What is the future of newspapers? Ask any iPad owner and they'll probably trot out their New York Times Editors' Choice and USA Today apps--both of which deservedly earned spots on CNET's recent roundup of top 20 free iPad apps.
Ah, but what about folks who prefer a more traditional, more local newspaper experience? What option is there for those who want to see each daily edition exactly as it was printed, complete with ads, obituaries, comics, and all the rest?
That's PressReader in a nutshell. Powered by NewspaperDirect, it provides access to a whopping 1,700 newspapers from 92 countries in 48 languages. You can buy papers one at a time or choose from a subscription option.
After debuting on the iPhone last year, the newly updated PressReader app makes good use of the iPad's comparatively spacious screen. Take a look at its rendering of today's USA Today:
As you can see, it's like looking at a scan of the actual front page (which is exactly what it is). You can zoom and scroll as needed, much like you would with a PDF. However, even on an iPad, there's some uncomfortable back-and-forth or down-and-up scrolling involved. Not fun.
That's why PressReader also includes a text view: Just tap any highlighted headline to get a convenient pop-up window with the full text of the story. Within that window you can increase/decrease the font size and e-mail the story's link to a friend. … Read more
