I want to start posting about some of the mobile apps I use on a regular basis, and decided to start off by taking a look at an app I’ve been using for quite a while: Instapaper.
Instapaper allows you to ‘clip’ articles you find on the web and copy them to your mobile devices for later reading. It works on both the iPhone and the iPad, though there are a few subtle differences between the two experiences.
Here are a couple of short videos I put together to show you what it takes to get started using Instapaper:
Signing Up:
Clipping A Web Page:
When it comes to reading the articles I’ve clipped, I use Instapaper on both the iPad and the iPhone – it depends on the situation. (And though I don’t show it here, it is also possible to use Instapaper to create a batch of articles that can be printed out on paper, or to set it up to deliver updates on a periodic basis for viewing on Amazon’s Kindle. This range of options should cover most people today.)
I started with Instapaper on the iPhone. The iPhone experience has really been optimized for ‘on the move’ reading:
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One incredibly nice feature of the iPhone version is turned on by clicking on the blue icon on the bottom of the iPhone display. This option allows you to scroll the display as you read by simply tilting it down. This makes it ideal for reading in commuting situations like a crowded subway car.
Where the iPhone version focuses on convenience, the iPad version of Instapaper, with it’s larger display, is more about reading comfort:
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It has a slightly tinted background that makes the display easier on the eyes. It also offers a landscape mode that combines both headlines and articles, making it convenient to quickly browse multiple shorter articles .
In addition to viewing articles, both platforms make it easy to share and save them as well. They include built in links to both Tumblr and Tweetie, and an option to send articles via email. In addition, articles that might be worth a second read can be added to the built in ‘Starred’ folder, or you can create your own folders (in the paid version) and file them in a more organized way.
For me, Instapaper is like TIVO for the web. It lets me time shift the reading I’d like to do in a way that blends seamlessly into my workflow.
If you aren’t using it already, I highly recommend checking it out.