Five newsworthy iPhone apps

Apparently there is news outside of information technology! Who knew?

So if you are looking for that news fix on your iPhone we have five of the best apps reviewed below.

1. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (news)

Price: Free
Version Reviewed: 2.1
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
User rating : 3 out of 5
Developer: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The first is the Australian Broadcasting Corporations news app, and it seems old Aunty has the jump on the commercial networks again.

Rather than simply making the application a slimmed down version of their website, the ABC have produced a simple, well structured news presentation tailored to the iPhone format.

The user interface is again simple, logical and fast. News is separated into the commonly used categories and with a quick scroll through the menu the user can browse through the latest breaking stories or have a quick look at the sports headlines.

Certainly the star feature is the tailored 90-second news. Unlike any other news application, regularly updated 90 second video news bulletins are available across a wide variety of categories like News, Sport, Weather and Business.

The bulletins use the familiar ABC news desk feel from terrestrial television, including the use of a presenter.

The refreshing element to these bulletins is that the ABC had the device capabilities in mind when designing the application. Each video bulletin is around the 4Mb mark, providing capability to download even when on the 3G network, which means a quick update on the headlines is possible from the back of the cab on the way to your next meeting.

Outside of the news functions, the application also provides live streaming of ABC radio including Radio National and NewsRadio, as well as TV guides to ABC content and excerpts from popular programs the 730 Report and the New Inventors.

Although user reviews are not always perfect, complaints are largely aimed at bugs concerning listening to live audio streaming and a lot of requests for the cricket!

2. The Guardian

Price: $4.99
Version Reviewed: 1.01
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
User rating : 4 out of 5
Developer: Guardian News and Media

If you are willing to pay the hefty $4.99 price tag, UK newspaper The Guardian has produced one of the most thorough new applications.

Whilst still providing easy to browse headlines and a simple and intuitive interface, you get that the Guardian still wanted the application to reflect their reputation for credible journalism beyond the headlines. The result is a heady mix of content that would keep the most avid readers satisfied.

There are over 26 content areas to search from top stories to art & design and an in-depth features section. Users can also browse by their favourite columnist.

The key issue with multi faceted news coverage on a smaller screen device is allowing users to intuitively navigate their way through the content.

The Guardian achieve this by allowing the user to select the number of stories in each subject field the user wants to display on their home screen as well as providing an integrated menu from each story that provides links to related stories.

Another useful feature is the ability to download stories for offline use, providing a great solution to be able to save stories for a read at a more convenient time regardless of whether a network connection is available.

3. BBC World News Live

Price: $3.99 (30 Day Subscription)
Version Reviewed: 2.0.0
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
User rating : 3 out of 5
Developer: Livestation

While we're in the UK, we're also keen on another application, BBC World News Live.

This is one of the first in what is likely to be a long list of attempts to make paid for news content work on the mobile, in this case, via a subscription.

For $3.99 per month, the purchaser buys access to BBC's 24 hour international news and current affairs television channel, streamed directly to their iPhone.

The speed and quality of the video is adapted according to the type of network connection available, ensuring the broadcast remains fluid throughout the viewing experience.

This application obviously will suit travellers without access to a TV network, but you can't help but shudder at the thought of the roaming data charges should a Wi-Fi network not be available.

4. The New York Times

Price: Free
Version Reviewed: 2.3.2
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
User rating : 3.5 out of 5
Developer: The New York Times company

Looking for US related news? You can't go past the New York Times application.

Again, the developers have put out an entirely useable application, with features like saving articles for offline reading and customised reading lists.

Interestingly the application also uses the amount of articles being forwarded by email as a measure of their popularity, providing these articles to the user in a separate menu.

5. Thomson Reuters

Price: Free
Version Reviewed: 1.2.1
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
User rating : 2.5 out of 5
Developer: Thomson Reuters

If you are looking for a little more business in your news application, check out the offering from Thomson Reuters.

Using a similar menu style to some of the news apps above, the user can indicate the geographic region they are interested in. Whilst Australia is currently not represented, users can choose from the UK or US news sources (The pick of Reuter's local technology news is licensed by iTnews.com.au, among others).

The applications allows the user to select stock watch lists which can be tracked over time, as well video coverage on some of the biggest news and business stories.

And a highly recommended...

Whilst strictly not an iPhone application, we couldn't conclude these reviews without a mention of the iTnews mobile edition!

The mobile site strips down the best of our website to provide the user with a simple interface as good as an application in many cases.

Breaking news and top stories are all at the users fingertips, with links to most read stories, most discussed and of course all our latest reviews.

By using the simple + button, you can then have iTnews on your homescreen!