The White House – Review
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: The White House
Version #: 1.0
Date Released: 2010-01-20
Developer:
Price: 0.00
User Rating:
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No matter what your politics, one has to admit that the current administration is taking technology a lot more seriously than previous ones. I doubt any of the past two administrations would have thought to create an iPhone application that was a newsfeed for the items on the official White House website.
Yes, it is the official White House site so the information contained therein will definitely have a political slant, but it is a major step in fulfilling the Obama Administration’s promise of greater transparency. A WiFi or data connection is necessary to download the prerequisite feeds.
The app itself is a fairly straightforward newsreader, but it’s well put-together for a government project (somehow I suspect the involvement of a private company). There is a running White House blog which has articles by several members of Obama’s staff, videos, photos, a newsroom, and a live section that provides videos of live events that are occurring (which is a town hall with President Obama and Vice President Biden at the time of this writing). The app makes it possible to either e-mail each article to an address or view it using the iPhone or iPod Touch Safari browser. Oh, and it’s free.
I was having some trouble with the videos, but it could have been an issue with my WiFi connection, which wasn’t very powerful. The text articles and photos loaded fine.
Overall, the application operates with the dignity that should be given to anybody in the White House. I hope future administrations, on whatever section of the political spectrum they fall, continue to use this application or one like it.
Quick Take
Value:High.
Would I Buy Again:Yes.
Learning Curve:Low.
Who Is It For:Anybody who is politically aware.
What I Like:Easy to use. Free.
What I Don't Like:Some problems with video, but it could be my WiFi
Final Statement:Simply put, a must-have for anybody who loves or hates politics.
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