Google Currents – Review – The latest news on the cheap
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Google
Version #: 1.0.0.938
Date Released: 2011-12-08
Developer: Google
Price: free
User Rating:
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Google Currents is the next generation of the Google Reader app. At a glance, it’s a feed from various news sources throughout the web and puts them all in one place in a magazine format. The design of the app is up to Google’s usual excellence. This app is likely a reaction to Apple’s Newsstand app on iOS.
The app is very customizable in terms of the feeds. You can get feeds from your favorite sites or blogs. Google Currents can automatically be set to download new content for reading when you’re someplace with no Internet access. The app also tracks trending news via Google and offers random links to articles relating to the most-talked-about items on the web.
The feed content is limited. I looked for CNN in the news and didn’t find it. It is possible to get a feed from other sites, but those aren’t optimized for Google Currents the way the ones listed are. I was able to move my CNN feed from Google Reader to Google Currents (it’s an option in the app), so it’s not a total loss.
Naturally, your library is customizable and since it’s Google, you can search the possible feeds.
Ultimately, while the app is very pretty and convenient, it doesn’t do anything that a thousand other RSS feeders out there don’t already do (although Google Currents is prettier than most). If you’re big on news in the magazine format (which works better on iPad than iPhone) then this app is for you (and the price is certainly right). Otherwise, it’s possible to live without it.
Quick Take
Value:Medium.
Would I Buy Again:For free? Sure.
Learning Curve:Low.
Who Is It For:Those who want an app with all their internet news in one place.
What I Like:Good layout and design. Offline reading.
What I Don't Like:The magazine format doesn't always suit web content.
Final Statement:Google Currents is the internet news in convenient magazine form.
google * Publisher editions - Publishers such as Forbes, TechCrunch, Saveur, Popular Science, Good, 500px, Fast Company and more have produced hundreds of editions including in-depth articles, videos, fine photography, slideshows, live-maps, and social streams.
* Google trending editions - Google Currents uses Google search technology to hourly build a set of editions tracking the five most recent trending stories in categories such as world, entertainment, sports, science, and more. Each story is presented through a fresh edition of articles, videos, and pictures,
* Your favorite blogs and feeds - Instantly, turn your Google Reader subscriptions, or any of your favorite blogs/feeds into a beautiful edition with a magazine feel.
Each edition is available for high speed offline reading, and provides quick-touch sharing. Google Currents self-adapts to differently sized phones and tablets, with your subscriptions synchronized across devices. Google Currents - a reading experience not to be missed.
What's new
Bug fixes.
