Posts Tagged ‘iphone’

New app takes the place of anchor

A new iPhone and iPod app called News Anchor allows users to subscribe to RSS feeds with a twist, reports MacWorld.

Instead of browsing through individual items, the app uses text-to-speech technology to read the stories aloud, complete with an animated on-screen “anchor.”

Michigan station launches first local TV app for iPad

9&10 News, the CBS and Fox duopoly serving Cadillac, Mich., has become the first broadcast television station to launch an application for the Apple iPad.

Much like the station’s iPhone app, the 9&10 News app for iPad offers access to local news and weather information and now includes higher video quality, expanded content and higher resolution imagery for iPad users.

The app is backward-compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch, and can be downloaded through the App Store.

The app was created in partnership with News On iPhone.

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Fox News launches iPhone app

Fox News Channel has finally caught up to competitors CNN and MSNBC with the launch of its iPhone app, reports Business Insider. The app, unlike CNN’s and like MSNBC’s, is free. Despite its price tag, CNN’s app remains the number one app in the news category.

NewscastStudio welcomes News On iPhone as advertiser

NewscastStudio is pleased to announce that News On iPhone has joined our growing family of advertisers.

News on iPhone makes it easy and affordable for almost anybody with a Web site to launch an iPhone app. All that’s required is the address of an RSS feed or two containing the latest information from a Web site. The service takes care of the programming and App Store submission, and within a few weeks your content will be easily accessible to anyone with an iPhone or iPod touch!

For more information about the service, click here.

If your company sells products or services aimed at the television news industry, NewscastStudio is the perfect platform to get the word out. Click here for details.

Stations eye app revenue

Broadcasting & Cable has an interesting story on the rise of smart phone applications at local TV stations.

“Stations’ forays into the app space seem to resemble their efforts to launch Websites a decade or two ago: build the beachhead, and buy oneself time to figure out the revenue model,” the article reads.

The article mentions that while 2009 was a key year on launching these products, 2010 will be the year for monetizing them. Stations have already begun to experiment with free apps that have built-in advertising and paid apps, such as a hurricane tracking tool in Tampa that sold 3,000 copies at $3.99 a pop.

Market experts say a mid-size station could bring in $25,000 to $50,000 in advertising revenue if the product is promoted well and gains a following.

Meanwhile, Gray television says 50,000 users download apps from its stations in the 30 to 45 days since the group launched them.

MSNBC pokes fun at CNN’s iPhone app price tag

MSNBC.com is running a large banner add touting the free pricetage of its iPhone app, likely in direct response to CNN’s release of a pay app last week.

CNN launches new iPhone App

Via PC World, CNN has rolled out a new iPhone app that is by far the best currently available.

On Tuesday morning, CNN introduced an iPhone app that puts to shame similar products. Featuring live newscasts, video-on-demand, and a familiar iPhone interface, the CNN iPhone app also takes a step ahead of other news apps by charging $2 for the download.

The $2 CNN iPhone app is now available for download in the iTunes store (U.S. only at the moment). Besides the regular text and photo content that a free single-source news app usually delivers, the CNN iPhone app steals the spotlight with live video streaming for breaking news and on-demand video of recent newscasts.

The app is available for $2 and can be downloaded from the iTunes Store at this link.

Read More for more pictures and features.

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N.M. reporter reports live with iPhone, Qik Web site

Poynter’s Al Tompkins has an interview with Albuquerque, N.M. station KOB-TV reporter Jeremy Jojola, who recently used an iPhone and Web service called Qik.

The interview explains how the service works and some of the challenges and pitfalls, including the challenges of cueing talent and improving audio problems. Jojola also explains some of the ways he sees this type of reporting having an advantage over old-style ways.

MSNBC introduces iPhone app

MSNBC has partnered with Zumobi to offer a new app for iPhones and iPod Touches.

The app connects users with the latest news headers, Twitter posts from NBC hosts and shows as well as existing apps for the Today Show and the Rachel Maddow Show, also powered by Zumobi.

News headlines are accessed through a radial menu inspired by the NBC peacock.

The app’s first sponsor, BestBuy, has also integrated its own Twitter feed and daily information abou special directly into the app.

iPhone 3G S proves viable camera for news reports

Miami’s WFOR-TV’s news director Adrienne Roark had producer Gio Benitez cover the launch of the new iPhone 3G S with the device itself. That included standing in line at the local Apple store to pick up the coveted device.

Surprisingly to Benitez, the video quality and ease of use suggest the iPhone 3G S could be a viable alternative to a traditional news camera. Of course, the quality won’t be as high as HD cameras can deliver, but for breaking news situations or locations where having a full-size camera isn’t feasible, it seems to be a good option.

Read the story here and watch Benitez’s report here.

WX Channel adds iPhone app

The Weather Channel has launched in iPhone application that provides weather information and video clips.

The new app includes a unique “multi-layer” design that allows users to customize the map view to their liking and with the information they find most relevant in very specific locations.

The program offers more than just maps and data, though. Users are able to access video forecasts and other video clips.

A tabbed navigation is designed to accomodate the many features of the application into the relatively small screen of the iPhone.

As shown in the screen grab at right, the app also includes advertising along the bottom to support the content.

Details and the download are available here from the Weather Channel’s mobile site.