Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

3 iPad Apps that Turn the Web into Flippable Magazines

Posted: 07 Feb 2011 03:38 AM PST

The way we view Web content on a tablet is different than how we view it on a standard computer. Since tablet on-screen keyboards are slower to use than a computer's keyboard, and touch capability eliminates the need for a mouse, we gravitate towards content that requires less interaction—at least for our reading habits.

Several Apps have started appearing with a unique approach to organizing Web content. The new format resembles a magazine, with flippable pages like those found in our favorite e-reader apps, Kindle and iBooks. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Flipboard

Flipboard is one of the most popular apps for iPad, and definitely one of our favorites for reading blogs, following news, and perusing Wired. Flipboard can follow your entire Google Reader account, meaning all of your blogs can display together in one easy-to-handle magazine entry.

Besides Google Reader integration, Flipboard can track Facebook in this same magazine style. All of your friends photographs and wall posts are configured in this same magazine layout. This also works for Twitter and Flickr.

Flipboard also has their own pre-configured channels, like FlipTech that reports technology news from around the Web, and FlipStyle, which follows fashion trends. More channels are added all the time. This week, MC Hammer's and Oprah's Flipboard channels are featured.

2. Discover

Discover can turn any Wikipedia page into a magazine-style reading experience. Photographs are woven with Wikipedia text to create a more elegant feel than the Wikipedia app.

Discover also tracks all of the Wikipedia entries you have read by date, creating a library of easy-to-find information. After a while, it is almost like having a virtual World Book Encyclopedia set on your iPad.

3. Instapaper

Instapaper is the only App on our list that costs money–$4.99 to be exact. For this small amount of money, you do receive a decent number of features. Most notably, Instapaper allows you to save a Web page for offline reading.

Instapaper converts any Web page into a more readable style. Like Discover, it integrates pictures with text, but at the same time, gives us the ability to change text style and background color, just like our e-readers.

So, regardless of what you like to read on iPad, there is an app to make it more reader friendly. Web pages, RSS feeds, Wikipedia and even Facebook can be displayed in a way that makes sense for tablet users.

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3 iPad Apps that Turn the Web into Flippable Magazines