| Developer(s) | Flipboard, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2010 |
| Operating system | iOS, Android[1] |
| Platform | iOS devices, Android devices |
| Type | Social-network aggregation |
| Website | flipboard.com |
Flipboard is a social-network aggregation, magazine-format application software for Android and iOS.
It collects the content of social media and other websites and presents it in magazine format and allows users to "flip" through their social-networking feeds and feeds from websites that have partnered with the company.
Originally designed specifically for the iPad, in December 2010, the application was updated to add support for the iPhone and iPod Touch. On May 5, 2012, it was announced that Flipboard would be released for select Android phones, beginning with the Samsung Galaxy S3.[1] Later, on May 30, 2012, a beta version of Flipboard for Android has been released through its website.[2] A final stable release of the Flipboard for Android was released on June 22, 2012 in Google Play[3] while the China version of Flipboard for Android was released on June 26, 2012.[4]
It is produced by Flipboard, Inc., a United States-based software company founded in 2010 by Mike McCue and Evan Doll and headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Contents |
History [edit]
Invention [edit]
According to McCue and Doll, the idea for the application was invented during a brainstorming session between them, during which they tried to imagine what the web would look like if it were designed from scratch. The design they came up with placed emphasis on the social web and the ability to consume content in a graphical magazine-like format.[5]
Reaction [edit]
The reaction to the application was mainly positive, with some calling it a "killer" iPad application.[6] Apple also positively reviewed it and named the application Apple's iPad App of the Year in 2010.[7] A new update of the software added more features such as support for Google Reader, a web-based aggregator, and content from more publishers. This update also received mostly favorable reviews.[8]
Censorship [edit]
On May 15, 2011, Flipboard was blocked by the Great Firewall of China. McCue said on his Twitter feed – "China has now officially blocked Flipboard".[9]
The company then released its first international edition for China. Beginning in February 2012, the company started self-censoring if the user is using the application from China. The content guide for China does not include Twitter and Facebook anymore. Existing subscriptions for Twitter or Facebook are also automatically removed.[10]
User interface [edit]
The application's user interface[11] is designed for intuitive flipping through content. Once the feeds have been set up, the first page seen when the application is opened is a visual list of the subscribed content. The iPhone version introduced a prominent "Cover Stories" section on the first page collating only the most recent, important items from all of the subscriptions. This is meant to be read when the user only has a short period of time for reading.[1]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Flipboard Inc announces Android release". Twitter. Flipboard Inc. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ^ Velazco, Chris (2012-05-30). "Flipboard Officially Opens Up Their Android Beta To Interested Testers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
- ^ Perez, Sarah (2012-06-22). "Flipboard Officially Launches On Android, Adds Google+, YouTube And More Localized Versions". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
- ^ Millard, Steven (2012-06-25). "Flipboard for Android ‘China Edition’ Launches, Comes to 2 Startup App Stores". TechInAsia. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
- ^ MacManus, Richard (October 7, 2010). "How Flipboard Was Created & Its Plans Beyond iPad". ReadWriteWeb. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ "Flipboard – A Killer App for the iPad". TechPad. 2010-10-01. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- ^ Yarow, Jay (December 9, 2010). "Apple Calls Flipboard 'iPad App of the Year'. Business Insider. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ Silverman, Dwight (December 16, 2010). "Flipboard: A Killer iPad App Gets Even Better". TechBlog (of the Houston Chronicle). Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ Wee, Willis (May 15, 2011). "'China Has Officially Blocked Flipboard,' Says CEO". Penn Olson. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ Jason (circa February 2012). "China – Flipboard Stopped Working". Flipboard forum post. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ Sapra, Jatin (circa March 2013). "5 Reasons Why Flipboard App Got Famous". Flipboard blog post. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
Further reading [edit]
- Richmond, Shane (August 4, 2010). "Flipboard: The Closest Thing I've Seen to the Future of Magazines". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- Westaway, Luke (July 22, 2010). "Flipboard for iPad Review". CNET. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
External links [edit]
- flipboard.com, Flipboard, Inc.'s official website
- Flipboard on Twitter
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