USA TODAY for iPad isn't the most attractive digital newspaper on the device, emphasizing function over a print-like aesthetic, but what it does deliver is a lot of different content, currently without charge. Each of the paper's four familiar sections is packed with news stories and features, plus you can access stunning photo galleries, interactive polls, and section-specific bonus features like sports scores. USA TODAY is still something of a work in progress, though, as placeholders for stock quotes and a daily crossword puzzle have yet to replace their "coming soon" notices with actual content.
USA TODAY packs a lot of content on one page.
Tapping on a story or image quickly transports you to the full-screen article, which is clearly presented and easy to read, plus you can change the text size using an on-screen slider. Navigation isn't as polished, though, the app regularly misreads up/down and left/right swipes, which swap between pages and articles, respectively.
Want to change the font size? Tap on the icon to bring up a slider.
Still, while it's not the most elegantly designed reader, the amount of content certainly justifies a place on your iPad -- for now, at least. After July 4, the free app will carry an undisclosed subscription fee, at which point you may need to reevaluate its worth.
USA TODAY for iPad 1.0.1
COMPANY: USA TODAY
CONTACT: www.usatoday.com
PRICE: Free
REQUIREMENTS: iPad
Lots of content for free.
Not the most attractive interface. Some features aren't active yet. Regularly misreads navigation swipes.
