Breaking News: CNN & White House Release Android Apps On The Same Day
The 24-hour news cycle pioneer, CNN and the most technologically progressive White House have both released Android apps today, and they are both pretty good additions to the Android Market. The CNN app features breaking news in all the requisite categories with a very smooth interface. It also includes the ability to upload "citizen journalist" videos directly to CNN's iReport. The White House app has news, videos that are released from the White House and the most recent photos of goings on in the US government.
CNN has been a noticeable absence in the news apps' list on the Android Market. But, it looks like they really took their time to produce a polished Android experience complete with features that make it a worthwhile download. CNN has included the ability to stream live video when breaking news is happening. You can always catch up on news you missed by watching video clips or browsing the latest stories. And it's all done with a sleek, speedy interface that's intuitive and a pleasure to use. If CNN is your news organization of choice, this app is a no-brainer.
The White House app is definitely for the political nerd or Obama superfan, but kudos to the US government for being as accessible as possible in an era of real-time news. The top-notch video quality in this app is a welcome surprise. But, on a day when CNN launches a full-featured app, it's hard not to make a comparison. Here, there’s no ability to stream live press conferences or even major speeches. There's a lack of interaction which makes this app feel dated at launch. And, most importantly, there is no way to customize the frequency in which the app checks for updates. That means this app will run in the background every hour which may be a significant source of battery drain. It's a flaw, but one that can, and hopefully will, be fixed in a future software update.
All in all, Android news and political junkies had a good day at the market.
