| By Bob Gourley |
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| December 13, 2011 08:23 AM EST |
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You might have missed it last week, but Google released one of the best designed apps I have ever seen. It was their news consumption app – Google Currents. Google released it for both Android and iOS. There are smartphone and tablet versions for Android, and the iPhone app seems to be the exact same as the Android smartphone version.
The app allows you to subscribe to a host of different periodicals, all which are displayed in a clear and easy to read format. You simply swipe left or right as you read to continue reading. There are options for formatting the text, etc, but the real key is that Google has made news easier to read than any other app out there.
Currents allows you to subscribe to the host of pre-determined sources, as well RSS feeds of your choice. As well, anyone can become their own editor (so look for a CTOvision Currents feed soon).
Google Currents brings down the web into easily digestible mobile form
What does Google Currents mean?
I think Currents will provide a few new (and useful) capabilities. I think there are enterprise capabilities that will be proffered. Commercial enterprises can use it as a pseudo twitter feed – to provide targeted and welcomed advertising and information. Inside the enterprise, it can be used to push relevant information around, and ensure data sharing. While there are not yet Currents notifications – do not count them out in the future.
The ability to create individual currents, allows independent producers of content to get their thoughts out there. While these currents might not be the best quality, it is a way to disseminate new information – and a new way to consume it.
For more info on Google Currents, check them out in the market – or see all of their currents here.
Google Currents' Clean interface is great for news consumption.
Bob Gourley, former CTO of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), is Founder and CTO of Crucial Point LLC, a technology research and advisory firm providing fact based technology reviews in support of venture capital, private equity and emerging technology firms. He has extensive industry experience in intelligence and security and was awarded an intelligence community meritorious achievement award by AFCEA in 2008, and has also been recognized as an Infoworld Top 25 CTO and as one of the most fascinating communicators in Government IT by GovFresh.
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