iMessage Extensions

Using Slack has spoiled me for iMessage, particularly due to its fantastic Link Expansion functionality:

Accordingly, I’ve been considering the optimal implementation for iMessage content previews. It occurred to me that it could be incorporated using a new App Extension API, rather than the hacky method of scanning webpages for a preview (e.g. similar to how Twitter has a Cards API).

For example, Twitter for iPhone could have a Tweet Preview card for iMessage, which expands a Twitter link into a native card that has app actions (e.g. RT, Favourite, Reply) similar to Notification Actions. YouTube links could show a card that enables in-line playback and/or an Add To Playlist button.

Finally, each card would feature app-specific designs, just like App Extensions currently do: