The Northwest Herald has a new smartphone app, and it's sharp. I demonstrated some of its capabilities in a video you can find on the Northwest Herald's Facebook page.

It’s cleanly designed, easy to navigate and fast. Really fast.

We want you to spend less time waiting on pages to load and more time reading our stories, looking through photo galleries and watching our videos.

The app will require you to use Press+log-in, just as you would on a desktop computer or in a mobile browser. Luckily, we're running a deal – 50 percent off, plus a $25 gift card to Restaurant.com – on an annual all-access digital subscription.

Download our free app today – just search for "Northwest Herald" – in Apple's App Store if you have an iPhone or in Google Play if you use an Android device.

Let us know what you think of it as you keep reading the Northwest Herald.

• Nicole Franz is the Web editor of the Northwest Herald. Reach her at 815-526-4490 or via email at nfranz@shawmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FranzOrFoe.