As the summer shapes up to be a second-screen showdown, Yahoo’s IntoNow just pushed a new update to iPhone and iPad with a “rebuilt and re-designed” app. Calling it the “next evolution of IntoNow,” the team said it rebuilt the app around what its users do. It also adds three nifty new features — some borrowed from other apps — that beef up IntoNow’s offerings.
The new app, which currently uses automatic content recognition to sync to TV shows, can now identify songs playing on TV — even background music. Similar to Shazam, users can then buy the show on iTunes or watch the corresponding music video, if available on YouTube.
The second new feature — called “CapIt” — is the ability to grab an image from what you’re watching on TV, add a funny lolz-cat-style caption over it, and share it over your favorite social services. “Simply tap a button and IntoNow will instantly synchronize and deliver still images of what you’re watching on TV,” the company explains. Pick your favorite image of the bunch, type up the graphic and share. For the record, Umami launched a similar feature several months ago, but without the graphics overlay.
Finally, you can now set up group chats. Create private conversations with friends, form groups for a particular TV event or set up groups to talk about favorite shows as the season progresses.
Congratulations to the Into_Now team on their release tonight!Love the TV & Music Sync as well as the Capit feature.ycorpblog.com/2012/07/30/int…
— marissamayer (@marissamayer) July 31, 2012
With all the hubbub about Zeebox’s pending launch in the US, Viggle’s engagement success and GetGlue’s big upcoming update, we shouldn’t forget about IntoNow, especially with Yahoo’s distribution network and new organization behind it.