The days of flipping on the morning cable news while preparing for work are long gone, but for many people, the smartphone has become the new car radio when it comes to starting your day well-informed. Whether you’re looking to stay on top of pop culture, get your highbrow intel or simply keep up with the daily headlines, there’s an app to suit almost any interest and reading style. Below, check out seven options to help you keep up with the daily news as you go about your busy life.
A venerable name in the business, this free weekly newspaper aggregates must-read stories from the cream of the crop—think Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the AP—and delivers them to your inbox. It also offers a range of additional content, from video clips and Wikipedia excerpts to relevant maps and tweets, with links back to the original articles in case you want to dig further.
Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson, the New York Daily News was the first tabloid to achieve widespread success in the United States, with its sensational coverage of crime and scandal, celebrity gossip and lurid photographs. Its headquarters, the landmark Daily News Building, designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood and modeled on the Daily Planet in the first two Superman films, is still standing. The News’s circulation peaked in 1947. The paper was an early adopter of the Associated Press wirephoto service and employed a large staff of photographers. The News diversified into television and radio in the 1940s, creating WPIX-TV, which still operates from its former home, and buying what would become WFAN-AM.
This sleek iPhone app, part of Marissa Mayer’s revitalization of Yahoo, provides twice-daily definitive summaries of all the “news that’s fit to print.” Each mini news story consists of multiple reputable sources and includes key quote call-outs, video clips, Wikipedia excerpts, relevant maps, tweets and more. Users can select a particular category to tailor the content they receive, as well as customize notifications for breaking news and trending articles.
This weekday morning newsletter combines politics, business, sports and other news into easy-to-read, relatable summaries that are perfect for a quick read on your way to work or school. It also tacks on a hilarious, relevant meme or viral video at the end of each email—because nothing says ‘news you can use’ quite like a good laugh to start your day. The Daily Beast also has a weekly news summary that’s delivered on Thursday mornings.