If you are reading this, you’re probably in a similar situation to me, trying to absorb as much content as possible, in a world of information overload.
Some years ago, this meant for me keeping up with a broad array of print publications topped up with online sourcers. As we moved towards an increasingly globalised and less centralised world, relying on content on the local newsstands and booksellers shelves proved increasingly not enough.
We all find ourselves scouring the world for titbits of information that shed new light on the world we live in. The PC has provided us with a great means of accessing this information but unfortunately it doesn’t provide a cure-all when it comes to consuming it. Laptops are more portable than ever but there are still plenty of situations where they aren’t appropriate or accessible.
This is where read it later services like Pocket and Instapaper come in handy, allowing users to push content (articles, blog posts etc) to a range of devices including tablets and smartphones for offline consumption. Similar native functionality is provided for Apple users as long as they stay loyal to Apple across their different devices via Reading List (I am an Android and OSX user making it a no go).
When I first started using Instapaper back in 2009, the service revolutionised my media consumption, freeing me from my desktop or the need to have hard copies of the relevant. When you find content you like online, you simply click on the browser extension and it’s pushed to the relevant device.
In the case of Pocket, you are also seeing integration with content sources and aggregators like Twitter, Flipboard, Pulse, Zite and Feedly making it easier to move content from one platform across to your read it later collection.
The only problem now is keeping up with the ever growing list of content in my reading list…not that I’m complaining (too much).
The featured image comes from French artist GoddoG