So now readers have two options: pony up for a subscription or look around for free news and information sources. For our frugal friends, we present this list of 50 free news apps for the iPad.
iPad Apps: Free News
1) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The iPad edition of Atlanta’s major paper includes content not available on the website, especially full versions of investigative reporting.
2) AP News: The scrapbook-style user interface of this app isn’t for everyone, but some will appreciate the randomness and flexibility it brings to presenting the news. The app offers both articles and photos.
3) Bay Area News: This is free for a limited time only, so grab it while you can to get news from the San Francisco region.
4) BBC News: For a world-view of what’s happening, consult the BBC News app. It’s a reliable alternative to the more selective offerings of U.S. news organizations.
5) The Dallas Morning News: Texans will appreciate the local news in this free app, as well as world news, community news, and blogs.
6) Engadget: For a non-stop daily stream of timely tech news, you need Engadget. It also includes photo galleries of all the hot gadgets.
7) Financial Times: Enjoy this while it’s free, because that only lasts through July 31. After that, you’ll need a $3.59 per week subscription.
8) Fluent News Reader: This simple news aggregator gets it right, offering the perfect mix of stories and sources so that you’re on top of the important issues taking place.
9) The International Herald Tribune: This app is only free for the early part of 2011, so you’d better grab it while you can for the best in world news.
iPad App for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
10) News360: This app aggregates more than 1,000 different news sources from around the Web to deliver a concise and useful stream of events.
11) Newsy: By delivering short videos on current world news stories, this app accelerates your understanding of complex events.
12) NewsTweetReader: This app brings you Web feeds and Twitter content mashed up, then wrapped in a fresh Scandinavian design.
13) NPR for iPad: Better than a tote bag, the NPR iPad app lets you read or listen to the latest news stories and other programming from National Public Radio.
14) NYT Editors’ Choice: Like we said, you can’t get the full New York Times news for free anymore, but you can get the top news section with this app. Just don’t expect the crossword.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pulse-news-reader/id371088673?mt=8
Pulse News Reader
15) Reuters News Pro: Get the latest from the trusted news agency. Personalize the app with a geographic-specific view, so you see the top news for your area.
16) SkyGrid: This app serves your interests. Stay up to date on any interest you want to follow, whether a sports team, celeb, or major event.
17) Taptu: This social news reader lets you add your Facebook, Twitter, and the content from your favorite site to create a personalized news stream.
18) TechWire: For the serious tech-heads, there’s TechWire. This app lets you get updates from all your favorite tech blogs in one app.
19) The Times of India: Get the latest news from India, including local news from over 30 cities and live cricket scores. Be sure to check out the vibrant photo galleries.
20) Today’s News 2: For distraction-free news reading, check out this app. It offers a sparse design and content optimized for viewing.
21) Trove: This personalized news aggregation services culls news from over 10,000 sources across the Web.
22) USA Today: Get the latest from the United States’ most colorful news source. This app offers current stories from the news, money, sports, and life sections.
23) The Wall Street Journal: While the app is free, you’ll need to register to access all the free content. And to get absolutely everything, you’ll need to be a subscriber.
24) Washington Post: For a limited time, readers can enjoy a complimentary full-access subscription to the Washington Post.
iPad Apps: Free Magazines
iPad App for Flipboard
25) Flipboard: Named Apple’s iPad App of the Year, Flipboard offers a fast and beautify way to flip through the news, photos, and updates your friends are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, and more.
26) Flud: More than a paper or magazine, Flu is a personalized ecosystem that lets readers engage with and broadcast content that’s relevant to their social network.
27) iReddit: Harness the power of crowds to find interesting content. With this official Reddit app, you’ll never be bored again.
28) Mashable: This official app offers the latest from Mashable.com, which blogs on Web 2.0 and social media news.
29) The Monthly: Download this app for Australia’s political and cultural magazine and you’ll get one back issue for free. Other issues will cost you $3.99 each.
30) The Nation: You can get one issue of the U.S.’s leading liberal news magazine for free by downloading this app. Later issues are either $.99 or $1.99 each, with discounts for six- or twelve-month subscriptions.
31) Newsweek: Downloading the free Newsweek app gets you a special digital edition called “Politics in the Age of Obama.” If you want more, weekly issues go for $2.99 each.
32) Politico: Politics junkies, this one is for you. The easy-to-navigate layout makes it easy to stay up-to-day on all the issues that matter to you.
33) Slate: This online magazine offers informed coverage and commentary on politics, news, and culture.
iPad Apps: Free TV
iPad App for Chicago ABC TV
34) ABC7Chicago: Denizens of the windy city will appreciate having Chicago-area news from a hometown TV news source.
35) ABC Player: Why aren’t there more iPad apps like this one? In time, there will be. Did you miss an ABC show and forget to record it? Then turn to the ABC Player, which lets you stream full-length episodes of current shows.
36) Al Jazeera Mubasher: This Arabic language app offers a live feed and plenty of on-demand news videos.
37) CBC News: For the news from Canada, this app offers stories from coast to coast. Get news videos, weather, and photo galleries.
38)
CBS News: Stay updated on breaking national, international, political, and technology news. Other areas include health, entertainment, money, sports, and opinion.
39) CNN: With its iPad app, CNN delivers in-depth features and lets you share your favorites over Facebook and Twitter.
40) MTV News: Keep current on everything in the worlds of music, movies, television, celebrities, and gaming. This app brings you video reports and print stories, including exclusives found nowhere else.
41) MSNBC Featuring Rachel Maddow: Use this app to view video clips from Maddow’s show and read real-time tweets from her and her viewers.
42) Yahoo! Entertainment: You’ll never wonder what’s on TV with this app, which not only brings you current schedules, but also serves up news and entertainment videos.
iPad Apps: Free Movies and Videos
iPad App for Movies by Flixster
43) Movies: Not sure what to see in the theaters? Movies can help you make up your mind. Use this app to watch trailers, get reviews from Rotten Tomatoes, and look up show times.
44) Disney Movies: There are plenty of Disney-lovers out there, and this is the ideal app for them. Watch videos for the latest Disney films or find out what’s coming to theaters soon. You can also use the app to buy tickets.
45) Joost: Entertain yourself with this app’s selection of online videos, on topics including news, gossip, music, action, and comedy. Browse by category or view the favorites of the Joost editors.
46) mSpot Movies: Your iPad becomes a movie theater with mSpot, which lets you rent and watch full-length movies at any time. You can even pause a movie and start it again later. The description says it works over 3G, but you’ll probably want to limit it to Wi-Fi networks for best results.
47) Sony Pictures: Use this app to view HD trailers for upcoming Sony releases and even buy tickets through Fandango. Games including Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune make it a helpful time-killer.
iPad Apps: Free Weather Updates
iPad App for the Weather Channel Max
48) The Weather Channel Max: The biggest name in weather brings you full screen weather maps, detailed reports for any location, and even local traffic cams for select cities.
49) WeatherBug Elite: This must-have weather app is free for a limited time, so grab it now. It offers comprehensive weather information and the ability to personalize the report you get.
50) WunderMap: This app presents the weather as an interactive map. Scroll around and view information from over 16,000 storm stations. Zoom into an area to view animated radar reports