NPR: National & Local News

For multiple articles, an ad that's more than halfway down the page blocks the text and gets stuck there, and there's no way around it. NPR also started linking out articles to some of their subsidiaries, and clicking on an article and having it open in a web browser (without warning) is just poor UX — and defeats the point of an app. The search function barely works, even if you use quotation marks around the phrase. The app worked well enough before, but I'm getting ready to delete it.

This app seems to provide the bare minimum that is needed, which is both a pro and a con. Pro because the app is light-weight and takes up very little room on my Samsung. And a con because there are a few key functions that are missing. For example, there is no way to set up notifications within the app (not sure how others are able to do this since it is non-existent in my app) and the ability to save articles for future reading. Luckily and surprisingly however, there is the option to search,

The way the app used to be formatted was geared towards reading news stories. That was perfect. Pivoting to podcasts is not something I care for. If I want to listen to NPR, it's in the name: radio. If I want the podcast form, there are many other ways to do that. The only way to read news on NPR on my phone was through the app. Additionally, despite disabling the NPR app's ability to use device audio, it will play via Bluetooth, even with the app closed.

STOP TELLING ME WHAT I WANT TO LISTEN TO! If I select a podcast, I want to hear the ENTIRE podcast, not just one segment, then the app does whatever it wants. One star until the app gives me what I want, not what NPR THINKS I want. I should also be able to favorite the podcasts I listen to frequently, like Morning Edition or All Things Considered, but the app doesn't allow this. Access to my playlist should be a top level choice, not require multiple selections. This is dangerous while driving.

Liked the old app interface just fine. Never cared for the NPR One app. Now the NPR app looks just like NPR One. No longer able to easily store and find favorite NPR affiliates. I travel a lot, and enjoy being able to listen to my hometown station (KQED) as well as to the stations where I am staying. Now must click through several menus, and search. Very tedious.