One of my very favorite things about having a smart phone is always being online. As long as I’m within range of my trusty 3G connection, then I can still enjoy the ability to check emails, read comments on my blog, and receive constant updates on the news. Being connected all the time is very nice for staying current on what’s happening in the world, as you can be updated with news the moment it happens.
That’s why I decided to compile a short list of some of the best news apps available for iPhone and Android. Some of these are better for breaking news, while others are in-depth investigations into a side of life you may have never seen before.
Either way, all of these apps are excellent choices for the modern, technologically savvy news junkie. Not every app listed here is free, either, but quality comes with a price.
RSS Readers
There are few inventions more convenient than the modern RSS reader. With a simple subscription, you can be constantly up to date on all the news you could ever want from your favorite source, whatever that may be. Personally, I prefer to keep up with Game Informer, Engadget, and Cracked. Between the two of them, my technology needs are pretty much covered.
To be honest, all RSS readers out there offer the same basic functionality. No matter which one you pick, you’re still going to get the same handy subscription. The only real difference between these different apps is the interface and functionality. Still, those are important things to consider. Here are a couple feed readers that you should be considering.
Google Reader
Is It Any Good?
Well, maybe you really shouldn’t consider this one. I mention Google Reader only to set a baseline, a basis to which all other RSS readers can be compared. Google’s RSS reader is the absolute bare minimum when it comes to your syndication needs. It will add your feeds and let you read them, but that’s seriously it.
The interface is stark and inelegant. Google Reader offers few advanced features for picky readers and no pretty colors for everyone else to stare at while they’re catching up on the news.
Still, the headline widget for Google Reader is actually pretty nice. I liked having news from my feeds scroll across my home screen. And you’ll also have to create a Google Reader account at some point or another as all the RSS readers I tested sync with the feeds attached to your account. If you want the very least available for RSS, Google Reader is there for you.
Can I Get It?
At least it’s free for Android users.
Pulse
Is It Any Good?
Definitely. Pulse is probably the coolest RSS reader I’ve tested so far. Instead of basic blocks of text like you’d see in Instapaper or Google Reader, articles in Pulse are denoted by a small thumbnail with the first picture from the article. It’s definitely a cool way to organize your RSS feeds, and the pretty colors appeal to my inner three year old.
When I synced the feed from my own blog, I got a major thrill from seeing my posts displayed in such a slick, organized manner. Actually reading articles is easy too, with options for full screen reading and adjusting the size of the text. Best to select “small,” as the default text size looks like it was taken from a billboard.
The only real problem with Pulse is that the thumbnail interface kind of sucks for large feeds. Navigating my Engadget feed (which is pretty prolific and has lots and lots of articles) is a bit of a chore. It’s really a shame, but Pulse breaks down for feeds that publish a lot of material. Regardless, this app is probably your best bet for an RSS reader for Android. The shiny interface and built-in support for quality news outlets like The New Yorker and Popular Science make Pulse an essential.
Can I Get It?
Available for Android, and completely free.
NewsRack
Is It Any Good?
NewsRack may appear to be just a simple RSS reader, but once it starts up you can quickly see its value. The interface comes in traditional bland boxes or a nifty style that presents your feeds as newspapers that you can pick up from racks and read. The newspaper appearance isn’t exactly mind blowing, but it is a nice touch that helps differentiate NewsRack from other RSS readers.
But this app isn’t just looks- it’s got the performance to back up its appearance. NewsRack offers complete integration with your email, Instapaper, Read It Later, Twitter, Delicious, Facebook, and of course Google Reader. Like I said, that Google account is a godsend for synchronizing your feeds across all your devices. Lots of options for marking things read or viewed make NewsRack an RSS reader that’s nice and easy to use.
Can I Get It?
Breaking from the Android trend, this one’s on iOS. Unfortunately, it does cost $5, which is a pretty high price to ask for an RSS reader.
Headline News
RSS readers are great and all, but sometimes you just want to know what’s happening in the world right now. You could watch television, but considering the abysmal quality of certain news networks, you’re better off going somewhere else for your news. These are some apps that will keep you up to date with current events in the United States and around the world.
News360
Is It Any Good?
This app is just cool. News360 aggregates all the major headlines that are happening right now and puts them at your fingertips. Although at its core it’s a glorified RSS reader, News360 sets itself apart with an excellent interface and by integrating multiple sources of information.
For example, a story about President Obama’s recent speech not only has the text summary, it has pictures from the event and video clips of the speech itself. Load times are a little excessive for the pictures and videos, but having them placed alongside the text is handy. I can’t emphasize enough how thoughtfully designed this app is.
Perhaps the only real oversight is the problem of breaks. All modern news sources now put breaks in their articles, so when they’re syndicated to News360 only half the article shows up. Then you have to leave the app and finish the article in the browser. That gets annoying real quick. Still, News360 is darn near perfect for current events.
Can I Get It?
Most definitely. News360 is available for Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, Blackberry, and your PC desktop. Best of all, all that smooth design is comes with zero ads for the crippling price of zero dollars.
CNN
Is It Any Good?
The most famous news network in the world now has their own app. Most of the other apps on this list are text centric, but CNN distinguishes itself through a strong focus on video. This is a TV network, after all. That’s not to say text is ignored- every video still has a lengthy summary beneath it.
CNN does an excellent job of constantly updating with important clips from their current broadcast. To its detriment, the quality isn’t great and the videos lag over 3G. This app is best used with a strong wifi connection, like any streaming video.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention iReport. No, that is not an Apple product. iReport is a cool function where average users can submit videos of news, opinions, or even movie reviews to be shown to the CNN community. It’s kind of like YouTube, but a bit classier and more focused on politics. Either way, it’s a great addition and certainly one I wasn’t expecting. Points for creativity, CNN.
Can I Get It?
Yep. Available for your downloading pleasure on Android, iPhone and iPad.
These are few of our favorite apps to stay updated with the latest news. Which apps do you use to get your news fix? Let us know in the comments below.
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