We all want to keep informed and on top of the latest developments from around the world. In the space of a minute or two, everything can change, both locally and internationally, and it’s likely you want to know all about it. The ideal way of doing this is, of course, by keeping track of things through your iPhone or iPad.
While there are plenty of perfectly adequate mobile sites you can browse for such knowledge, apps that are built entirely around iOS are sure to be more attractive, especially if you’ve just picked up a new iPhone or iPad and want to see just what it can do.
Here are ten essential apps that are sure to keep you in the know, both in terms of quick breaking news stories and more long form pieces.
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1. Zite (Free): Offering a lighter look at the stories from across the world, Zite keeps you in the know about all manners of topics and interests, from recipe ideas, travel stories, and the latest political exposes too. It is a personalized experience so you're sure to find something new and original this way.
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3. Timeline (Free): Placing news into context, thanks to a comprehensive insight into just how each story came to be, Timeline is an ideal way of being refreshed on both past and current events. From now on, you will know more than just the basic details of all the big stories.
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2. Washington Post (Free): Well respected and with a quality app backing it up, The Washington Post offers the latest breaking news, high-quality long form content, as well as entertainment, travel, and opinion pieces that will intrigue and interest you. This is one that lends itself to longer reading sessions, rather than quick bitesized pieces.
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4. Reuters (Free): One of the most well known sources of news, Reuters is the place to go for the news before everyone else. The app offers a mix of articles, pictures, and videos, covering everything from political coups to bizarre and unlikely stories from elsewhere.
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5. Pocket (Free): Time's always at a premium. Pocket means you can save those interesting long form articles for a later date, or just for a time when you are lacking an internet connection. Besides keeping track of your favorite stories, it will also make handy recommendations as to what the best content is for you.
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6. NYT Now (Free): Rounding up the top stories from The New York Times, each having been picked by the paper's editors, NYT Now is an ideal summary of what unfolds in the paper each day. A morning briefing section gets you set up for the day with article summaries helping you understand faster. The app also offers a curated stream of stories from other sources.
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8. News Republic (Free): Focusing on breaking news, News Republic gathers information from over 1,000 licensed an trusted news sources, giving you insight within seconds of a new story breaking. It personalizes your experience automatically, plus there's a new widget for iOS 8 users, making it all the quicker to view.
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9. Longform (Free): Encouraging you to follow writers rather than outlets, Longform focuses on longer articles from independent blogs as well as major magazines. There is a catalog of over 1,000 publishers, meaning there should be something of interest for all tastes, and plenty of opportunity to learn something new.
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7. Flipboard (Free): Offering a personalized magazine experience, Flipboard's ideal for those who just want to look at specific news stories. You can follow the tropics you care about across plenty of major publications such as The New York Times, PEOPLE Magazine, Vanity Fair, and plenty more.
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10. Yahoo News Digest (Free): This news app is not like the others you have on your phone—it gives you just what you need to know and no more. Yahoo doesn't care who you are or where you're from—it confidently delivers you the news regardless. In a world that focuses more on customization and information overload than anything else, Yahoo's lean, confident, editorial voice is perhaps one of the best things the company has ever produced.