UPDATE: July 19th, 2011
News Corp may be facing an uncertain future after the recent scandals, but they're offering an olive branch with the latest update to The Daily app, which went live yesterday. In fact, it's got everything we've always wanted from it.
Why it took so long to implement these changes is anyone's guess. Most of the fixes that have been implemented have been called for since day one. You could say that this is the first update of many that makes the app truly user-friendly.
The fixes range from zippier page loads and transitions to finally utilizing multitasking. Now when you quit the app and reopen it, for instance, it'll take you to right where you left off. Having to wait upwards of whole minutes for the app to reset itself was always a pain, much less finding exactly what page you last read. Swiping between stories is also much less awkward. In general, the app got the speed boost it has long needed.
Other salient additions include faster initial loading and a revamped table of contents that feature comment bubbles, as well as other fixes to the comments feature.
Your overall enjoyment of The Daily still depends on how you feel about the content. If you grew tired of the writing, this update isn't going to be enough to draw you back in, but the app is finally competent enough for existing subscribers to not feel annoyed with each read-through.
The Daily is the highly-anticipated interactive news source that (finally) launched in the App Store last Wednesday. Though it has been out less than a week, its received acclaim from numerous top media sources and has gained a solid fan base. From a conceptual standpoint, it's certainly impressive and will revolutionize the way news is sought on the device, but does it live up to the hype? Our review will help you decide if it's the right news app for you.
Content
News content on the app is accessible by navigating amongst the News, Gossip, Opinion, Arts & Life, Apps & Games, and Sports sections on the menu bar that runs along the bottom of the screen. Or you can simply swipe through the series of articles that appear along the main screen of the app. The news articles are presented in a typical magazine format, and the app keeps track of what you've read so you can quickly find new content. While the articles are presented well, are they worth the price? Are they relevant to your needs or interests? It depends.
Like your typical iPad edition of a magazine or newspaper, but more exclusive...
Since the app is backed by Rupert Murdoch and News Corp, it is expected that its "news" will have a bias. Let's face it - most media outlets have some sort of a slant, and if this is acceptable to you and you won't find it offensive, you very well may find yourself enjoying the content. In addition to many articles, The Daily includes daily horoscopes, localized weather conditions, 360-degree photos that can be explored using the device's touchscreen gestures, high-definition video, charts, crossword and sudoku puzzles, and in-app commenting.
If 100+ pages of original content per day is enough to entice you, grab your coffee mug and abandon your traditional paper for this app. What was unique and of interest was the in app-commenting that allows audio comments. We feel this is an interesting approach toward promoting debate amongst readers, but taking note of how most news comments end up in flaming battles back and forth using derogatory (and often, offensive) phrases, we're not sure this is the best approach. After all, you'd probably start your day off in a better mood not having to hear random strangers screaming obscenities to you through your news app.
On the other hand, the ability to promptly and effortlessly e-mail friends and share content via Facebook and Twitter is something we appreciate. As for whether or not the content is worth its premium pricing, it also really depends. Sure, some of the information that is provided is not completely unique and may be easy to access at no cost using your web browser, but if it is ease of navigation you desire, and you're in a pinch for time, you'll appreciate its presentation.
Interface
From a stylistic perspective, we loved The Daily. When you launch the app for the first time on a given day, it alerts you that it is loading your content. In under a minute on a standard cable internet connection, we had all of the display fields populate with new media. The manner in which it is presented is generally user-friendly and quite intuitive. However, there were times when we found the scrolling to be less fluid than we'd desire. We anticipate this to continually improve with future updates. Text fields and images fit the screen appropriately and leave very little empty space. While the fonts are crisp and easy to read, we'd prefer if they could be changed or - at the very least, resized - from the Settings menu. We're crossing our fingers that this is addressed in a future update.
Sports fans, here's another interactive way to keep up with your favorite teams!
Performance
Most of the initial gripes about The Daily were in regards to its slow performance and occasional crashes. In update version 1.0.1, these issues were addressed and we've been able to use it without any crashes or freezing. Yes, the app still lags ever so slightly when navigating between content, but it's evident that the developer has noticeably improved performance, and we're pleased with the end result.
Price
At a $0.99 weekly price or $39.99 annually, The Daily isn't going to break your bank. As a matter of fact, by cutting back on your coffee intake by purchasing one less cup per week, you'll more than cover its costs and end up saving money. When you compare it to print editions of similar publications, which typically cost per month what the daily costs annually, it is evident that News Corp wanted to propose value as a motive behind use of its app. Still, the quality of content must be considered since there is ample content online that is both informative and free. We'll leave that decision to you.
Interactivity
For social media junkies, we feel that the ability to share articles and media efficiently makes this an interactive app. While we're still quite skeptical in regards to the audio comments, we love the use of Game Center for crossword puzzles and sudoku. The built-in leaderboard shows you the day's top winners and hopes to inspire competition. We found it to be much more interactive than your traditional daily paper and think you will, too.
All things considered, if you think this app may be of interest to you, we urge you to give it a shot... Besides, the first 2 weeks are free of cost to you and do not require you to enter your account information, so why wait?
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