The huge leaps in technological development have turned us into “generation now”. We want content on demand and it can be extremely frustrating when we don’t get it.
After listening to user feedback, both good and bad, the new Newstalk app has been unveiled to the world.
Let’s call a spade a spade; the old app wasn’t great. Some of the feedback the station received from listeners included streaming difficulties, app crashes and a clunky user interface. Each of these issues has been tackled, offering an easy, entertaining and free experience!
The improvements to the UI are evident as soon as the app opens out. A simple slide gesture to the left will give the user access to the shows; one to the right will give access to the podcasts, while a scroll will allow the user to read through the latest news of the day.
Clicking into a show page brings up the latest podcast, article and a full archive of content. It’s also possible to contact the shows from within the app, making easier than ever before to join the conversation.
There's also a really nice feature for sports fans. By hitting the sports tab within the app, a menu appears, allowing the user to deselect the sports they have no interest in. So, if the user is a rugby fan looking to get the latest info on the Six Nations from George Hook but has no interest in the UEFA Cup, unticking the soccer box tailors the content presented on their phone.
Similarly, it’s possible to open out the news tab and select the stories most relevant to the user’s interests. This small step in customising the content enhances the user experience.
Stand-out features
The features of the new app that stand out for me, as a user, are:
- News on demand at your fingertips and in your ears
It’s possible to hear the latest bulletin from the newsroom. This is extremely handy as it brings you up to speed in less than 5 minutes. It’s also possible to scroll through to stories that matter to you.
- Download podcasts for offline listening
As a fan of the “Serial” podcast, I have become quite dependent on having a podcast to listen to on my walk home from work. It’s possible to download podcasts such as Science with Luke O’Neill from the Pat Kenny Show or Movies with John Kelleher from Newstalk Breakfast within the app. It’s also possible to receive a notification when a new episode becomes available.
- Built in sharing for social media
It’s possible to share articles and podcasts within the app. This means you can listen to Movies and Booze on Moncrieff and share Esther McCarthy’s movie reviews all at the one time, within the one application.
Content from Newstalk.com reporters such as Francesca Comyn and Richard Chambers appear within the app. This means you don’t have to go hunting for in-depth news and analysis, it comes to you.
The “Listen Live” stream is consistent meaning there’s no need to open a third party app to listen to the station.
The Newstalk app is now the hub for all things Newstalk - listening live, podcasting, culture reviews and, of course, technology! Best bit? It’s completely free on every platform.
Listen to Aidan McCullen, Head of Digital and Innovation at Communicorp and Kiela Brodigan, Head of Digital at Newstalk discuss the new app and taking on board the listener feedback:
