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Instapaper for iPhone and iPad updates to 2.3 with new layouts and geolocation dark mode
Instapaper, the fantastic 'read it later' service from Marco Arment, has just seen an app update for the iPhone and iPad. The universal iOS app has been bumped to version 2.3 bringing with it quite a few improvements, fixes and changes.The layout of the reading list on the iPhone version has been brought more into line with what you find on the iPad, featuring the first few lines of text from each clipped article. There's also a new, beautifully simple article length and progress indicator, which presents as a row of dots that darken to show you how far you've got through the clip.
Dark mode, which changes the interface to white on black for reading in low light conditions, can now be toggled without leaving the article, but better than that, it can also be set to automatically switch at night time. By using geolocation, Instapaper can track sunset times and change to dark mode as dusk draws in. Fantastic if you happen to read articles at night, but want normal, black on white, during the day.
If you're on an iDevice and you want to save an article for later, you can now append an 'i' (ihttp://) to the URL in Mobile Safari to have it open up in Instapaper for clipping, adding to the existing save by bookmarklet and email, which now gives you the choice of three clipping methods.
The update makes many other smaller improvements and fixes, including speed increases on the iPad, but for a full change log hit the jump.
Instapaper [iTunes] - $4.99
- Article list on iPhone now includes the first few lines of text from articles, like on iPad. On iPad, more text is now shown. The text is downloaded for new articles only: RE-DOWNLOAD ALL ARTICLES in Settings for it to apply to your previously downloaded articles.
- Article list now indicates approximate article length and progress with a row of dots, similar to how it's done on a Kindle's home screen.
- iPad updates are MUCH faster.
- iPhone can now toggle Dark mode from articles, like iPad, in the font panel.
- New option to switch to Dark mode automatically at night, based on sunset times in your region. (This is so cool.)
- Overhauled logins to tolerate username changes, give more helpful errors, and fix the "username is already taken" bug.
- New Sharing options: Send to OmniFocus, Send to QuickReader (supported by its next version), Copy Link, Copy Article Text. Also fixed sharing bugs with Twitter and Twittelator Pro.
- New option to skip the in-app Browser and open links directly in Safari.
- New feature to verify that you're using the same account in the app and Mobile Safari and sync to your choice of accounts if they differ.
- Simplified bookmarklet installation and improved help text.
- Fixed handing of in-page anchors (including most footnotes) and mailto: links.
- Added support for the "ihttp://" URL scheme, so if you can't get the bookmarklet, the email address, or Copy working to add pages, you can edit Safari's URL field and insert an "i" before the "http://", tap Go, and Instapaper will launch and offer to add that page.
- Fixed miscellaneous bugs.
Comments
33
Subscribe to commentsDavid LevineNov 11th 2010 10:57AM
I prefer Read It Later. The free iPhone app offers more functionality than the free Instapaper app. Also, Marco Arment is a dick. At least he was to me when I emailed him a question.
DanielNov 11th 2010 1:36PM
Actually you are quite clearly the dick, sir.
GreenieNov 11th 2010 1:36PM
Marco has always been great to me in correspondence.
We can't qualify your description of him unless we know 1) what you asked and 2) how you responded.
Justin PenningtonNov 11th 2010 1:58PM
David,
You request a feature to be moved from pro to free and were declined. The service is free and the pro app is only $5. I've spent more than that on a soda before. Stop wasting everyones time and pay the one time $5 fee versus tormenting the developer.
Justin
David LevineNov 11th 2010 1:58PM
I had sent Marco Arment an email stating how much I enjoyed using Instapaper and depended on the folders feature to organize my unread items. I then asked if folders would ever be available in the free version of the Instapaper iPhone app.
He promptly responded stating, "If you like it so much, why don't you buy it?"
To some, that may seem like an acceptable answer. To me, it came off as rude. I would have gladly accepted a response of, "There are no current plans to implement folders in the free version of the Instapaper iPhone app. However, the paid version currently has this functionality and so much more."
I had replied back stating that I felt his response was rude and condescending and that something along the lines of, "There are no current plans," would have sufficed. He then responded back stating he apologized and didn't mean it that way, but then turned around and slammed me again.
I've written many developers and I have either gotten no response or a sincere one. Marco would've been better off ignoring my email.
hamishNov 11th 2010 2:00PM
Let me guess: your question was "can I have the moon on a stick?" and his answer was "no"?
David LevineNov 11th 2010 2:04PM
@hamish If you could read, you would have seen what my question was to the developer before you posting your sarcastic comment.
On the bright side, it's nice to know that Marco isn't rude to everyone.
Joel HousmanNov 11th 2010 2:06PM
Actually David Levine,
You requested to Marco that he make one of the premium features that you get for paying for Instapaper Pro to be migrated over to the free version of Instapaper so that you do not have to pay for it.
Marco is a very nice person, and I can say that having met him in person at SXSW 2010. He was very cordial and was gracious enough to talk to me for 10 minutes about his app and developing in general.
It is self-entitled pricks like yourself that feel everything should be handed to you, free, and then you don't get what you ask, you go about the internet spamming blog posts with comments lying about correspondence with a developer.
As Daniel says, above, you sir, are the dick.
David LevineNov 11th 2010 2:09PM
I just asked the developer a question. Why is that such a bad thing? Like I said, he could've given me a simple response like, "There are no plans to make folders available in the free version," I would've been fine.
I apologize for stirring everyone up over this. Thanks!
Ryan M.Nov 11th 2010 2:31PM
Whether or not you perceived the comment to be rude is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is, it is a very valid question. Marco is hard working, and dedicated to providing an insanely useful tool to people. It troubles me just a little bit that people have a problem paying $5, the cost of beer at your local bar, for something they "depend on". I don't presume to know what kind of work you do, but I bet you've spend more than $5 on other things you use for work without batting an eyelash. A notebook? A box of mediocre pens? Some coffee to wake up in the morning? Software? Why is software for your phone held to a different standard? Because it is smaller?
Though this is in response to your comment David, my ill feelings are not directed at you personally, but rather a portion of the "app-buying" community as a whole. The people who scoff at anything that isn't given to them for free , and the people who leave the one-star "TOO EXPENSIVE!" comments on $2 apps represent a serious problem with the app ecosystem.
I also find it odd that its really only the large companies that are allowed to price their junky, promotional, afterthoughts of games at $10 without anyone raising hell. Ok I'm off the soap box.
David LevineNov 11th 2010 2:36PM
@Ryan M. First and foremost, thank you for your intelligent response and not resorting to name calling (though I can only blame myself for starting that).
I agree that $5 is not a lot and that many people have issues with paying for iPhone apps. When I say "depend on," I only meant that I heavily used folders in Instapaper as a way of organization.
As I said in my very first comment, this was my experience. I asked what I perceived to be a very simple question and got what I perceived to be a rude answer.
And yes, I've spent a little more than $5 on a notebook, but not pens or coffee. ;-)
KyleNov 11th 2010 2:41PM
"I would have gladly accepted a response of, "There are no current plans to implement folders in the free version of the Instapaper iPhone app. However, the paid version currently has this functionality and so much more.""
See, to me, this sounds like ad-speak. It sounds like boilerplate copy that somebody has in a Gmail template that they fire off to everyone regardless of what the original complaint was.
What you got back from Marco, on the other hand, was at least a genuine answer, from a real person, asking a pretty relevant question. I'd take that any day.
David LevineNov 11th 2010 2:43PM
@Kyle I can see that. Thanks for your polite and intelligent comment.
BrendanNov 11th 2010 4:56PM
@David Levine The truth is you're actually tight (with money). So then, you feel you have to call Marco a dick - which is definitely not. You need to grow up.
David LevineNov 11th 2010 5:08PM
I think you and many other people are missing my point. I was not upset with the fact that the free version lacked a certain feature. I was upset with how my question was answered.
And no, I'm not tight with money. I just asked a question. What's the harm in asking? I never complained about the price of anything.
ClaytonNov 13th 2010 10:48PM
Not sure if that's better or worse than the no response I've gotten (and I did pay for Instapaper Pro).
Thomas HoustonNov 11th 2010 12:12PM
update is pretty solid.
Samuel GibbsNov 11th 2010 3:35PM
Agreed, well worth becoming a subscriber. Truly excellent service.
BzavierNov 11th 2010 1:50PM
Daniel, I think you diagnosis is spot on.
Our friend David L. does make himself come across as a rather unpleasant character.
OliverNov 11th 2010 1:42PM
Instapaper is one of the best, most generously updated apps for iOS, it's the Angry Birds of online consumption apps.