The Early Edition 2 is the app that I have been loading up first every morning for almost two weeks now. It takes a bit longer (30-50 seconds) to prepare its dynamic layout than apps like Flipboard, but the wait is well worth it because the layouts in the early edition are pure, unadulterated awesome.
The Early Edition 2 can be used as a stand-alone news reader with its own set of feeds, but I prefer that it
take feeds from my Google Reader account and create a custom paper from the 50 or so websites that I follow. The Early Edition is also able to edit existing reader feeds and folders, which is a feature that many RSS apps don’t seem to bother with, and I love being able to peruse and curate my content all in one mobile interface.
You’re free to browse the app by section or feeds, but I have the most fun with the app when I simply swipe through it page by page — just like I used to do with the morning paper. The combination of the nearly-invisible controls, excellent page turning animation (just like the one in iBooks), and the excellent dynamic layout which adjusts beautifully to long and short posts, make for a superb reading experience. I don’t tend to load the Early Edition 2 more than once or twice a day (partly due to the loading speed), but whenever I do it’s an occasion to sit back, relax, and read.
The app is full of little design touches that really set it apart from the crowd. The Early Edition 2 may not always offer the fastest way to get something done, but it’s often the most delightful. Here are a few examples of my favorite little features:
– sharing items results in packing them up and sending them off in a brown envelope
– starred items end up as cut-outs inside of a blue clipping box
– the on screen controls are usually hidden, but can always be reached with a simple downward swipe
– individual sections and feeds can be customized to show just text or focus on photos
– linked list posts can be configured to display the webpage being linked to, rather than the commentary
In other words, the Early Edition 2 was very clearly made by designers and developers who love reading a variety of web content and wanted to create a home for all of it on the iPad. It’s also quite clear to me that they have succeeded in this, though there are a few tweaks that I would love to see in a future update.
I’m glad that there is an option to pinch to close articles, but I do miss the double tap to close that is present in apps like Flipboard. I also find it a little strange that the article view in landscape mode cannot go fullscreen, and it’s currently a little too easy to tap outside the margin and accidentally close the article that you’re reading.
Other than these admittedly minor gripes, I have to say that I am ridiculously happy with the Early Edition 2. It’s a fantastic iPad app for browsing all of my favourite website feeds and at $5 it packs enough innovation and style to warrant a purchase even from iPad owners who may already use other great news apps, like Flipboard, Zite, and Reeder.
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The Early Edition 2 was provided by Glasshouse Apps for review on iSource. For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the “About” page.
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TAGS: ipad news app
