of iBird Pro, a "lifetime purchase" means you'll have access to the app for as long as it remains available on the App Store. Developing and updating an app like iBird Pro requires ongoing work and resources, which help us deliver quality features, support, and improvements over time. Since its launch in 2007, iBird Pro has been continuously available and updated for over 16 years, and we are committed to keeping it accessible for many more years to come.
I had issues switching my subscription from monthly to annual. What should I do?
If you experience issues with your offer code, go to your device settings, tap on your name at the top of the screen, and then tap Subscriptions. Verify your iBird Pro subscription is correct. You can try deleting and reinstalling the app and then using the Restore button to return your subscription. If none of this works, contact Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com. If you have AppleCare, you can contact Apple at support.apple.com/
I received a message saying I am not eligible for your free subscription offer. Why?
This can happen for several reasons, such as having an existing subscription, using a different email address than the one on the offer code, or not meeting certain restrictions. To correct this, you will need to contact Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com
Why didn't you keep the paid version and add a subscription option?
Supporting two versions of iBird Pro would have required significant resources, which we do not have. The subscription model ensures we can continue to support and improve iBird Pro over time rather than shutting down the app entirely.
Okay I read your FAQ, and I still want to know why you completely eliminated the original paid app? Couldn’t you have let paid app customers retain their original app, and introduced the subscription version as a new app?
Maintaining old software becomes increasingly difficult over time, much like how new iPhones and iPads replace outdated models. As technology evolves, the tools and processes behind the app also change, making updates more challenging. After 16 years and many updates, iBird required a full overhaul to keep up with advancements.
How to use iBird Widgets
Widgets are a powerful feature on iPhone and iPad. Introduced in iOS 16, they are now even more versatile with iOS 18. Allowing you to access essential app functions directly from the Lock or Home Screen, they save time by eliminating the need to unlock your device and search for app icons. On the Home Screen, widgets provide at-a-glance information like weather, calendar events, or battery status, making your device more efficient and user-friendly. In the case of iBird Pro, these widgets let you interact with the app and watch species details change every 15 minutes. Read the Tutorial below on how you can make the most of iBird Pro's widgets.
Home Screen (or any screen) Widgets Tutorial
These Widgets are pretty powerful. You can add the iBird Pro widget to the Home or the Lock screen by using the following steps:
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Unlock Your Phone
Unlock your phone and go to the screen on your iPhone where you wish to place the widget.
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Long Press to Edit
Hold your finger on a blank screen area for a few seconds until the icons jiggle (vibrating). Next, tap the Edit button in the upper left corner. (Some owners may see a "+" symbol instead of Edit.)
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Add Widget
Select Add Widget. Note this is the same menu used to Customize and Edit your widgets.
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Find iBird's Widgets
Type “iBird” into the Search Widgets field or scroll down and select iBird Pro as the widget to add., date, and time.
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Select a Widget
Select the first choice or slide right to see the other widgets available.
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Add Widget
Swipe left to reveal the next widget choice, a double wide widget with the species common name, Latin name and Family name.
Tap the Add Widget button.
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Add Additional Widgets
Swipe left again to reveal the next widget choice. This widget opens iBird to its search engine so you can immediately start narrowing down the identification.
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Finish
The icons are still jiggling, so you are still in the Edit mode. Before tapping the Done button in the upper right corner to exit the Edit mode, you can drag the new iBird Pro widget to any location on any screen.
iPhone Lock Screen Widgets
Lock Screen widgets work like Home Screen widgets, with trim and double-wide options available. These widgets are displayed in a single color, offering a clean, streamlined look. The real power of Lock Screen widgets lies in their ability to provide instant access to your apps—no unlocking required! With one tap, you are bypassing the usual three steps of unlocking, finding the app, and tapping its icon.
To add widgets to your Lock Screen, simply press and hold a blank area on the screen. Tap Customize, then select Lock Screen (or Home Screen. The Lock Screen will switch to Edit mode. Tap any widget area with an outline or the "+" icon to open the Widget Gallery and add your widgets.
MacOS 15 Sequoia Desktop Widgets
If your Macintosh desktop runs Apple Silicon with an M1, M2, M3 or M4 chip, you can run any iPhone or iPad app.
How to set up iBird Pro Widgets on the Mac desktop.
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The iBird apps will show up after searching for "iBird"
To start open the Mac App Store, search for “iBird Pro” then download and install iBird Pro.
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Right click on the desktop and select Edit Widgets.
After installing iBird Pro on your Macintosh, right click on the desktop and select Edit Widgets from the menu that pops up.
This will cause the Widget Gallery to popup from the dock. Next search for iBird Pro, then drag the widgets you wish to use on the desktop.
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Drag the iBird Pro widgets to the desktop
The widgets will appear on the desktop screen wherever you drop them after dragging. Note: while the widgets are full color in the gallery, once they are on the desktop, they appear in grayscale instead of color.
Widget Update 1:
Here’s a little tip for using widgets! If you’re like me, you pick widgets from your favorite apps—the ones you really enjoy and use all the time. Widgets are like mini dashboards, giving you a quick snapshot and letting you open the app with a single tap. That part, I love.
But here’s the catch: if you delete the app, the widget disappears too. So, if you’re tempted to do a little app clean-up, be ready for a bit of disappointment when your favorite widgets vanish. My suggestion? Instead of deleting, try just hiding the app. You’ll keep things tidy and still have all your favorite widgets at your fingertips!
Widget Update 2:
At the last minute, we introduced an exciting new feature to the iBird Pro widgets! By pressing and holding a widget and selecting “Edit Widget,” you'll see a pop-up that lets you customize your widget experience. You can choose which image appears in the widget display—Head, Portrait, or Body Illustration. Additionally, you can decide whether the bird’s song or call will play automatically when you open the iBird species page.
Hold and press on a widget to choose a different image to rotate.
Get the Latest iBIRD PRO 13.5 Update
Ready to put iBird Pro on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac? If you have a device like the MacBook Air (M1), MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1), or Mac mini (M1)—all introduced in 2020 with Apple silicon processors—you’re good to go! The iBird Pro app (and our other apps, like Photo Sleuth) runs seamlessly across all these platforms. To start using iBird Pro 13.5, simply click the blue Update Now button.