It’s a little hard to believe, but neither local dailies had an iPhone app — until last night. The Pioneer Press released two: a flagship one, and one for Vikings Now.

Intelligently, the PiPress went with local developer DoApp, which earlier did slick apps for WCCO, Twin Cities Daily Planet, and Fox Preps.

The PiPress apps are straightforward, breaking coverage down into sections and topics and feature easy-to-use, unintrusive “share” buttons for Twitter, Facebook, email and text, as well as geo-located weather and events. There’s a relatively unobtrusive ad strip at the bottom.

The Pioneer Press doesn’t yet have an iPad app; oddly, the Star Tribune has an iPad app but no iPhone app. (Both papers have functional mobile websites.) The Strib’s iPad app, released in late September, isn’t all that sophisticated; it lets you read the e-edition replica of the print paper on your tablet. Important to note: Even though the app is free, you have to buy an e-subscription.

I’d expect a flurry of digital products next year from the Strib, which is planning a web site re-do in early 2011 (the Pioneer Press could really use one). I still like RSS readers such as Google Reader for catching news on the go, but any media company worth its salt will offer more ways for you to pick your favorite.

Coincidentally, the events site St. Paul Spot says they’ve just released an event-and-eatery app.