Customer
taz Verlags u. Vertriebs GmbH
taz.de
Timeline
October 2019 - today
Task
Development of a newspaper app for Android
Our Services
Design and development of the entire Android app, management and delivery of the app to the stores (Google, F-Droid)
Technologies used
Android, Kotlin, GraphQL
About the client
What it is about
In keeping with the spirit of the times, taz set out to develop an app that emphasizes the digital medium. We are delighted to have had the chance to support them with this since 2019. In October 2025, the Seitenwende will take place, meaning that the taz will only publish the daily newspaper digitally - no more paper. We are thrilled to be able to join the taz with them on this journey. The challenges that come with providing a newspaper experience in digital form were, and are, diverse and exciting.
The need
How to publish a printed newspaper in digital times
The taz was one of the first daily newspapers to put its content on the Internet. This means that there is an enormous archive of the taz. The taz app provides access to a wide range of editions. Access to the editions is guaranteed through a subscription model. The readership of the taz is very diverse, meaning that both young digital natives and older people need to be able to use the taz app well.
The solution
Innovative design and cutting-edge components
In order to receive and process the issues of the daily newspaper, we communicate with the taz backend via GraphQL. This is also used for synchronization with the subscription system. A slide-in menu for overview and innovative navigation through the sections and the associated articles bring the edition into the digital realm. Typical taz visual elements maintain the look and feel that readers are used to from the print edition. Reading articles aloud, accessibility, customizable displays (e.g. scrolling by tapping, changing font size, night mode, etc.) mean that many different reading habits are catered for.
Highlight
Read the paper - or listen
Along with the taz‘s playful design, turning the simple web-view into a distinctive, classic taz reading experience, the audio player is a particular highlight of the app. The taz has its articles read by machine, allowing them to be read aloud within the app. The app uses the Android MediaPlayer so that the playback can also be controlled by Android. This means that you can listen to the taz on your bike, operating it via your headphones, without having to constantly be using the app. By creating playlists, you can click together your favourite articles and listen to them while riding.
*The source code of the application is available under a free license on GitHub and invites the community to participate and develop it further.
The digital taz is made by people with great passion. Since the beginning of our collaboration, the developers of control.alt.coop have enriched and advanced our team considerably with their creativity, reliability and open-mindedness. Our cooperation is characterized by great trust and appreciation.
Lena Kaiser
Project coordinator | taz
