Al Jazeera English has given its iPad app an overhaul, including a major social enhancement to its central feature of free access to the channel’s TV feed.

Users will be able to view the channel’s official Twitter feeds, the user’s own personal Twitter feeds, and hashtags – all while watching news and programmes. The app allows users to share content with friends, family, and followers through Twitter, Facebook and email.

“We want to encourage ever more interaction with our content, and this development enables that interactivity to take place. This feature will especially come into its own during major breaking events,” said Moeed Ahmad, Head of New Media at Al Jazeera.

The app’s integration with Al Jazeera’s news systems is such that occasionally, stories will appear there before they do on air. Video on the app will be positioned in a ‘fluid grid’ – meaning that video will be in different sizes and shift in position throughout the day according to their prominence in the news agenda.

Categories: App, Articles, Content