Apple's App Store added a new online reader app over the weekend that syncs the iPad with free accounts at Google Reader, which constantly checks the subscriber's favorite news sites for new content. Previously only offered on Apple's iPhone, the new Reeder for iPad enables anyone who has purchased Apple's tablet to access the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) family of standardized formats used for publishing news headlines, blogs and other online content.
In a tweet posted on Twitter Friday, Reeder for iPad developer Silvio Rizzi noted that the new iPad app had just received Apple's approval, and it debuted on Apple's store later that evening. Early adopters noted that the software was designed to take advantage of the iPad's unique form factor and touchscreen capabilities.
"In this case it is fully justified to be sold as an application different from the version for iPhone," said a customer identified as Daemon. "A great mix of functionality and discovery in one package," tweeted another early adopter identified as Petero.
The Reeder for iPad app features a simple intuitive user interface that keeps the screen free of content clutter, though not everyone is keen on the predominantly grey color scheme. Occupying a svelte 2.1MB of disk space, the new Google Reader client enables users to browse in the initial dashboard screen either by feed or as folders representing RSS feed groups that are displayed in iconic stacks.
Like similar arrangements found in the latest photo-album apps for the iPhone, each stack can be pinched to display the entire range of offerings within each group. From there, readers can peruse, share or star individual content items at the flick or tap of a finger.
In addition to browsing content folders in landscape or portrait mode, users can also browse articles by individual RSS feed. Some...
Posted: 2010-06-14 15:35:35
