Flipboard vs Google News

2023. Flipboard launches its notes feature on iOS and Android



Flipboard has introduced its notes feature to its iOS and Android apps, following its recent launch on the web. This move positions Flipboard as a participant in the ongoing competition to shift some of the discussions happening on Twitter to its own platform. The notes feature provides users with a convenient method to share thoughts and initiate conversations, according to the company. Flipboard's curators now have the ability to publish original content in their magazines, facilitating engagement and dialogue with their readers. Users can also utilize notes to greet new followers and share their perspectives and ideas.


2022. Google News redesigned with a cleaner look, more customization options



Google has recently unveiled a revamped version of its service. The updated Google News boasts a streamlined, two-column layout, with a significant enhancement in usability. The navigation elements are predominantly positioned at the top of the page, offering a user-friendly experience. Notably, customization and personalization have been given prime importance. At the top of the page, Google presents "top stories" and "picks for you," while scrolling down reveals a more comprehensive breakdown of the topics tailored to your interests. By clicking on the "customize" button, you have the freedom to modify these preferences. Furthermore, Google has made local news more accessible by incorporating it into the top menu alongside other news categories.


2018. Google News gets AI-redesign



Google has introduced a new and improved version of Google News that combines the functionalities of Google Play Newsstand and incorporates artificial intelligence (AI). This redesigned service merges elements from Google's digital magazine app, Newsstand, and YouTube, offering users features like "newscasts" and "full coverage" to provide both concise summaries and comprehensive perspectives on news stories. The updated version presents a briefing section at the top of the page, highlighting the five most important stories at the moment, along with additional stories tailored to the user's interests. Leveraging AI technology, the feature analyzes web news content to gather the key information you need to know, including local news and events specific to your area. As you continue to use this personalized version of Google News, its performance will improve over time, thanks to the underlying "reinforcement learning" technology.


2015. News reader Flipboard launches new ads targeting based on user interests



In an effort to provide better targeting options for its advertising partners, Flipboard has introduced a new advertising feature based on the interest graphs it has curated for its users. This means that advertisers can now display their ads alongside topics that align with their target audience's interests. For instance, an advertiser promoting coffee-related products may also have their ads shown alongside craft beer topics, as there is a significant overlap in readership between these two subjects. This approach aims to recreate the advertising experience found in traditional magazines, where high-quality ads are placed alongside related content, even if it's not directly relevant. This strategy aligns with Flipboard's overarching mission of providing a mobile magazine-like experience to its users.


2015. Flipboard allows users to add own opinions to their mobile magazines



The mobile news magazine app Flipboard has introduced an update that empowers magazine creators to infuse their publications with a stronger personal touch. They can now share their thoughts and opinions on the news they present, pose questions, quote text, customize their magazines with links or personal photos, and more. Previously, Flipboard users had the ability to curate their own magazines by pulling in articles from various sources to create unique collections centered around specific topics. However, the aggregated digital content often lacked an editorial voice compared to traditional glossy magazines. With the latest update, creators now have the option to add text, links, images, and other elements to their magazines. Flipboard suggests that this feature can be utilized for purposes such as engaging in discussions with readers, seeking co-contributors, making notes about magazine changes, or asking questions. It also allows magazine builders to highlight impactful sentences, express their own sentiments and opinions about the included articles, thereby providing additional context to the stories.


2015. Flipboard launched web news reader for desktop


The popular mobile news-reading service Flipboard has finally introduced its web version, expanding its reach to desktop users. Flipboard aimed to create a website that feels familiar to its users while staying true to the essence of the web experience. Just as Flipboard dynamically adjusts and optimizes stories for optimal display on smartphones and tablets, its web version utilizes unique design principles and user interaction features tailored specifically for desktop usage. Unlike the flipping gesture used on mobile touchscreens, the web design of Flipboard enables users to scroll through relevant content. The layout adapts based on the type of content being displayed, with some featuring captivating full-bleed images, while others emphasize text. Additionally, the web version incorporates the extensive personalization features that Flipboard has developed over the years, allowing users to enjoy a personalized news experience on the desktop.


2014. Flipboard 3.0 makes topics the center of attention



Flipboard has introduced a new iteration of its social-magazine app, featuring enhanced curation tools and the introduction of a daily newspaper-style magazine, meticulously curated by the company's editorial team. The app now incorporates content analysis and recommendation technology developed by Zite (acquired by Flipboard in March), making it easier for users to navigate through their personalized collection of 10 million magazines. When users, both new and existing, access the topic picker, they will now discover additional sub-topics related to their selection, expanding the range of their interests. Previously, Flipboard offered 30 topics, but now users can choose from an impressive total of 34,000 topics. Furthermore, the mobile app has undergone a comprehensive redesign, simplifying the process of signing up and selecting topics. However, the most significant addition in this new version is the introduction of a curated daily news-magazine called The Daily Edition. This magazine, compiled by Flipboard's staff, aims to provide users with a convenient way to stay updated on the latest top news across various sectors, offering a one-stop resource for catching up.


2014. News reader Google Currents rebranded to Google Play Newsstand



Google's magazine-like news reading iOS app, Google Currents, is undergoing a redesign and introducing several new features to compete with platforms like Flipboard. One notable addition is the ability to subscribe to specific topics of interest, in addition to subscribing to publishers, blogs, and RSS feeds. Alongside these updates, the app is being rebranded as Google Play Newsstand, aligning with the name change on Android devices. The redesigned iOS Newsstand app includes a revamped top-level navigation system, offering various categories to facilitate managing subscriptions and accessing preferred news content. These categories include a "Read Now" section, guiding users to articles and editions from their current subscriptions, a "My Library" section listing their Newsstand subscriptions, and a "Topics" feature that enables subscriptions to specific areas of interest.


2013. Today Google Reader will be closed. Top 4 alternatives



Despite the fact that many competitors (including Facebook, AOL and LinkedIn) decided to take advantage of the Google Reader closure and started building their own news readers, Google was confident in its decision and today will close the Reader. The second sad news - is that for now there is no decent replacement to Google Reader. So for while RSS users will have to survive somehow and watch the progress of the new RSS services. Perhaps the best replacement to Google Reader right now is Feedly. Three months ago Feedly worked only as a browser plug-in and used Google Reader to pull news. Recently they have launched the full-fledged online service with its own backend. ***


2013. F*ck Google Glass! Top 3 Google Reader alternatives



So, Google is closing Google Reader in order to focus on more important projects, such as Google Glass. If you want to know what Hitler thinks about it - watch the video. May be the numerous petitions will make Google change its mind, but in any case, now it's appropriate to talk about alternative solutions. There are a lot of alternative RSS readers, but basically, these are very weak solutions. It's logical, because there was no sense to seriously develop RSS service, having the free Google Reader as rival. Hopefully, the best alternative to Google Reader will appear in the next 3 months. In the meantime, we suggest three options that look decent right now: ***