If you are a news junkie like me then Windows 8 offers you some tantalizing features. The new Start screen has an ever-growing supply of apps available in the Windows Store, and a good number of those are news. Now, the popular U.S.-based 24 hour cable news network CNN has thrown its hat into the game.
Today the Ted Turner startup released its "Metro" or "Modern UI" app for Windows 8 and Windows RT. Self-described as a way to "Go beyond the surface with international, politics, opinion, tech and entertainment stories and more. Contribute your story or opinion to CNN iReport by uploading photos and video directly from your app. Follow other iReporters and see stories from their point of view."
Upon launch, you will get the "top story" and then be able to scroll right for other information like "latest stories", "sections", "video" and more. However, what most users are going to want is customization. Sadly, there is not much of that included at this point.
However, the app does provide some rather nice features right out of the gate. Right-click on the screen and you will be greeted with several options at your disposal.
The Top
- Home
- Latest Stories
- Videos
- History
- Favorites
The Bottom
- International
- Refresh
Much of that is self-explanatory, but Favorites may be of interest to many users. It is initially empty, but as you save content then this is where you will find it. It is handy as a sort of "read later" repository -- think of it as bookmarking in the Windows 8 generation.
The International link does exactly what is says and sends you to stories that are not simply centered on the United States. Like the other menu items, it is self-explanatory.
The Start screen tile is also live, meaning you get real-time updates of headlines, which is a very nice touch, and one that other services should also consider -- yes, I know some do, but not all.
It is a nice start for CNN, but I honestly expected more. There really should be options to tailor the news feed more to the individual. For instance, I would love to have tech and sports news, but I found no easy way to do this. Perhaps these features will come in the near future.
Did you try News360 for Win8?
http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/news360/7c6eca62-7ac4-4f9c-bcfd-0355807f3a95
Designed with customization in mind :)
Propagapplet!
Windows 8 / RT users can rejoice after the BBC and Sky refused to acknowledge the existence of Windows 8/RTand Windows phone, developing applications just for iOS and Android.
ilev,
some time ago BBC didn't support even Android. You can read their "Answers about Android" — http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20754182 — and I think (from my experience in testing mobile software for different platforms, including MS ones) that there are EVEN MORE issues with Windows Phone and Windows 8/RT. Counting their low market share and low maturity, I won't blame anybody for giving them low priority.