Hit The Top News Headlines With Hitpad

Hitpad shows the particular news headline on the very top of the page and underneath, it allows you to scroll up and down through the latest feeds: news tweets, videos, web and photos.  

The layout of Hitpad is visually pleasing to the eye, and is easy to scroll around and find out more information on a particular headline. It does not appear as cluttered or overwhelming as some of the other newsreader apps on the market. As of right now, you cannot personalize what feeds appear when you open the app, but you can find them through a search. You can search for a specific topic, such as “Steve Jobs” and it will bring up all the latest on him specifically. Hitpad also learns your interests, so next time you open the app it will bring in articles that are more tailored to your favorite topics. You can read just the headline or open and see the first paragraphs and related stories. Or, you can click to read the full story which brings you to the publisher's website. One weakness is the text is not crisp and sharp. It is fairly simple to read, but there is a slight haze in the letters. As I read this over my morning "cup of joe", I wondered if my eyes were awake. I kept blinking to try to clear the fuzziness, until I realized it was not my eyes. However, the pictures and videos appear clean and robust and really utilize the brilliance of the iPad screen. Many people have compared Hitpad to Flipboard, but I am seriously thinking this app will become my main newsreader. I do not see it completely replacing Flipboard yet, because there are some different features, but they certainly will compete for the top spot. I plan to use Hitpad regularly, as it is a great way to get caught up on the national and world headlines, including seedy entertainment and celebrity news. You can also get news specific to Canada and the UK which is a plus. This app could really be a front-runner in the newsreader category, especially with a few tweaks. Since the app is free, it is really worth checking out and deciding if this might replace something you currently use. In the world of newsreader apps, you have to be clever and creative in order to stand out and make it to the top of the lists. Hitpad may be on its way to doing just that.