Apple’s 2010 iPad app of the year, Flipboard, has released a major update to takes its news-reading functionality to the next level, through the integration of Google Reader and Flickr feeds and two-way Facebook and Twitter.
Exclusive to iPad users, Flipboard turns your online experience into a social magazine, creating pages of “flippable” content, and integrating links, text and images seamlessly. One of the biggest changes in Flipboard’s new version is the addition of Google Reader and support for RSS feeds. Previously, users had to work for the full version of a story, but now the app automatically grabs the RSS, making it easier and faster to get your information. Once you tap on a story you’ll see a teaser, but instead of tapping “Read on the web” for the full version, simply slide up the preview pane displayed at the bottom of the screen and you’ll have an instant web site view. If there’s no RSS feed, you can tap “View Original Article” to get the same effect.
Twitter and Facebook integration has been amped up with the inclusion of dedicated spaces for your accounts. I was disappointed to see that Flipboard still only provides support for one account at each service, but I do like that Flipboard has gotten on board with in-app interaction. With Twitter, you can reply, retweet and read conversation threads when you tap into individual messages. In Facebook, you can see comments by others, leave your own, or like a status message. In each, you can compose new updates, but I didn’t see support for direct messages on Twitter or for Facebook mail, so you won’t be able to exclusively use Flipboard for your social networking needs. When you’re reading other content in Flipboard, you can share the story via in-app email or post to Google Reader, Facebook or Twitter (use the drop down menu to choose).
Speaking of content, Flipboard is also giving users the first glimpse of its new Flipboard Pages project, a partnership with media companies that will design magazine content specifically for the app using HTML 5. Currently, prototypes are available from All Things Digital and Bon Appetit.
Flipboard’s update also offers Flickr support.
