Instapaper makes reading Internet articles more like reading and less like surfing the web. It is perfect for longer pieces of journalism or essay, even horribly long emails.
The problem with the Internet is that it encourages speed. It’s all about finding things quickly, or flitting here and there, following the bread crumbs of links scattered around. It’s wonderful if what you want is a specific piece of information, or if you want to sample the serendipitous delights of a global information landscape. It is horrible if what you want to do is read.
Instapaper is one of a number of similar services that I have written about in the past, but it is the best service that also happens to have the best iPad app in its category.
With the click of a button, from RSS readers to web browsers, what you are reading can be converted into an experience that rivals and, in my opinion, exceeds the experience of apps like Kindle and iBooks. In a nutshell: if you find an article on a website that you want to read in a more pleasing format, away from the distraction of ads and navigation links and branding and twitter feeds in the sidebar, you click your “Save to Instapaper” button. You can install this button easily in any browser, including iPad Safari. When you login to instapaper.com or the next time you sync your Instapaper app, it will serve up your articles in a readable and customizable format. As an added bonus, the articles are downloaded for off-line reading (this is great for long plane rides).
The app is so well-designed, it is difficult to describe without just showing you. Check out the screen shots below. There you will see the ability to archive the articles (keeps them off your device), share articles with a circle of friends (something that Google Reader got rid of recently), discover new reading material from a curated list, and even find the articles from directly within the app using the dedicated browser.
Something I appreciate: Like Evernote, each Instapaper account comes with its own secret email address: if you send a link to this address, it will be added to your Instapaper account. There are other extra features like this – check out Instapaper Extras.
Best of all, the service itself is totally free (the app is $4.99). Get it and start using it. You will be surprised what being a reader feels like, as opposed to being a surfer.
Here are some great websites to find longer articles, perfect for loading up your new Instapaper app for the holidays:
The Best Magazine Articles Ever, from kk.org
Give Me Something To Read (Instapaper sister site)
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