Read is a free iOS app to read EPUB that really helps pro-readers remember more from their readings.
Reading on a screen
Read is our new app to better understand how mobile reading should feel. Our previous iterations, Addr, an iPad app, uses collective annotations as an alternative reading workflow. Libr, a side-project, works like a P2P network and enables readers to share their ebooks within the app.
The startup has its roots in Thomas’ research on e-reading. His expertise drives our startup on a daily basis. Today, we think ourselves as a studio iterating around one core question: how to read on a screen? We somehow believed in “mobile first” before reading Ben Evans’ blog. Our job is to foresee what readers will look for when reading on a pocket computer in the near future.
Read is a coup against iBooks. We do think it is possible to hack the standard apps given on an iPhone with a smart design. Sunrise, Wunderlist, and Mailbox did manage to convince early adopters to switch for a nifty designed product. Also, it shows how much integrations enhance our daily experience as users. And this part matters maybe more than drawing a new set of icons. (Well, we actually do both.)
EPUB vs PDF
An average user highlights a text in order to focus on what she reads. On the other hand, pro-readers save quotes to produce content later on. At first, Read makes it easier for those who save quotes for a blogpost, a presentation and more. But Read is a consumer product too. It answers a mainstream need: how to enjoy reading on a screen, especially EPUBs. We’re convinced EPUBs will eventually replace PDFs as the standard text-format. Primarily because users can personalize fonts, margins, and more.
Read will change the way books are perceived. After Pocket, Medium, and Flipboard, we think that ebooks and web articles will eventually merge. Read is built like a hub between inputs (sources) and outputs, where readers can store data for later.
Remember
Also, Read uses highlights to help readers finish their book — and remember them too. Quantified-self apps like Health, Nike and even DayOne inspire us. Read treats reading like some would treat diets: recurring reminders help our users achieve more. Though it’s up to anyone to adjust the intensity.
Remembering what we read is a pain-point for avid readers. So how to save the quintessence of a book? We built the simplest tool for this. Read saves every highlight made into an Evernote dedicated note. And everything is synchronized between devices.
Our users also receive a weekly recap with all their highlights — plus various metrics like their total reading time Weekly recaps gather the highlights made during the week. Readers who didn’t finish a book are reminded of the work they’ve put into a book.
Read is available to download for free on the App Store. For more information about Read, please visit www.read.cx
