Create a Peer-Powered Magazine Using Flipboard's Timeline Links

Would you read an aesthetically pleasing digital magazine that is custom tailored to your interests? That would be awesome, right? I believe I’ve found this exact product by using a combination of Twitter, Flipboard, and the “Your Timeline Links” feature… and I think you’d like it too.

I'm always on the look-out for apps and websites that help me stay informed on the topics I care about most. The trouble is: everyone likes different stuff. We all have unique tastes. So, which website or app is the best to read? One solution I’ve found is to follow the recommendations of people I trust most.

I’ve mentioned that Twitter shows you what your peers are thinking, and importantly, the links they’re sharing. However, after following dozens of people, the tweets really add up. If you follow a lot of folks on Twitter you know what I’m talking about. Any given time of day that you check Twitter there’ll be a ton of thoughts, photos, and links to read through. Did you miss a good link from 10am? Shouldn’t there be a “Best of Twitter” list? There should, and there is. You can find it using Flipboard.

Flipboard started out as a highly acclaimed iPad app. It “wows” people. The first thing you do is link it to your Twitter and/or Facebook accounts. It then displays your social streams in a beautifully rendered magazine-like format. This is quite impressive, but I really found value when I discovered the “Your Timeline Links” feature. This view filters your Twitter stream down to the important news, photos, and blog posts that someone in your social network found valuable enough to share.

Here’s what it looks like on the iPad and iPhone (it’s also available on Android devices, if that’s how you roll):

iPhone:

iPad:

Be sure to add “Your Timeline Links” to your Flipboard homepage:

Now I find myself checking into Fliboard in the morning and evening to see what people are sharing. What do you think? If there’s anything better out there I’d love to hear about it.

iPad Blog Post Roundup

Yesterday was a monumental day for tech news. I eagerly awaited Steve Job's keynote presentation about Apple's revolutionary new tablet device: the iPad. Later that night I found myself relentlessly searching for perspectives from the tech community. Here's a summary of the blog posts I found most interesting.

The Uncomputer

Daniel Tenner's post "iPad: and Apple for Mom" explains why the iPad may be exactly what the masses have been waiting for. He argues that "most people don't need a proper computer at all."

Marketing

Rory Marinich's amusing post "This is why it's worth learning about advertising" discusses Apple's sales pitch: Our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price. He describes the iPad as: "simply put, a magical screen that can do anything you ever want it to, no matter what that is."

Inspiration

Miguel de Icaza's post "iPad - Inspirational Hardware" talks about his excitement for building applications on a touch-based computer. He wants to build apps using his favorite language, C# (which I use at my job).

Regret

Alex Payne's post "On the iPad" expresses his concern that the closed nature of the device may be detrimental to the next generation. He states "if I had an iPad rather than a real computer as a kid, I’d never be a programmer today."

My Personal Take

I'd love to use the iPad as an information consuming device. Often times I read news in bed and other non-desk locations. The iPhone has provided me with lots of innovative apps that help me find exactly the information I'm after. Although I don't have $500 burning a hole in my pocket, I can certainly see the allure and this new book/blog/news reading gadget. Am I too caught up in all the hype?