Skip to main content

Wikipedia’s new iOS app will give you the information you’re looking for

Wikipedia’s new iOS app is easier to use than its website

new wikipedia ios app final
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Wikipedia finally made a revised version of its iOS app, which aims to give users better recommendations for content that they’re interested in and match users with articles that pertain to their interests.

The new app has also been optimized to take advantage of Apple’s latest operating system iOS 9, offering support for 3D Touch and for Spotlight Search.

The refreshed app is Wikipedia’s latest attempt to take advantage of the mobile revolution. Previously, the company experimented with offline access and ways to edit articles on mobile. It also tried to make its website a lot more social, releasing “shareable fact cards,” which are still supported but are not as prominent.

wikipedia
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Personalization has clearly been a big focus for Wikipedia in the development of this app. The app now offers users an “Explore” feed, which offers a number of the most popular articles, as well as a featured article and picture of the day. It will also pull in a few random articles, and articles that are selected based on things you’ve read in the past. Obviously, the feed will get better the more you use the app.

As mentioned, the app also now supports the latest Apple technology, meaning that it includes features accessed through 3D Touch. From the home screen, the user can use 3D Touch to access quick features like open search, see nearby articles, read a random article, or continue reading the last article that you read.

Another cool iOS-specific feature is Handoff. iOS allows users to seamlessly move between the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computer for things like calls, documents, and even some apps. In the case of Wikipedia, users can quickly jump between different devices to read articles.

Of course, only time will tell whether or not these changes have a big impact on the popularity, or lack of popularity, of the Wikipedia app. You can download the app for yourself here.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
The Apple Watch is the best iPhone camera accessory you didn’t know you needed
A person wearing an Apple Watch Series 9, made for the OuttaFocus column.

Photo taken with an iPhone 15 Pro Max controlled using an Apple Watch Series 9. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Smartwatches and cameras rarely go together very well. We’ve seen smart wristwear with cameras fitted in the past, but the combination wasn’t very successful, and few manufacturers even bother today.

Read more
A big iPhone update is right around the corner
An iPhone 15 Pro Max sitting upright, showing one of its home screens.

With announcements for 2024 models of the iPad Air and iPad Pro, today's been a busy day of Apple news. But the iPad isn't the only Apple product in the news today. Following the big announcements from its event earlier this morning, Apple also shared some important news regarding the next iPhone update.

As of Tuesday, May 7, Apple has begun rolling out RC builds for iOS 17.5. RC stands for "Release Candidate," and it's the last beta version of a software update that Apple releases before its final public rollout. In other news, the official iOS 17.5 update should be right around the corner.

Read more
I found an amazing new way to use my iPhone 15 Pro Max
The back of a Natural Titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max.

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro series last September, there was one feature I was more excited about than anything else: the Action button. Gone was the useless ring/silent slider. In its place was a button we could customize to our exact liking.

I've been using the Action button on my iPhone 15 Pro Max ever since I got it, and for the last few months, it's been programmed to open the camera app. It's convenient, but it's also nothing particularly exciting. Recently, though, I found a new and unexpected way to use my iPhone's Action button — and it's kind of blowing my mind.
Supercharging the Action button

Read more