For all the Android device users who love reading, here comes good news for you. iOS's most popular mobile reading and bookmarking app, Instapaper, which was till now confined only to iPhones and iPads, is now available for download on Android devices via Google Play. Built by mobile-app developer Mobelux, the official Instapaper app brings its simple interface and monochromatic design to a swath of new users.
For those who do not know, Instapaper is a tool that lets one quickly and easily save articles for reading later. The user can simply use Instapaper to create a short-term (or long-term) bookmark, and easily pull it up at a more convenient time to read. One can even read their saved items while offline.
Main Features
While the app does its best to bring the features of the iOS version, there are, however, several key differences; most notably, it lacks a full screen reading option and pagination - an omission already noted in several reviews of the app over at Google play.
According to Verge reports, the app looks is very similar to the iOS version, however, it is different from the original and has some missing features. It lacks a full screen reading option and pagination - an omission already noted in several reviews of the app over at Google play.
The app lacks the Friends feature and the web search is also not available to search.
On a brighter side, there is "no shortage of font options" and screen brightness, line spacing, margins and font size can be adjusted while reading. Dark Mode is available for reading at night, though Sepia is missing. Moreover, the app also syncs between multiple devices, so you can pick up where you left off.
"In an Android app, with little work on the developer's part, you can share to just about any app or social network present on your phone (like Dropbox)," The Verge said. E-mail clients can also be selected, while an Instapaper button is added to the Share option in other apps. The iOS version requires a bookmarklet to be added.
Further, according to the company blog, they have noted that the app developers are working hard to add additional features to Instapaper for Android.
Additionally just like the iOS app, the users would be able to download up to 500 articles at a time.
While it is missing some features for now, the app does support the various flavors of Android, including for 7-inch tablets such as Kindle Fire and Nook and big, honking 10-inchers such as the Xoom and Galaxy. The company said that all updates to come are free for customers who buy the app, regardless of which Android store it's from.
Price And Availability
Instapaper for Android is priced at Google Play for $2.99 and runs on Android 2.2 and beyond. The app is now available and is further expected to be offered soon for Barnes & Noble's Nook and Amazon's Appstore.
