PDiddy
08-16-2009, 10:29 AM
NPR finally has an iPhone app, and it is awesome. NPR News (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=324906251&mt=8) , which just became available for download, offers the same core features of other news apps like AP Mobile (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284901416&mt=8) [iTunes link], primarily that you can browse the day’s big stories and read news articles in multiple categories. However, no other news app is linked to 1000+ NPR radio stations, news programs, and live streams, meaning you can listen to your news anywhere, anytime.
The App adds a strong audio later to the news reading experience. While it’s simple enough to read the day’s top stories, you can also listen to most of the day’s top stories as well. A speaker icon next to most articles allows you to listen in on stories, and the playlist feature lets you queue up the stories you want to listen to if you’re busy, on-the-go, or just need to keep occupied.
The other key aspect of NPR News is that you can listen to any NPR program and any NPR station, including both live radio and past shows and podcasts. There has to be thousands upon thousands of hours of archived content available, not including the live radio. You can even pick out your station with GPS.
While many news organizations are floundering in the era of social media (http://mashable.com/2009/06/23/ap-social-media-policy/) and even struggling to survive (http://mashable.com/2009/08/14/newspaper-survival/), NPR has thrived (http://mashable.com/2009/06/03/npr/). Its innovative social strategies have served it well, and the NPR News iPhone app is just the latest solid innovation from the non-profit news organization.
If you want to learn more, NPR’s Scott Simon (host of [I]Weekend Edition Saturday) explains and demos the app in this YouTube video:
One thing it seems to be missing though are push notificaitons for breaking stories, something the AP Mobile App currently employs.
[mashable!]
I don't have my Iphone to test it on, but have heard nothing but great things about it. So give it a shot if you are a NPR fan. I'm sure you will enjoy it!
The App adds a strong audio later to the news reading experience. While it’s simple enough to read the day’s top stories, you can also listen to most of the day’s top stories as well. A speaker icon next to most articles allows you to listen in on stories, and the playlist feature lets you queue up the stories you want to listen to if you’re busy, on-the-go, or just need to keep occupied.
The other key aspect of NPR News is that you can listen to any NPR program and any NPR station, including both live radio and past shows and podcasts. There has to be thousands upon thousands of hours of archived content available, not including the live radio. You can even pick out your station with GPS.
While many news organizations are floundering in the era of social media (http://mashable.com/2009/06/23/ap-social-media-policy/) and even struggling to survive (http://mashable.com/2009/08/14/newspaper-survival/), NPR has thrived (http://mashable.com/2009/06/03/npr/). Its innovative social strategies have served it well, and the NPR News iPhone app is just the latest solid innovation from the non-profit news organization.
If you want to learn more, NPR’s Scott Simon (host of [I]Weekend Edition Saturday) explains and demos the app in this YouTube video:
One thing it seems to be missing though are push notificaitons for breaking stories, something the AP Mobile App currently employs.
[mashable!]
I don't have my Iphone to test it on, but have heard nothing but great things about it. So give it a shot if you are a NPR fan. I'm sure you will enjoy it!