White House Revamps iOS, Android Apps

The White House on Tuesday released revamped versions of its Android and iOS apps in an effort to bring the desktop site to more mobile users.

Rebuilt from the ground up with new fully tablet-capable features, the U.S. government is now more accessible via iPhone, iPad, and any Android smartphone or tablet.

The official White House apps feature live video streams of White House events, access to the desktop site's photo and video archives, and the latest news from the White House blog and press Briefing Room.

On a mobile phone or tablet, users can search WhiteHouse.gov, and save favorite items, or share them via Facebook and Twitter. Those looking to dig into government news can sign up for breaking news alerts and notifications about how you can take action.

"Americans deserve a government that works for them anytime, anywhere, and on any device," President Barack Obama said earlier this year, during the announcement of an initiative requiring government services to be made available on mobile devices within 12 months.

Meanwhile, iPad Retina display users will get a treat when skimming through new high-resolution photos, optimized for the tablet's crisp screen display.

"WhiteHouse.gov has been an important part of President Obama's effort to open the White House up to the American people over the past three years," Peter Welsch, deputy director of online platform for the Office of Digital Strategy, said in a blog post.

The website and mobile apps have provided what Welsch called an unprecedented level of access to live events at the White House, insight into administration initiatives, and news ways to communicate with the president and other policy makers.

Additionally, the mobile version of WhiteHouse.gov got a makeover, turning more than 99 percent of the site into mobile-friendly content.

For developers looking to play around with the U.S. government's mobile content, the White House has also released the apps' source code, available on GitHub.

"Now anyone, from civic hackers and local organizations to federal agencies, can freely download these apps, make changes, and use them for their own projects," Welsch said.

The White House app is available now for free download in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store.

For more, see the video below. Also check out Democrats You Probably Don't Follow on Twitter, But Should.

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Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2409310,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05039TX1K0000762

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