Readers will now be able to peruse D.C.’s most widely read newspaper on the go, as The Washington Post released an iPad application on Nov. 8, the latest in a trend of national newspapers making the jump to the tablet platform.

The application, available on iTunes, is currently free for all users. That will change next year, however; as of February 2011, subscribers will be charged 99 cents monthly for the application, while new subscribers will be charged $3.99 a month.

USA Today was the first daily newspaper to introduce an iPad application on April 3, the very day that the iPad was first released. The New York Times launched its own iPad application on Oct. 15.

The Washington Post’s new application allows users to access their accounts, articles, videos and photographs. Users are also able to link to stories read on the application to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. The application also allows readers to download stories and read them offline.

Not all reviews of the new application have been positive, however. The application is averaging 2.5 out of 5 stars on iTunes. Of 208 raters, only 50 gave the application a full five stars. Positive reviews praise its layout and easy navigation, but critics say that the application is cluttered with ads. Some users are also having difficulty using their existing accounts for the application, while others dislike having to subscribe to the Post in order to use it, according to reviews.

The Washington Post has released several applications for the iPhone in the past. The applications include “Football Insider” – for keeping up-to-date with sports news and the Redskins – and “D.C. Rider” for train times and Metro alerts.

The Post is not the only D.C. company taking advantage of new technology. Several other companies have also released applications for the Metro, restaurant guides and tourist travel information. D.C.’s Fox affiliate also released a WTTG Fox 5 News application that gives a roundup of local weather, videos and headlines.