The BLOX Now app is a hybrid app. A hybrid application (hybrid app) is one that combines elements of both native and Web applications. Native applications are developed for a specific platform and installed on a personal device, often times through app stores such as Apple Connect and Google Play. Web applications are generalized for multiple platforms and not installed locally but made available over the Internet through a browser.

Integration with the BLOX Article Designer

The hybrid nature of the NOW app differentiates this app from almost all other local media technology vendors. The reason for this design is the advantages customers gain from connecting to BLOX Article Designer. The NOW APP template is specifically designed to talk to the BLOX CMS while removing necessary pieces from the article pages to ensure a quick load time of content. The BLOX template admin tool also handles multiple customizations such as colors for backgrounds, headers, breaking news, pinned content as well as allowing for control of text colors. The dynamic approach for changing these customizations reduces expensive and time consuming app releases for trivial enhancements. The main difference in the NOW app today is all article pages are controlled by the BLOX CMS and viewed in a WebKit browser in the app.

Improved user experience

The app is designed for an optimal user experience and provides a common environment often used in social media. For example, the "Home" asset feeds as well as the "Topic" feeds mirror social media’s endless scroll behavior. Also, the app provides the customers the latest information with the fewest amount of clicks. Other apps are built using the “kitchen sink” mentality where the app regurgitates all web site content and re-purposes it in an app environment. This design tends to benefit the local media company but not necessarily its customers. Simple navigation that guides users to content with less clicks provides a more successful environment for users to connect with your content. The social media like experience ensures your users will not have to “learn” to use your app; instead, the can immediately begin engaging with your content. Less clicks might result in fewer screen views but this design gives you the opportunity to increase the usage and revenue and retain the customer over a longer period of time. If the user experience is good, users tend to keep coming back time after time.

Unnecessary navigation in the app, while it may increase screen views, is extremely frustrating for users, especially on mobile devices. Studies have shown forced user navigation will not provide the long-term results expected to meet your KPIs and goals.

So the BLOX Now app is targeted at marrying these two very different experiences. The BLOX Now app's design purpose is to combine the business and user model into an app experience that works for everyone.

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