The iPad is undoubtedly a compelling device for consuming media, whether it be reading a magazine, online news site, or a book. Fwix, a news site that offers a stream of hyperlocal, realtime news by location, is launching a free iPad app to allows users to access local news from their communities.
Fwix aggregates news articles and blog posts that are relevant to a certain region (the site now features support for over 80 cities in the United States and Canada). To do this, the Fwix team selects news sources and blogs that it thinks are related to each city, and also uses automated algorithms to determine when other content might also be relevant. Fwix has also recently tweaked its algorithm and offerings to include “nearby” local content features. So content on Fwix displays relationships between both topics and nearby location. For example, after reading a story about a robbery that took place in the Mission district of San Francisco, you’ll be able to find any other crime and or stories about the Mission neighborhood.
The app aims to simulate reading your local newspaper. Fwix’s app allows you to view news stories in a map format, showing you the exact geographic location of news. You can access news by your location and then filter stories by subject (i.e. sports, arts, politics, crime). And you can share all content on Facebook, Twitter or via email.
While the app itself could be useful for finding local news, Fwix’s realtime API is being actively used to incorporate hyperlocal news streams into content. For example, Fwix recently struck a deal with The New York Times to license its feed to the publishing company’s 15 regional newspapers.
Read our additional coverage of iPad apps here.