I’ve mentioned it before, but I do about 99% of my work on this site using my 12.9” iPad Pro, a Bluetooth keyboard, and the iOS WordPress app. I have been doing this since I resumed writing here back in February, and it’s been a really good experience so far. The WordPress app is a simple, WYSIWYG affair, but it had most of the major features of the web interface and got most of the job done before the most recent update that came out on Monday.
However, there were a few features lacking in previous versions of the app that kept me going back to the web interface to finish each article. The previous versions of WordPress did not have a “Read More” button or a selector to choose between font sizes. Every article here has a Read More break, with only the intro section of the text seen on the Home Page, and any article with section headings requires the font size selector. Now, these could both be added by switching over to “Code Mode” in the app, but I prefer to stick to the editor for everything that I can.
The web interface has always had these features, but it doesn’t work well at all as a writing tool for entire articles if you are using a Bluetooth keyboard. If you use the arrow keys to try and navigate within the text, the screen automatically scrolls down underneath the text editor box. That gets REALLY old when you are trying to write and need to move around the page, and its why I started using the app for all my text work. I have just been using the web interface to add the Read More break, font sizes if necessary, and embed videos when needed before posting.
However, after the most recent update that was released on Monday, the WordPress app for iOS now has all of the main features of the web interface, including the Read More and font size features that I’ve been waiting for.
I also found that the Quote function is now easier to use with the app, and Underline and Strikethrough are now included now, as well. Also, all of these features, which are technically still in Beta for now, are all available on the iPhone version of the app, as well. That makes getting ideas down and editing while on the go much easier.
I can remember a time several years ago when the iOS WordPress app was a buggy mess that was hardly worth the free download. Hats off to Automatic for taking the time to make this app what it can be. After this update, it finally feels like a complete tool for bloggers in combination with the iPad Pro and a keyboard. Now I can post entire articles with no need to work anywhere else but the app. It certainly makes foe a neater workflow.
Are there any other bloggers or writers out there who also use the WordPress app? If so, I would love to hear what you think about their iOS app. Let me know in the Comments, on Flipboard, on our Facebook page, or on Twitter @iPadInsightBlog.
