Instapaper Makes its Android Debut on Google Play Store
June 05, 2012
By Tanya Palta, TMCnet Contributing Writer
Instapaper for Android (News - Alert) is no longer a dream, as it is now available on the Google Play Store. The release of the Android version has surprised many, since Instapaper creator Marco Arment has never been the most ardent supporter of the Android platform.
Retailing for $2.99, the Android app fails in comparison to its iOS counterpart, and just like Instagram, lacks the bells and whistles of the iOS app.
"We're working hard to add additional features to Instapaper for Android," according to a company blog post. "We believe that we've captured the core Instapaper experience but can't wait to make the app even better."
Instapaper is primarily a mobile bookmarking service that lets users save links to read later their convenience. Developed in conjunction with Marco, the app is not some hack job and has been designed with various Android devices in mind, ranging from tablets like the Kindle Fire and NOOK Color, to 10-inch pieces like the Motorola XOOM and Samsung (News - Alert) Galaxy Tab, as well as phones like the Samsung Galaxy series and Motorola Droid series.
The app uses the core Android UI infrastructure and tries to stay faithful to the fundamental Instapaper experience.
Instapaper for Android is fundamentally different from its iOS equivalent. For starters, it doesn’t support full screen view of a story, or the option to pore through featured stories discarded from the day’s most frequently saved parts. It also lacks the popular pagination option, but all this is justified, since the Android app is cheaper than the iOS one.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re finished,” Mobelux continued. “We’re working hard to add additional features to Instapaper for Android. We believe that we’ve captured the core Instapaper experience but can’t wait to make the app even better. All future updates will be free to existing customers who purchase Instapaper for Android, no matter which store they buy from.”
Edited by Braden Becker