Your guide to the BBC News iPhone and iPad app
How do I send feedback to the BBC about the BBC News iPhone or iPad app?
If you wish to raise a formal complaint about the app, please go to the BBC Complaints homepage.
What are push notifications?
Push notifications are a new addition to the BBC News app, allowing you to be alerted to the biggest news stories as they break.
When a push notification is received it will pop up on your screen similar to a text message, regardless of whether or not the app is open at the time. Depending on your settings the alert may also be accompanied by a sound.
Tapping the notification will load the corresponding story in the app when it is available.
The service is available to users with iOS 5 and above running version 2.1 of the BBC News app or higher. To download the latest version, visit the App Store from your device's home screen and tap 'Updates'.
How can I subscribe/unsubscribe from push notifications?
When opening the app for the first time you will be presented with a message requesting permission to send you push notifications.
Tap 'OK' to subscribe or 'Don't Allow' to decline.
This preference can also be changed at any time within your device's notification settings:
- To turn notifications off
From your device's home screen, visit Settings > Notifications and select the BBC News app from the list. Ensure all options are set to 'off', and Alert Style is 'none'.
- To turn notifications on
From the same screen set Alert Style to either 'Banners' or 'Alerts'.
Additionally you can choose whether to display alerts in your device's Notification Centre or lock screen.
NB, If you are not receiving notifications but the settings screen suggests they are switched on, it may be necessary to reinitialize the push settings by first turning all alert settings off before turning them on again.
How do I turn the push notification sound off?
By default the BBC News sound is played whenever an alert is received.
This can be turned off or re-enabled from your device's notification settings screen (see above).
How many push notifications will I receive?
The number of alerts we send out will vary according to the news agenda, however this will typically be between 1 and 3 notifications a day reflecting the highest profile stories
Will I be charged for push notifications?
Push notifications are free to receive, but may make minimal use of your data plan if delivered via your mobile network provider.
If you choose to receive push notifications, a unique identifier relating to your device will be stored by ProcessOne on behalf of the BBC to provide you with the service.
No other personal data relating to you (such as a username or email address) is processed. The BBC will keep your information secure and not share it with anyone else in accordance with the BBC's Privacy and Cookies Policy, available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy.
You can choose to unsubscribe from push notifications from BBC News in your device's 'Notifications' screen.
How do I refresh the content in the app?
In order to get the app to refresh you need to pull down on the main content area that shows you the stories that are available to read.
This applies to both the iPad and iPhone versions of the app.
You can also refresh an individual story by pulling down on the story body text.
How do I change the font size on a story?
The font size controls can be found on the right hand side of the header bar whenever a story page is in view, represented by a symbol consisting of a small and large A.
Tap this button and drag the slider left or right to adjust the font size. Your preference will be remembered for all subsequent story page views.
How do I share a story?
The app gives you the option to post BBC News stories to Facebook, share on Twitter, send a story link via e-mail, or copy the link to your device's clipboard.
To access this feature, tap the Share button from any story page - styled as a box with an arrow coming out of it - and select your preferred means of sharing from the menu.
Please note that you may be asked to configure a Facebook, Twitter or e-mail account if your chosen sharing method has not already been set up on the device.
How can I personalise the BBC News iPad app?
You can access the personalisation features in landscape (sideways) view by tapping the 'Edit' button in the top left of the main screen.
In the personalisation view you can add and remove BBC News sections by tapping on the '+' and '-' icons.
You can also re-order the News categories in Edit mode by tapping and holding the three-bar icon to the right-hand side of the category title and dragging the section up or down.
When you have completed personalising the app, tap the 'Done' button to save your changes.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch live TV on my mobile device?
Users will need to be covered by a TV licence to watch 'live' TV on your mobile device including the BBC News channel in the app.
A 'live' TV programme is a programme, which is watched or recorded at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is being broadcast or otherwise distributed to members of the public.
As a general rule, if a person is watching a programme on a computer or other device at the same time as it is being shown on TV then the programme is 'live'. This is sometimes known as simulcasting.
You do not need a TV licence if you only use BBC services to watch television programmes which are not 'live'.
What will happen if I don't have a TV licence?
It is a criminal offence to watch 'live' television without a TV licence or to possess or control a device which you know or reasonably believe will be used to watch 'live' TV without a TV licence. You could be prosecuted and fined up to £1000 (plus be ordered to pay legal costs) for these offences.
Where can I buy a TV licence or get more details?
To buy a TV licence or to obtain further information about licensing requirements call TV Licensing on 0870 241 5590 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
Can I save video to watch later?
No. Currently, the BBC offers video and audio clips as streams which are only available when your device has a network connection.
How can I use the BBC News app when not connected to the internet?
The app will automatically save stories on the device for reading when you don't have a network connection.
As video and audio clips are streamed to the device, these won't be available when you don't have a network connection.
How can I find the Settings menu for the app?
Find and tap the 'Settings' icon on the home screen of your iPhone or iPad (not the home screen of the BBC News app).
Then scroll down the Settings screen and tap on the BBC News entry to access the BBC News iPad app Settings menu.
Can I send a story or photo in to BBC News?
Stories and photos can be sent to the BBC newsroom by tapping the 'Send Photo' and 'Send Story' buttons situated at the foot of the home screen.
Please note that when submitting photos for the first time you will be asked to grant the app access to your device's photos.
If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number that we can contact you on.
In some cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.
When sending us pictures at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions.
How do I opt out of statistics collection?
We collect statistical data about how the application is used to help us learn what works and what's most useful to you.
The more data we can gather, the better, so that we know what people want from applications like this.
All data is collected anonymously (e.g. we won't know what pages a specific person visits, or their location, but we will be able to see general trends about which pages and areas are more popular). Naturally, if you'd prefer us not to collect this data, we won't.
To opt out of statistics collection, go to the iPad home screen and tap the 'Settings' icon. Then scroll down the Settings screen and tap on the BBC News app entry.
In the Settings menu set the 'Share Usage Statistics with the BBC' option to 'OFF'. Tap the 'Settings' back arrow to return to the Settings screen and save the changes.