Features of the L.A. Times mobile app

Feb. 7, 2018 9:55 PM PT

The Los Angeles Times’ mobile app mirrors the intuitive layout and editorially curated content of latimes.com. It is also packed with features designed specifically for mobile devices like phones and tablets.

We are always working on new ways to make the app more useful to our readers, so make sure the automatic update function is turned on in your device’s settings.

Features

The L.A. Times app contains all the same news that we publish each morning in the printed paper as well as the digital-exclusive stories that are published online throughout the day as news happens. With the app, you can experience rich video and immersive photo galleries, alongside our award-wining investigative journalism and lifestyle coverage.

Best Restaurants

This year, we’re introducing our list of 101 Restaurants We Love around Los Angeles. Sort the list by neighborhood, price, or name; use the interactive map to find each restaurant; and save favorites to your personal list.

The 101 Restaurants We Love list is an exclusive benefit for subscribers. If you’re already a member, just log in with your email and password. Not a member yet? Subscribe to get unlimited digital access to the app, latimes.com, and the eNewspaper.

eNewspaper

The eNewspaper is a digital edition of the day’s print newspaper. While the eNewspaper isn’t built into the app, there is a handy link in the topics list that will open it in your device’s native web browser. Visitors can enjoy sampled browsing of the eNewspaper, but subscribers get unlimited access after logging in.

Alerts

Push alerts are notifications you can choose to be sent to your phone based on personalized categories you want to follow. As news develops on these categories, you’ll receive an alert that displays on your phone even if the L.A. Times app isn’t running, so you can always be in the know.

The Alerts icon in the app’s footer opens a screen of recent notifications we’ve sent based on categories you are interested in. The app will ask you if you want to allow push notifications to be sent to your phone, so you’re in complete control. When you sign up, you’ll be opted in to Breaking News and Top News to start. From the Alerts screen, tap “Customize” to add or remove categories. Choose from categories like sports, politics, entertainment, and more.

Saving stories

Loving that story you’re reading but don’t have enough time to finish it? Just tap the bookmark icon at the top of the page, and it will be stored under the “Saved” tab in the bottom tool bar so you can get to it again whenever you like.

Offline reading

If you’re about to hop on a plane, or are headed into an area without a mobile or Wi-Fi connection, just open up the app, and navigate to any section page you’re interested in while you still have signal (it’s best to scroll down the page for a few seconds). The text of each story on the page will automatically be downloaded and stored for quick access when you’re offline. Any heavier elements of the stories like images and videos require an active network connection to view.

Recent updates

Our newest version brings a fresh feel to the app to match our redesigned website. The Top News homepage and topic pages are editorially curated, grouping articles around developing stories. Our award-winning investigative journalism and lifestyle pieces are now enriched by powerful photos and infographics, video, and immersive galleries.

Tool bar

At the bottom of the app, within thumb’s reach is a series of icons to ease navigation.

The Home icon will take you from a story back to it’s respective section page, or from a section page back to the Top News home screen.

The Sections list is more robust than before, reflecting the full list available on latimes.com.

Alerts shows recent notifications we’ve sent to the app based on categories you are interested in.

The Saved icon brings you to a list of stories you have bookmarked.

Shortcut bar

At the top of the home screen, there is a shortcut bar that lists our most popular sections. Scroll left or right through the list to see the options, and tap what you want to read.

Navigating into stories

From any section front, simply tap on a story you want to read. Visitors get a limited sample of content each month, but subscribers get unlimited access.

What’s the difference between the app and the website?

Both feature the same stories that are published throughout the day as news happens. The functionality is similar between the two, but each has unique benefits.

An app, short for “native mobile application,” is a program downloaded to your phone or tablet for easy regular access. While the stories are published at the same time as our website, the app includes additional tools that take advantage of the on-the-go nature of mobile devices like push alerts to let you know about important news as it happens and an interactive restaurants feature that combines food critic Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list with an interactive map and the ability to save your favorites.

The website (latimes.com) can be visited through a web browser on a desktop computer, tablet or phone.