The new season of “60 Minutes” might be losing Andy Rooney, but it’s gaining an updated app for iPad in the form of 60 Minutes for iPad.
Dropping $4.99 for an app full of content that’s readily available on the 60 Minutes website didn’t exactly sit well with me, but I did appreciate that new content was available on the day it aired. I’m not sure exactly what time the new segments rolled in, but I checked about an hour after Sunday’s show ended, and clips were available — well, two of the three segments from the episode anyway. I found the video quality to be acceptable over Wi-Fi service, but I wasn’t impressed with the audio. It seemed thinner and tinnier than other videos I’ve watched on iPad’s small speakers.
In addition to the weekly show segments, 60 Minutes for iPad offers archive material, including 60 Classics, a compilation of 100 of the best segments from the show’s history. This is probably your best bet, since finding content via the search function is hit or miss. For example, when I searched the app for a certain former Alaskan governor, I got three results, none of which directly matched the query. In contrast, when I searched “McCain” I was shown four results, one of which pertained to his VP candidate that I wasn’t shown before. Turning on the filter for “extra clips” provided more results, but there should be a way to access all content, unfiltered.
I like that the app displays all of “60 Minutes’ ” correspondents so users can easily find segments produced by their favorite personality — or watch as much Andy Rooney as one can handle. New for the 2011-2012 Season is 60 Minutes Overtime, specially created content for the web focused on behind-the-scenes creation of “60 Minutes” segments. But, one thing that isn’t clear from the app’s description is if content will disappear from the app once the program’s 43rd season ends in May.
60 Minutes for iPad is an average newsmagazine app. Its interface is adequate, but it doesn’t offer any spectacular features, especially for its high price tag. If you’re a “60 Minutes” junkie, you’ll be pleased with this app, but casual viewers shouldn’t spend the cash.
Download the free Appolicious iPhone app
