We don’t always have the convenience to read content on a site that a friend suggested we look into. Sometimes, you just don’t have the bandwidth in term of being able to download the doc and read it; or, you simply don’t have the time.
If you find yourself in such situations, then PaperSpan may be the solution.
PaperSpan allows you to save web content for a later time, so that when you have the time, you can simply pull up your content, online or off, and read to your heart’s content. I found a great use of the app to be when I was catching the commuter rail between cities. I would find everything that I wanted to review or read during my trip, download it using PaperSpan and then pull it up effortlessly and without any bumps, so I could read it without interruptions or bad connections.
The download it for free and works on both mobile and desktop devices, so you can setup your reading materials from wherever, and read from wherever.
The app itself boasts a very clean, almost zenlike, design, which is what really got me interested. I’m already going to be filtering through a lot of reading content; I don’t want the app that gets me there to be as congested.
Each page you save becomes an item in PaperSpan. These saved pages can be sorted based on your preferences and then later searched for. Searches are incredibly easy and straightforward. If you are tired and don’t feel like reading, use your earplugs and set the consumption mode to Text to Speech. PaperSpan will read the content to you.
What is really cool, and this is especially for night owls, is the ability to set the app to night mode, so that the display is not as bright. If you own a Kindle, and prefer reading from that device, PaperSpan allows you to send saved content to your Kindle.
For folks who are reading and reviewing articles and want to make notes as they go along, PaperSpan supports that, as well. What is really cool are the controls that make reading very easy. There is Auto Scroll, a text only view (so pictures don’t get in the way), the ability to change the font size and style to meet your needs, and a Zoom.
If you really like something you just read, you can share it with others through the standard social media outlets: SMS, Facebook, Twitter, email and more.
What is most important is that the developer is always looking to improve the app, so updates ensure easier readability and a more enriched experience.
What I would like to see sometime in the future is the ability to print content and share a hardcopy. Not earth friendly, I know, but sometimes you need to do it.
Until then, I will continue to maximize my reading experience by finding, saving and reading through PaperSpan. It’s like having a DVR for web content!