Google’s response to the users who liked the functionality of RSS in Reader but wanted a better user interface came in the form of Google Currents. Currents is available for both Google’s Android OS and iOS for iPhones and iPads. Google Currents presents itself as an easy to use on and offline reader of everything from RSS to individual websites searchable from within the app. Both apps are available for free and functionality of the app is pretty easy to setup and use. Within the description the app touts, “Google Currents delivers beautiful magazine-like editions to your tablet and smartphone for high speed and offline reading” which I would have to say is appropriate. Adding sources is very easy. There’s a search feature to locate any additional source you’d like as well as any website given they have an RSS feed. If you’re a Google Reader user, you’ll be happy to note that Currents automatically lists all of you current Reader subscriptions in a tab labeled “Feeds.” Google Currents has come leaps since it beta release in 2011. Sharing to Social Media is as easy as it’s always been with Google Products. Simply press the share button at the top and pick your favored medium, whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and so on, Currents has support for them all. The biggest positive of Currents is it’s graphical interface. No more heavy text reading and no more annoying unread counts next to every source. News reading is done on your time and Currents keeps up with trending stories for you whether you subscribe to the source or not, you’ll be informed as much as you choose to be. The only draw back that I have found is unlike Reader, there is no companion site for PC. Meaning you cannot view your Currents account through a website, only through your phone. However that’s what Currents is meant for in the first place. This new standard is simple. Provide a clean, easy to use interface while keeping the information front and center. Google Currents makes news reading much more enjoyable from a tablet to a smart phone. Almost every part of the app is full color and some even include videos. This is the basis that all other mobile news reading apps should base themselves. However there are others that truly enjoy the bare bones text heavy Reader, and that just comes down to preference.

Check the original introduction video from Google back in 2011 and download Google Currents through the Play Store or the iOS App Store

-AJ