Readability app review

By KS Sandhya Iyer | Updated: 22 June 2012 10:55 IST

Highlights

Here's an app that allows you to read anytime, anywhere.

If you're an avid reader and love to read on the move, then this is the app for you. Readability, initially launched as a web service has now made an appearance on iOS and Android platforms.

The app interface is really simple and beautifully designed. Once you've downloaded and installed it on your iOS or Android device, the screen prompts you to sign-up for an account which just takes a few seconds. If you've already created one through the web-based service, then you can directly login.

After you launch the app, you're greeted by the Reading List view which is the default page of the app. This section displays all your saved articles and reading them is just a tap away.

The app syncs with the web service to download all your articles that you've saved for a later reading. Once the download is complete, you can read them at your luxury - even offline. The Favourites and Archives Lists appear on tapping the Reading List icon.

To make sure you have current articles in your list, just tap the refresh button in the menu bar or swipe downwards in your list.

The app has a built-in web browser that allows you to surf the web and instantly add the page to your Reading List. Just tap the '+' icon on the top menu bar and then type or paste a URL.

Readability allows you to manage your articles very easily. You can archive, favourite or delete an article by swiping to the right which unveils these options. To archive or delete multiple articles at once, you can use the edit option from the menu bar.

The app will be a sheer joy for those who enjoy clutter-free reading. The Reading view looks very pleasing to the eye. It's clean and simple. Tap anywhere on the article to archive, delete or share the article with others. This will be accessible through a menu bar at the bottom.

You can share it via Twitter, Facebook or mail. The app also gives customising options for font type and size as well as reading in light or dark conditions.

A link for each article is present at the top which allows you to access the Web View for that specific article. If you wish to read all articles in one flow, then all you need to do is simply keep scrolling down. To return to your list of articles, just swipe to the right.

The app looked identical on both Android (Samsung Galaxy Nexus) and iOS devices (iPad/iPod Touch) with the screen size being the only major difference.

Similar apps like Read it Later offer the same functionality. But the interface and usage aren't that friendly when compared to Readability. However if you upgrade to the Pro version of Read it Later for $2.99, you do get added features like One touch rotation lock and full screen reader.

Readability is a great app that comes handy while you're traveling. It's easy on the eyes since there aren't too many distractions on the page and the user-interface is extremely simple to navigate. You can access your articles offline which is quite comforting. All-in-all, a must-have for all you readers out there!

Readability (iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone, Free - reviewed here)
Readability (Google Play, Free)

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Further reading: android, iOS, readability

Readability app review

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