iPad App: USA Today
= 5 stars
Read daily news from USA Today newspaper on your iPad.
The Good
- Simple UI; easy to understand and navigate within seconds. The column of headlines at screen center scrolls vertically to reveal all articles in the section; tap a headline to read any particular article. Tap the colored box on the left to access different newspaper sections (“USA Today” for headline news, Life, Money, Sports), or use the four-pane horizontal scroller at top center. Once in article view (below image), swipe vertically to continue through the article, or swipe horizontally to read different articles in the same section. At the top left of the article view is a button to return to that section’s home page, and on the right, a font size slider, and a share button for email or Twitter. The organization makes sense, and the whole effect is an aesthetically pleasing, easy to read hybrid of a print paper and the future.
- The side bar of each home page has simple yet effective web enabled features: weather (supports multiple locations), sports scores, photo galleries, and fun polls based on your location. Stocks and a crossword are promised in a future update.
The Bad
- No pinch to zoom on images, or the slightly small weather maps.
- Didn’t encounter any video, animations, or snazzy interactive content.
Conclusion
USA Today previously impressed with a website redesign and iPhone app, and they’re on top of the future of news with their iPad app. It’s a solid foundation onto which they can add snazzier stuff if so desired. Plus: it’s free. Highly recommended.
iTunes App Store Link: USA TODAY for iPad – USA TODAY