Sparrow, the minimalist email client for Mac, has been updated to version 1.2. The latest release sees a number of improvements and additions, including the much requested unified inbox. This works in much the same way as the inbox in iOS, displaying all of your emails in one place. A neatly redesigned interface is in keeping with Sparrow's minimalist philosophy.

The app has been labelled 'the social email client' and to this end there are a number of improvements. There is better integration with Facebook meaning that friends' avatars are displayed in the application's chat window. In addition to Facebook avatars, Sparrow 1.2 adds support for contact images in your address book as well as the use of Gravatar.

Despite the minimalism of the interface in general, Sparrow 1.2 allows you to go to town with your email sign-offs and rich text signatures are now supported. As well as formatting the text you use in your signature, you can include other elements such as links and images.

Other new options include the ability to choose between deleting and archiving emails, as well as selecting which folder should be used to house your attachment downloads. Hiding the selection bar in the inbox is another new option. Sparrow 1.2 now supports nine languages including French, Spanish and German, and if you only have a single email account, you can use the free version of the application, Sparrow Lite.

You can find out more and download a copy of the app by paying a visit to the Sparrow review page.