Central Michigan Life mobile app version 2.0 released

Version 2.0 of the Central Michigan Life mobile app, developed by iCampusTimes, was released on Wednesday.

“It’s better constructed, easier to navigate, and links to stories faster,” said Neil Hopp, director of student media at Central Michigan University. “It’s much improved in appearance.”

The Central Michigan Life app is based on the user’s location, using GPS technology to provide users with breaking news and deals from local merchants, according to descriptions on iTunes Preview and Google Play.

Hopp said the new version of the app also features push notifications that mainly involve advertising messages.

Eric Dresden, editor-in-chief of Central Michigan Life, said the app allows people to follow news at any point and at any time.

“Instead of grabbing your computer, you can use your phone,” he said. “You can press your thumb twice and have breaking news in front of you.”

The CM Life mobile app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and from Google Play’s Android apps store. It is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and the third and fourth generations of the iPod touch, and requires iOS 5.1 or later. The app is also compatible with Android devices, and requires Android 2.2 and up.

Hopp said the app is part of CM Life’s mobile strategy, and it helps the newspaper’s 24-hours a day, seven days a week news culture.

“It’s all about being expedient,” he said. “In today’s world, you have to be able to get news in the hands of the audience as fast as possible.”

Hopp said CM Life’s iPad reader app is in development, and should be launched within the next 30 days.

Dresden said the app allows CM Life to get into the two big markets, Apple and Android, for mobile app platforms.

“It’s looking good,” he said. “I think everyone’s pretty happy with it.”