The app, which is now available in the App Store (it might take a few hours to appear in the store), was built from the ground-up. According to Jeremy Steinberg, Fox News VP of digital media ad sales and business development, the focus was on creating a visual experience that built upon the success of its iPhone app. “It’s very easy to navigate, very visual and very easy to read,” Steinberg told Mashable.
Fox News has had a lot of success with iOS already. The Fox News iPhone app was the most downloaded free news app of 2010, beating CNN and The New York Times. Fox News’s mobile website now has 12 million monthly unique visitors, up from 4 million a year ago, according to Nielsen.
Steinberg says that Fox News has waited until now to release its app b ecause it was looking for the critical mass that would support the app financially. “We waited for the right moment,” he said. “We want all of our products to be viable financially.”
The Fox News iPad app is divided into two key sections: a “Happening Now” section and a story timeline. The top half of the app (whether it’s in landscape or portrait mode) displays images and videos from the the top stories of the day. It’s a simple way for users to swipe through and access breaking stories through a visual interface. The bottom half of the app is essentially a timeline view where users can access top stories, information on Fox News shows and check out their favorite articles and videos.
The application also includes access to Fox News Radio and the iconic Fox News ticker at the bottom of the app. Fox News has also made sure that the app includes sharing options via Twitter, Facebook and email.
Users will als o notice something else...
