It's here. The CBS News for iPad App has landed. With a unique interface built to work on a touchscreen device, developers have created something special with this app.
The app contains all the features you'd expect from a news organization, including top stories and news in the major categories. It also has the ability to post articles to Facebook and Twitter as well as contains daily pictures and video stories. But there are some special features that make this app really unique.
First, the interface is amazing. The app is presented in two main pages, one for news and the other for news shows. Yes, CBS News clips and stories are available to stream. In portrait view the top half of the screen contains top news that the reader navigates by swiping the stories, much like the featured apps in the App Store on iPad. The bottom half of the screen contains news stories by category with a mix of text and video news articles which are accessed by touching the thumbnail photos. Made specifically for touchscreen, the navigation is smooth and easy to use. This app is a total departure from traditional computer navigation and is customized for ease of use and efficiency on a touchscreen device.
When the app is moved to landscape orientation, the view changes to news articles sorted into columns.With an in-app browser and the ability to mail articles, it seems that CBS has really put a lot of effort into making this app a full news experience for iPad users. They've even included the ability to save articles for offline reading, so users don't need Instapaper. CBS also includes AccuWeather which uses Location Services built into the iPad. Market information is also found on the main screen, with the ability to add customized ticker symbols. Both of these features create a one stop shop for quick access to up to date information.
As with any new app, I did notice a long load time when the app is launched. Also, there's a slight delay during page transitions. Usually these issues disappear after a developer update or two. Unlike the USA Today app, the CBS News app was fully functional at launch.
This is a great app with plenty of content. I think there is a slight learning curve getting used to navigating the app by thumbnails. This is only an issue when in portrait mode. Landscape view has a more traditional menu of articles via linked text. The fact that there is a choice is a good thing and should meet the needs of users. Great job CBS!
This app is: Winny Recommended
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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