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Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

getpocket.com

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Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#21

Post by webwright »

Splines wrote: post #20
flyosity wrote: post #2

I think the name Pocket is absolutely perfect. It lends itself to a really clear and understandable marketing slogan ("Don't have time to read it now? Just put it in your Pocket!") but also leaves room for how the company might grow and expand in the coming years. "What else can you put in your Pocket?" I'm sure they have that written on a whiteboard in their office with 30 bulleted items below it detailing what they…

It's not a great name for search though. I couldn't find it on Google, and it's nowhere near the top in App Store search. It's possible it'll get better as the name gains popularity, but telling someone "Search for 'Pocket'" isn't going to work right now.

It will be. Ranking in Google is based on links. In a few weeks tens of thousands of sites will be linking the word "pocket" to that site and they'll be the top result in no time. Surprisingly, there is already a really popular Android App called pocket ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citc.walle... ), but with the traction of ReadItLater, I imagine they'll beat it out in no time.

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#22

Post by subpixel »

thoradam wrote: post #12

The key part here is that it is tailored for any kind of content as opposed to just text, everything you'd like to "view later". Spool ( http://getspool.com/ ) did this as well, with the twist that they actually scrape content (videos and all) to save to your devices to view offline. For some reason it doesn't seem like Spool ever took off.

The Pocket homepage suggests the same functionality:

"If it's in Pocket, it's on your phone, tablet or computer. You don't even need an Internet connection."

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#24

Post by lhnz »

flyosity wrote: post #2

I think the name Pocket is absolutely perfect. It lends itself to a really clear and understandable marketing slogan ("Don't have time to read it now? Just put it in your Pocket!") but also leaves room for how the company might grow and expand in the coming years. "What else can you put in your Pocket?" I'm sure they have that written on a whiteboard in their office with 30 bulleted items below it detailing what they…

It can also be used as a verb which always seems apt for a tool. As in, "I pocketed the articles and went to play my xbox!"

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#25

Post by jaredsohn »

xuki wrote: post #18
cormullion wrote: post #6

I can't remember now why I chose ReadItLaterPro over Instapaper - it was a few years ago, and I think I just preferred the look of RIL, but the name was always less than brilliant, since it was quite generic. Both are supported well by the iPad and iPhone apps I use, although the newcomer that's been getting all the press recently is Readability. The ReadItLater app has just magically renamed itself and re-iconed its…

What do you mean by magically? Did you not update the app and the icon changed?

Likely the user updated all apps as people routinely do and the icon changed. The purpose of saying "magically" is that it isn't something the user spent any mental effort on but it just happened.

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#26

Post by natep »

xuki wrote: post #18
cormullion wrote: post #6

I can't remember now why I chose ReadItLaterPro over Instapaper - it was a few years ago, and I think I just preferred the look of RIL, but the name was always less than brilliant, since it was quite generic. Both are supported well by the iPad and iPhone apps I use, although the newcomer that's been getting all the press recently is Readability. The ReadItLater app has just magically renamed itself and re-iconed its…

What do you mean by magically? Did you not update the app and the icon changed?

You can set all/certain android apps to update automatically, which I'm guessing GP did for RIL/Pocket

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#27

Post by hopeless »

As a long-time ReadItLater user, I'm not too impressed with the "Pocket" rebranding ("Read It Later" made it obvious what it did) but the new iOS app solves most of the issues I had with it (it auto-resolve bit.ly links, pulls in titles even if the client app didn't add them, etc). And it looks much better.

Readability still has a more readable text-only view but I assume Pocket could just tweak the CSS (slightly larger font, larger line height).

I am worried that everything is free now. I preferred to live under the impression/illusion that my money had gone to fund the infinite existence of the service. Now it's totally at the mercy of investors / potential buyers.

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#28

Post by ashishgandhi »

I always wonder, if Facebook says (as per their SEC filings) mobile is a threat because they haven't figured out how to monetize that platform without destroying the user experience. How will Pocket be able to sustain itself in the future?

Especially when one of the implied objectives of the service is to get rid of ads in the first place. Place a limit on space? Bandwidth? Then Instapaper's one time fee seems cheaper than a recurring cost. Even if it's a pay-only-once for X more articles per time you'll have to buy more when that limit is hit.

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#29

Post by xuki »

jaredsohn wrote: post #25
xuki wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean by magically? Did you not update the app and the icon changed?

Likely the user updated all apps as people routinely do and the icon changed. The purpose of saying "magically" is that it isn't something the user spent any mental effort on but it just happened.

That sure must happened before to cormullion, many apps tweak their icons during update. Since he said magically I would like to clarify what does it mean (and we may learn something new :) ).

Re: Pocket Released (Formerly Read It Later)

#30

Post by xuki »

natep wrote: post #26
xuki wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean by magically? Did you not update the app and the icon changed?

You can set all/certain android apps to update automatically, which I'm guessing GP did for RIL/Pocket

It's an iPad, not android device.
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