Idaho Statesman News 12+

Our paper route delivery guy quit and so we went paperless, using the app and website. The Website works better on a desktop. For a tablet using the app, it is a bit unstable, the e-version paper that looks the same as the printed copy constantly switches views and formats, requiring lots of going back to find your place. However, there is more available news using the app and website than the printed paper and the news is somewhat fresher as the paper’s deadline is early in the evening due to the printers being in Twin Falls. Consequently, much of the printed news is over a day old when you get it.

The Statesman seems to have a long track record of actually starting out pretty good with the app, but then they feel they need to introduce “updates” which are anything but and so far have always been a retrograde step. The latest beta version of the e-edition is a prime example. It started out pretty good I have to say. It was easy to use and provided a great full screen view of the pages as you could hide the headers and navigation bar. Now of course, true to their history, they have messed it up again. The latest “update” now includes a banner ad along the bottom of the screen. This takes up nearly 20% of the screen real estate. So despite the fact that the paper is already full of ads, and every expanded view of a story has multiple ads throughout they still feel the need to have a banner ad along the bottom of the screen. When will they learn that without subscribers there would be no job and no paper and best way to keep both is not to really annoy the people that make both possible. Way to go Statesman.

Whoever put this app and layout together needs to use the KISS principle in a redo. This app is way too cute and complex for its own good.

First, it is very non intuitive. Layout is confusing, side bar is a hinderance combined with the top little calendar/pull down menu and it is not easy to go from page to page.

Next, Why bother with the EXTRA section after the ads et al which is an expanded redundancy of the first pages. Maybe a better way would be to have all the local news in the front page and initial section and put the national and other news in the EXTRA section.

Second, clarity of text is bad in several areas. Too often pages or sections show up blurred and never clear themselves up. I don’t experience this on any other app so have to presume it is based in this app.

Lastly, current news that is not 2 to 3 days old would be an asset. I keep having to look at Google news for current local and national news stories than reading this paper online or otherwise. You should think about how to keep the Digital edition active with current stories and save the old stuff for the print option.

Otherwise, this paper and app are quickly becoming non relevant in today’s news world.

In the competitive media world you better get current quick or resort to becoming an archive facility for old news!!!