If you are in the market for a very basic newsreader for your Windows Phone, LeadStory may be what you are looking for. Powered by the Google News platform, LeadStory taps into thousands of news sources and delivers the top stories to your Windows Phone. The content spans a wide range of topics and while minimal, it may be too minimal for some. Still, it is a nice option to consider and one of this month's AdDuplex HERO Apps.
Just in case you are just tuning into Windows Central, throughout the month we will be highlighting AdDuplex HERO Apps. The HERO Apps program is a promotional campaign for Windows Phone and Windows developers on the AdDuplex Network and partners AdDuplex with myAppFree, AppDeals, PluralSight and Windows Central to deliver a host of benefits to the top apps and games each month.
Our role in this promotion is to highlight the HERO Apps throughout the month and today we turn our attention towards LeadStory.
When you first launch LeadStory, you will be prompted to enter the town you want to designate for your local stories. After which, LeadStory will send you to the main layout where you will have access to the top stories across nine areas. LeadStory has news sections for local, world, national, business, technology, entertainment, sports, science and health stories. You also have a catch-all category for top stories from each section.
The layout is somewhat user-friendly with your section header listed at the top of the screen and the top headlines running down the screen. Four control buttons line the very bottom of the screen with a refresh option hidden beneath the eclipse menu.
Control buttons include the options to view the sections menu, search the news, view your favorite stories and access LeadStory's settings. You can also access the sections menu by double tapping the section header or navigate between the pages by tapping the directional arrows at the top of the screen.
Tapping an article will pull up the full text of the story. There is an eclipse menu in the upper right corner of the story screen that will pull up options to share the story or view it from your web browser.
Overall Impressions
LeadStory is a very basic newsreader with potential, but needs a little fine-tuning. For starters, the description mentions that you can create custom sections and you will see a custom section is listed on the Section Menu. However when you tap, hold, swipe or pound on the listing nothing happens. I am guessing that a custom section would allow you to use your own feeds, which is a feature LeadStory needs to be successful. The sources used aren't shabby (Fox News, ABC News, CBS News, ESPN, etc.), but we all have our own favorite news sources. Being able to tap into these favorite sources is almost a must for any newsreader.
Next, while there is a share option for the stories that option appears to be inactive. The screen flashes as if it is transitioning to the universal share options but returns to the story.
I think if both these issues can be addressed, LeadStory will be a fantastic option for those looking for a simple, uncomplicated newsreader for their Windows Phone. As is, LeasStory is still a nice app, but likely too restrictive for most. LeadStory is a free, ad-supported Windows Phone app with the option to remove the ad banners through a $.99 in-app purchase. We hoped the $.99 would open up the customized sections but it did not.
Download LeadStory from the Windows Phone Store (Free)
AdDuplex HERO Promotion
AdDuplex is a fantastic resource for the cross-promotion of Windows Phone and Windows apps. AdDuplex has launched a new program designed to help developers promote their apps even further with free access to various tools and resources from AdDuplex.
The HERO Apps promotion partners AdDuplex with Windows Central, myAppFree, AppDeals and PluralSight to provide additional benefits to the top apps every month that include:
- Vouchers to advertise on AdDuplex
- One month subscription to Pluralsight Plus
- A featured campaign with myAppFree
- A featured campaign with AppDeals
- A review here on Windows Central
If you are a Windows or Windows Phone developer, you can sign up for the HERO Apps program here at AdDuplex's website. To participate in the program, you will need to apply within thirty days after your app or game has launched on the AdDuplex network.
Windows Central is already partnered with the myAppFree campaign and is proud to be partnering up with AdDuplex with the HERO Apps program. It is another excellent opportunity to help promote both the Windows Phone and Windows platform.
