Gulf News launches iPad app

Dubai: Get us, now, on the Tablet. Gulf News is on the iPad.

We are the first newspaper in the region offering an application with two full editions every day. It's not a mere web feed, it's not a modified phone application, it's a hybrid newspaper on the latest digital platform.

Very few newspapers around the world have dared to attempt it. The global economy is not at its brightest and the newspaper industry has been hit in terms of advertising revenue.

So, to actually invest time, effort and creative talent in developing a unique product takes audacious courage — something that Gulf News prides itself on.

As industry innovators, the publishing house has always pushed the limits of content coverage, design and technology. And that entrepreneurial spirit continues, blazing a path that marries the expectations of tomorrow with the reality of today.

Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, best explained it: "We are leading the change in the media in the region. The iPad or more generically the Tablet is the newest platform that any progressive newspaper should accept and utilise. We do not believe in sitting back and playing catch-up.

"We have ensured that readers can experience a designed application that has unique content in its two daily editions, created especially for the iPad."

Titled Gulf News Tablet, it can be downloaded from the Apple store. It is free and users get the editions called Morning Coffee and Going Home. The application has been designed by Dr Mario Garcia, CEO of Garcia Media, along with Miguel Angel Gomez, Gulf News Design Director.

Dr Garcia said: "The Gulf News Tablet ... with two editions a day, features and news, a happy mix of stories, is the ultimate authority on UAE, Dubai, the Middle East. I have been honoured to be part of the creative team putting it together. It also means that Gulf News continues to enhance its offerings, its reach and what its readers/users can expect from the ultimate authority on UAE, Middle East news."

Morning Coffee, as suggested by the name, is released before noon each day with news, features, analysis, in-depth reports and everything that would matter to a global reader. It has a more traditional format. The Going Home edition is a whole new take on all that happens in the world during the day, but largely conveyed through stories and lots of pictures — news through images.

But, it's not just the presentation that is different, the content, too, is focused on providing reports that have longer readability and offer a unique perspective. It has some of the best of Gulf News coverage. Abdul Hamid Ahmad said: "The Gulf News Tablet is more featurish and less newsy. The content is relevant and gives readers a taste of the flavour of our print edition."

The edition is divided into top stories, previous edition, features and opinion. The previous edition allows people to get stories that they might have missed earlier and would like to read.

App navigation is by a single tap and scrolling — horizontal or vertical — depending on the window. You can move between sections, with distinct colour settings, by using a button on the bottom scroll bar.

The Home button takes you to the cover page in a single step, which again lets you move between stories. The font size comes with two options, based on your reading needs.

The application is updated with new elements ever so often — we are still in the development phase. But, this means the user gets something new to look forward. So, what are you waiting for?

Hit search, install and let us know what you think on readers@gulfnews.com.