While Yahoo recently reported that iPad users are twice as likely to be interested in news, sports and finance than the typical Internet user, ratings of popular news applications have been generally mediocre. Mainstream media earned an average rating of a mere 2.8 out of 5 available stars.

Consumer ratings have demonstrated that iPad application by newspaper organisations fare best when they harness the customised, interactive functionality of the iPad's design. According to Daniel Farber at CBS news, most current media applications are "underwhelming" - "Web pages with a bit of iPad pixie dust doesn't shout innovation," Farber wrote.

Alan D. Mutter at Newsosaur extracted an analysis from user rankings on the iTunes Web site.

He noted that apps produced by broadcasters beat those by print publishers, probably because the former utilised more rich-media assets. France 24, an international TV news channel funded by the French government scored the highest marks, with the only four star grade. It not only appeals to a wide audience by delivering news in French, English and Arabic, it also delivers personalised local coverage by utilising the iPad's GPS feature.

Unsurprisingly, applications that come with a price tag fared amongst the lowest. Time Magazine, with the worst score of 1.5 stars, charges US$4.99 to view each issue, which totals a whopping $260 a year- far more expensive than an online or print subscription.

The Wall Street Journal's app, which costs $3.99 a week, garnered only 2.5 stars. According to Mutter, it's layout mimics too closely its print version, and "fails at leveraging the power of the iPad." However, Michael J. Miller at PC Mag praised the Journal's app for its continuously updated versions of both the current and past few day's print articles.

BBC and NPR tied for second, both with 3.5 stars. USA Today and Reuters followed with three stars each. USA Today cleverly aggregates news from other providers, although it inexplicably leaves out technology news. Reuters features useful interactive tools like a currency calculator and stock charter.

Heavyweight media provider The New York Times has a surprisingly stripped down "Editor's Choice" application in comparison to its print and online versions. Gawker speculated that the reason why it has not released a full-content app may be because of its existing agreement with Amazon's Kindle, one of the iPad's biggest competitors.

According to The New York Times, Amazing has been pushing publishers to sign a new round of legal agreements since December. These contracts would guarantee that the lowest price for content gleaned on Kindle in comparison to other devices. For now, Miller notes that one of the leg-ups that the Kindle has over the iPad is its ability pull down content overnight, whereas the iPad requires opening each application individually to do the same thing.

For more on iPad news apps, visit the latest story on our sister publication, editorsweblog.org.