Launching our web app for Android, iPhone and iPad

Journalism.co.uk is today launching a beta web app for Android phones and tablets, iPhone and iPad.

The app offers news and jobs via categories, which are accessed from a magazine-style tiled screen.

The HTML5 app is a work-in-progress, with functionality such as sharing via social media and bookmarking to be added soon.

To access the app go to app.journalism.co.uk on your device. To save an icon on your screen so that it shows as a native app would do, click on the 'save as bookmark' option.

You can access content by the following topics: 'news', which provides all Journalism.co.uk news and features on innovations and developments in the digital journalism space; 'tools and tech news', for articles and features specifically on tools and technology for journalists; 'social media news'; 'app news'; 'app of the week'; 'tip of the day'; 'press releases', to provide leads and ideas for stories; and 'jobs', to help you find you next journalism role and apply using a link within the app.

The app has been developed by Webcrumbz, which launched in 2010, the same year as the release of the first iPad.

Ciprian Borodescu, the company's chief executive and co-founder, said: "After the Financial Times launched its mobile HTML5 application back in June 2011, it became obvious to us that an open web initiative that could offer small and medium publishers a viable alternative to the closed environment of the native apps would represent a turning point in the publishing industry.

"That’s why we created 'appticles', a platform that helps publishers better reach their mobile readers by creating, distributing and monetising mobile HTML5 applications.

"In other words, we’re taking advantage of the already existing web presence of a publisher. Instead of asking users to download and install an app from an app store, we’re simply providing them with a browser-based application.

An HTML5 application such as this gives them the possibility to instantly access their favourite content on their mobile device, while enjoying a native app-like look and feelCiprian Borodescu

"A HTML5 application such as this gives readers the possibility to instantly access their favourite content on their mobile device, while enjoying a native app-like look and feel."

Webcrumbz creates web apps by synchronising a news site's existing content by using RSS/Atom feeds or via API integration.

The company is continuing to develop the Journalism.co.uk app, adding Facebook and Twitter sharing functionality to allow readers to save articles for reading later, and offline reading capability, "thus blurring the line between mobile web apps and native apps", Borodescu explained.

John Thompson, managing director of Journalism.co.uk, said: "As every online publisher knows, trying to deliver content in a 'designed' and readable manner across an increasingly proliferating number of different mobile and static platforms, while also making investment decisions based on second guesses of what the future may hold, can be a scary prospect. For the small to medium sized publisher, dedicated apps for each platform are prohibitively expensive.

"Fortunately HTML5 offers a flexible cross-platform solution based on customised RSS or API calls that can emulate the user-experience of popular apps like Flipboard.

HTML5 offers a flexible cross-platform solution based on customised RSS or API calls that can emulate the user-experience of popular apps like FlipboardJohn Thompson, Journalism.co.uk

"We hope our readers will find our new app useful and look forward to working with them and Webcrumbz to further enhance their experience over the coming months."

Borodescu added that Webcrumbz is "also providing a rich set of mobile and tablet layouts suitable for different types of content, such as text, photo galleries, video galleries, etc, and the possibility to customise those layouts to best resemble the publisher's identity".

The Webcumbz platform also provides "reader-centric analytics that not only helps them make the best editorial decisions but also gives them precious insights on how their paid content is consumed".
 
The platform is currently in closed beta while Webcumbz develops it with a few selected publishers, including Journalism.co.uk

To provide feedback on our app email using this link.

To contact Webcrumbz email using this link.

Ciprian Borodescu will be presenting in the lightning round at news:rewired, Journalism.co.uk's digital journalism conference, which will take place on 6 December. Agenda and ticket details.

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