In the past day many tech publications have covered the launch of Flipboard, an iPad app that allows consumers to view content in an interactive way. The company officially calls it a “social magazine.” Here’s how the app works:
- Install the app on your iPad.
- Add your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
- Select content feeds from a pre-determined list.
- Click on the feeds you’ve added (including Facebook and Twitter) and browse through your content.
Content appears as an interactive magazine.
For example: Many people use Twitter to share links and other content. Clicking on those links gets tiring after a while. Flipboard solves that by presenting the Twitter feed and links in a magazine format.
Many people have said that this application is the future of news. In its current stage, it isn’t close. Here’s what the application needs to do in order to reach that potential:
- Allow RSS feeds.
- Enable dynamic media — photos, videos, etc.
- Give content publishers a chance to build their own “Flip” system that is displayed within the app. These modules should be able to support paid content.
- Grow beyond the handful of content that is offered.
The concept is good. But, many news publishers have created and distributed apps that are similar to Flipboard. At this point, it is a long way away from being a newspaper replacement. But, so far, it is one of very few apps that has true potential.
