Smartphone users
Eighty-four percent of American adults own cellphones; 38 percent of those people own smartphones. Smartphone owners use the devices in a variety of situations, including while watching TV (68 percent), running errands (59 percent), waiting for something (59 percent), with friends or family (58 percent), or lying in bed (51 percent), according to a Nielsen survey.
…Most users will access information on their phone many times during the day — for a few seconds or a few minutes at a time, often while shopping, commuting or waiting in a line…
Considering these uses, a local news organization could decide that it will target its smartphone app or mobile site to help people solve their on-the-go problems and keep up with the latest big news…
Tablet users
About 8 to 12 percent of U.S. adults own a tablet, depending on the survey… More than half of all time spent using tablets occurs in bed or watching TV, according to Nielsen. Usage peaks early in the morning and again in the evenings…
So what might a good tablet app or website for news look like? Focus on your most interesting, unique stories and multimedia. Collect the stories, videos and photos that a person will want to relax with and read for 20 minutes at a time. Include breaking news, but keep the emphasis on a magazine-like appeal aimed at stimulating the eyes and imagination.
