02/10, 3:50pm
USA Today breaks down mobile app ratios
An escaped USA Today presentation has uncovered some of the real results of mobile news app downloads. GeekWire's copy showed a wide gap between downloads for the iPad and Android tablets: at over 2.9 million downloads, the iPad version had more than seven times the downloads of Android, which had 390,000 combined. The ratio on Android was heavily skewed by the Kindle Fire, which at 260,000 downloads had managed twice as much interest as every other Android tablet combined.
more
12/21, 11:05pm
Gannett gets iPhone 4S and iPad 2 for field report
An escaped memo from Gannett newspaper head Bob Dickey has revealed that the company is making a massive investment in Apple technology for its newsroom. The USA Today publisher has bought "thousands" of iPhone 4S and iPad 2 units that reporters and journalists will use to hopefully report more effectively in the field. The iOS hardware will be joined by MiFi hotspots to get iPads online as well as microphones and other accessories to let them record in the field.
more
02/25, 1:15pm
Android 3 tablets have just fraction
Android 3.0 got off to a slow start in the past day as the OS launched with just a small number of tablet apps. A quick check by jkOnTheRun showed just 16 apps that could use the larger screen size. USA Today on Friday became the 17th with a new app that provided much of its news in the widescreen format of devices like the Xoom.
more
10/08, 11:45am
Galaxy Tab serving as Android news template
Samsung's Galaxy Tab is expected to be the reference point for news on Android tablets as companies reduce their dependence on the iPad, sources said Friday. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal are both said to be developing apps for the seven-inch device with the hope of launching the same app elsewhere. One WSJ tip had the NYT app coming preloaded on some devices and available for free until the site's paywall goes up in January 2011, while the WSJ app itself would follow a typical subscription model.
more
08/27, 2:25pm
USA Today vows major shift to iPad and digital
USA Today today said it would undergo a major overhaul of its structure to shift attention away from print. Most of its focus will now be on formatting for digital, including the iPad app, other mobile devices, and the web. It now has a VP of Digital Development, Steve Kurtz, who will focus primarily on refining the paper for its digital side.
more
07/09, 12:30am
iPhone praise and concerns
The iPhone 3G's official launch on June 11th is just over two days away, and several industry heavyweights have already offered their opinions on Apple's next generation device, offering mostly praise, peppered with a few criticisms. Among the acclaimed technologists were Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal, David Pogue of the New York Times, and USA Today's Edward Baig. The three writers noted that the different pricing structure and 3G battery life were two small strikes against the new device, but ultimately considered the upgrade to be a boon.
more
01/24, 9:40am
USA Today reviews Air
The MacBook Air is an impressive piece of engineering, but suffers from some serious flaws that may reduce its appeal to some, writes USA Today. The newspaper firstly applauds its signature design features, namely its incredibly thin design, which is just over three-quarters of an inch thick at its largest point. Also praised is the backlighting for the keyboard and monitor, as well as the multitouch trackpad, which permits iPhone-like gestures such as pinching and swiping.
more
01/02, 10:25am
Apple ads top 2007 list
Apple's iPhone and 'Get a Mac' TV ads are among the most admirable of 2007, according to a list of the most memorable ad moments in 10 major categories published by USA TODAY. The Cupertino-based company's iPhone topped the publication's 'Made me want to buy it now' category by showcasing the device's functions in a close-up shot of the screen. Apple also earned the 'Best characters/mascots/spokespeople' title for Actor Justin Long and comedian John Hodgman in their roles of Mac and PC.
more
