Many years ago I was told to put something I have written in a draw for 24 hours and then go back and read it.  If I still felt that way then submit it.  Wise words and as usual totally ignored.  Oh the joys of the internet age!   So what has caused me to feel this way?   It’s the Times iPad app of course.   

Yesterday, out of frustration with the blasted thing I gave it a bit of a kicking.  24 hours later I am now starting to understand the thinking behind the app and it has some very positive points.   However, before I prostrate myself in front of the News Corp alter there are still a number of things wrong with this app.   The first is that it seems to have a strange effect on my iPad.   I went to download today’s edition whilst I made myself breakfast.  I came back to the iPad expecting to have a paper to read and found the iPad rebooting.  I have no idea why this was but it is not the first time that it has happened when the Time app has been running.

Now for the more positive feedback.   The first is that I have come to realise that I only read the commentary and opinions pages in a news paper.   This might a strange thing to say when discussing this app but it means that you treat the newspaper more as a magazine and then closed model being put forward by the Times is far more appealing.  

I have now figured out how the navigation works and this also make a lot more sense – It is just a pity there was no explanation/tutorial video to help out.  I have even found the adverts buried in the publication – however, if I was an advertiser I would be concerned as they would appear to be placed in such a away as to be avoided.

So is it worth it?   Well yes actually as this is a far more cost effective way of reading the paper than buying it and if I cut out the Sunday paper then the iPad will pay for itself in just over a year.  Hopefully, the app will be continually improved and it will then become the way papers should be seen in this Internet/24 hour news age – analysis and options rather than simple reporting.

One final thing.  I put a review on the iTunes site based on what I wrote yesterday.  Now I want to remove this as most of the points weren’t valid, however I can’t do this.  I have no idea why this might be.
 

Simon Marchini LRPS

Web: http://WWW.simonmarchini.co.uk

Twitter: http://twitter.com/@simonmarchini