The Salt Lake Tribune 12+

I wish I could say the latest update was an improvement, but sadly not. Not only was I not aware of it coming, but it did not auto update. The old version just stopped getting the latest editions and when going to the Apple apps store, the old version came up as #1, so I didn’t even notice the new version with the new thumbnail/logo. Where the old version allowed me to click anywhere on an article to bring it up, the new version only reacts to the article title (which I stumbled into discovering). Lastly, I used to be able to print out the individual puzzles/games I wanted. Now I have to enlarge a portion of the comics/games page and print that enlargement. Overall this “upgrade” gets a “D” grade. You folks didn’t need to make this change and when making future changes, I hope you do a better job of getting reader usability testing before proceeding.

The new version functions poorly on iPad. Navigation is clunky, largely because the banner ad at the bottom of the page keeps blocking the navigation bar. The old app allowed reading the e-edition the same way one reads a print newspaper, the new version insists on trying to force the reader into scrolling through the news stories, and the comics, one by one instead of picking and choosing what to read as one would do in a print version. And on some pages the scroll misses portions of the page, like the listings of corrections to articles. The navigation bar should be permanently affixed to the bottom of the screen, replacing the banner ad that continually blocks it, and one should be able to click an article on the overall view of a Trib page, read the article, then immediately jump back to the overall view. This version of the app will SOMETIMES allow that process, but because the app has such slow response, and because the banner ads seem to take control of the page, most of the time the top and bottom navigation bars do not pop up. Very frustrating!! If the clunky navigation and obstructive banner ads don’t get fixed, I won’t be renewing my subscription.

I have to say I was skeptical of going to the digital version of the Salt Lake Tribune but now that we’ve had to do it, I find I like the convenience of being able to read it any time and anywhere with ease. I actually read more of the content than I did as the paper version. I especially enjoy being able to touch on the article and being able to read the entire piece without having to turn to another page. Overall it’s a very positive change and saves the environment of excess paper and plastic. Same great content and more convenient! Who could ask for more!

Update to the above review. I still really like the e edition but the recent update made it so we can no longer click on a comic to read easier or print just a game. That should change back to the way it was before.