Obama in your Pocket

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

What a difference an administration makes. Sure we have double digit unemployment in many areas throughout the country, two foreign wars, and and uncertain future…But in a nod towards transparency we also have a White House application for the iPhone (App Store Link).

And it is a good app. There is no question Fox News will jump on this app and suggest most in the country can´t afford an iPhone, but if that´s the case what are they doing with cable? And why has the US seen a marked upturn in app sales? The app itself is quick, simple, and well thought out.

obama

It could be argued that this is unnecessary and it shows a willful disregard for keeping government spending in check. Those who believe that will always find something to criticize. Available for free at The App Store, whitehouse.gov is worth the moments it takes to download. Features include:

Updates from the whitehouse.gov blog
Archived as well as live video
“Behind the scenes¨ photos
Real time coverage of press releases

While many compare Obama to Lincoln this hearkens back to the days when FDR used the radio to open governmental proceedings to the masses. Fireside Chats 2.0 if you will.

For those unable to get in front of a television for Obama’s first State of The Union Address, have no fear this app will stream it to you next week.

Press briefings and public events are all too often reduced to a sound bite these days on both network and cable news, this app will allow you to listen and view these in their entirety. While there certainly exists a number of ways to find all the White House’s dealings on any given day on the Internet or CSPAN this app puts it, quite literally, at your fingertips.

Whatever your thoughts on the current administration, this offering will keep both critics and supporters well informed.

This is an article on The Apps Machine.