Written Android App Review
Where I live in the United States news coverage is available 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week on nearly a dozen channels, or maybe more, depending on your location and carrier. However, news seekers would be hard pressed to find global coverage from global news leader Al Jazeera here in the heartland. It just isn’t there. Sure, Al Jazeera’s website is up and running, but I can’t power on my television and check in, despite their award winning coverage of pertinent world topics. Al Jazeera just gave me one more reason to love my Android, because now I can get the coverage I want in a mobile app with the Al Jazeera English app for Android.
Al Jazeera English
Features
Al Jazeera English for Android was truly a pleasure to review for Android Apps Review. Compared to other mobile news applications I have reviewed lately (CNN for example) Al Jazeera English comes out on top. The app’s main page makes it easy to find what you are looking for. Simply tap “News” to get headlines or “Videos” to see recent stories in motion. This well-organized home page can take you to a live stream of Al Jazeera English, to a news share interface, to lists of Al Jazeera programming, and even to blogs.
Once you open the topic you are interested in, use the top of the page to navigate through different regions to view more concentrated results. There is a handy search function located at the top of the home screen, along with a settings icon with additional information about the news provider and a preload setting. No scanning endlessly to find what you are looking for. How refreshing.
The only feature I would like to see added is a share function. No love for Facebook links to stories, Al Jazeera? Hopefully this is just a slight oversight and will be available in the future. I hate to do it, but Al Jazeera English for Android loses some points for no share function.
Al Jazeera English
User Experience
I find the Al Jazeera English app layout easy and engaging. Maybe it’s the tasteful orange color or the slight border around the easily navigated home page topics. The graphics pop and I am thoroughly enchanted by this Middle Eastern news outlet app. Al Jazeera also has an app solely dedicated to a live stream of their channels. Surprisingly enough, the only trouble I had with Al Jazeera English for Android was with streaming the channel on my Samsung Fascinate. I received an error advising me that the video was unable to play, but the original Al Jazeera Live app worked just fine. Video clips played easily as well. Both apps functioned easily on an HTC Droid Incredible, so this is possibly a slight fixable oversight.
Value
Al Jazeera English for Android is free. All the news I want, an extremely palatable app, and all for free? Sounds like success to me. Android kicks my cable provider’s bottom line yet again. Why do I pay them so much, again?
Android Apps Review Details: Al Jazeera English Android app is free. This app requires Android 1.6 and up. You may download Al Jazeera English from the Android Market.
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