Huge Update to Outread Speed Reading App
Outread, my current favorite speed reading app, has just been updated with some very cool new features. The changes are so big that I would like to write a short post about it.
Here are some citations from the update log:
- Ebook support (DRM-free ePub), along with an optimized navigation – books are presented by chapters, similarly to iBooks
- Built-in directory of public domain, mostly classic, books (see “+” > “Browse Classic Books”)
- Statistics; see your overall and daily reading stats
- New reading mode - vertical centering of the highlighter; it limits vertical movements of your eyes by keeping the highlighted text centered on the screen (enable it in “Preferences” > “Reading Mode” > “Keep Highlighter Centered”)
- Pinboard integration (for bookmarks marked as “to read”)
- You can now enhance your speed-reading training with audio cues, i.e. a ticking sound played on every change of the highlighter’s position (see “Preferences” > “Reading Mode” > “Audio Feedback”)
- Improved chunking algorithm: 1) long compound words with hyphens can now be divided into parts, so it’s easier to read them; 2) the app now works correctly with character-based languages (Chinese, Japanese, etc.)
- “Open in Safari” and “Delete” buttons added to Activity Menu
Ebooks is huge, statistics are neat, Pinboard integration, changes to the speed reading algorithms, as well as fixes to my original complaints that you can’t delete articles. I can’t recommend this app highly enough.