I’ve been a big fan of Nate Weiner’s Read it Later (RiL) app, which allows you to save articles for reading on your iPhone. Last time I reviewed it, it was a better choice than Instapaper. It had more features, better usability, and a whole lot of sharing capabilities. When I heard about what 1.3 is going to bring in, I was jumping around not knowing who to tell! Note that I haven’t used v1.3 yet since my iPhone rejects ad-hoc copies, but I suppose it’s all in black and white.
(Linked screenshots load in Ajax glory right on this page)
- Multi-Page support: And unlike Instapaper, all the pages are clubbed into a single item in your list. You switch through them while reading itself.
- Login support for sites that require authentication
- Revamped user interface. Still unsure whether it looks good, but it’s better.
- Retrieving previously read articles and adding to your current list.
- My favourite: The Quick Scrollbar in Reader, which allows you to fly through long articles much like you do with iPhone contacts. Your index finger will no longer burn out.
- Better sharing options allow you to send the link to Tweetie, Twittelator Pro, Twitterfon Pro or via Email.
- One touch rotation lock: Allows you to, without leaving the article, lock the rotation to landscape. Probably useful, but I’m not sure how exactly it works.
Two features I’ve been (sort of) promised and am waiting for is the sharing feature a.k.a. ‘beam to other RiL buddies’, and adding articles to RiL merely DMing a link via Twitter to the RiL account. Currently one can send an @reply to the RiL twitter account or even email a link to automatically add it to your list.
Read it Later Pro costs $2.99, and there’s a free version to get you acquainted with the features. It’s currently still the old version though. Can’t wait for 1.3 to land on the App Store.
