You use apps to order pizza, check bus routes and view singles in your area — now, you can use one to read the Alligator on the go.
At the risk of sounding like Billy Mays, you really should download it. Like, right now.
The entire app was designed with you, the readers, in mind. We want to make UF and Gainesville news as accessible as possible, and we think this is the best way to do that.
We know you don’t always have time to grab a paper, but you still deserve to get the news. The Alligator app updates in real time and sends breaking-news alerts filtered by geographic location. But don’t worry, we won’t spam you: Push alerts are authorized by our editor-in-chief, and she hates unnecessary notifications just as much as you do.
The value of getting our breaking-news alerts is that you can find out which parts of campus to avoid — or flock to — when something happens. This way, when a plane crashes on Flavet Field while thousands of people are tailgating, you’ll immediately know to avoid Museum Road. In about a month, when Student Government announces its new Student Body president and senators, you can expect a push notification instead of having to wait for the paper the next day. And if a Gators football player is arrested outside a hotel for barking at a police dog, an Alligator alert will deliver the news.
Accessing this info via the app on your phone or tablet is smoother than using our mobile website. It updates as we do, so when we get more details, you will, too.
Another cool function is our news tip tool, which allows users to submit story ideas, photos and letters to the editor with the same effort it takes to send a tweet. See something strange on campus? Snap a pic and share it with us. We’ll investigate it so you don’t have to.
The app also makes it easy to skim headlines — you can sort through less text to find the articles you actually want to read. It has some interactive ads with built-in coupons as well as exclusive app content you won’t find in the paper.
Real talk, though: We worked hard to put this app together, and we’re hoping you like it. (If you don’t, tell us how to make it better.) We want to maintain our position as the foremost source of news at and around UF, and that means making the news easy to consume. We’re excited — and a bit nervous — to take this new adventure with you.
Search for “The Alligator” in the App Store or “Independent Florida Alligator” in Google Play.
As always, thank you for reading, no matter which format you choose.
[A version of this editorial ran on page 6 on 1/27/2014 under the headline "An app for that: Alligator mobile app now available"]
