"In the next release we will ensure that the update process is seamless, story scrolling is much more smooth, the edit button on the More screen is reinstated and that you do not lose any personally stored information," Benjamin Mosse said on the AP Mobile Blog after that launch.

With the new app, users are able to customize their own "Front Page," so that they can control what news they see. They can pick from over 50 different news categories. Users also have control over the number of stories displayed for each category.

Some other features in the update include:

- Global Regional Selection to get news from specific countries/regions

- Language localization

- Weather selection (radar/satellite view, temperature, conditions, highs/lows, hourly forecast, etc.)

- Health and Science channels

- Twitter-enabled sharing

- "Social networking-friendly" video and photo sharing

- Update to the "send to AP" feature, where users can report breaking news

- Press release channel

"With this newest Apple App Store release, we look forward to continuing to be a leader in the mobile news space,” said Jeff Litvack, Geneal Manager of the AP’s mobile and emerging products. "When the decision was made for AP to enter the mobile market, our team decided that the revolutionary iPhone and iPod touch were the natural choices for the development of our innovative news application, and that move has paid off in spades. For the month of April, we found that iPhone users visit AP Mobile five times more often than other smartphone users."

AP offers the mobile app free of charge at the Apple App Store. If you’ve used it, let us know what you think about it.

The local mobile sites are tailored to appear on small screens and include content that is updated around the clock by local Gannett Information centers. Information centers provide news and information to a number of platforms, including the Web, newspapers, television and mobile devices.

The new mobile sites will carry local, regional and national display advertising. The mobile sites are free to users with mobile Internet browsing and data plans.

"Local news and information is more in demand than ever by consumers across the country. Making it easily available by mobile device takes Gannett’s local information expertise and puts it in consumers’ hands," said Jack Williams, president of Gannett Digital.

"Advertisers who appreciate the value of trusted brands, local content and audiences will be able to reach out to those consumers throughout the day."

Along with local community news and information, the mobile sites link to national news, money, sports and life information through the USA Today mobile site.