TheColumnist

In today's fast-paced environment and the explosion of online blogs, it has become more difficult to even remember to read an opinion written by one of your favorite writers, not to to mention follow their views on different topics affecting our daily lives.

TheColumnist collects references for opinion article URLs by columnists from around the world. The app helps make it all the more easier for users to read the opinions of these columnists through a simple, user-friendly design.

Upon launching TheColumnist for the first time, tap on the “Select” button to choose publications you would like to see. These publications will automatically display in the “Reader” tab. Opinions published in these publications sorted by date will be shown in the “Most Recent” tab.

The app notifies users when one of their favorite writers publishes a new opinion through Push Notifications. The app will send you a notification where you may choose to either read the opinion instantly or save it for a later time that is more convenient.

A number on TheColumnist app icon will indicate the number of new opinions you still have not viewed. This number will automatically decrease as you start viewing and reading the added publications. In case you prefer not to allow TheColumnist to send you Push Notifications, this number will not be shown. Yet, new opinions from your favorite writers will always be marked by exclamation marks in the “Reader” tab.

Users add writers to Favorites through the “Reader” tab that lists all user-selected publications sorted alphabetically by country and publication name. Upon tapping any of these, the app shows the list of this publication writers. And that’s where adding a writer to Favorites is just a tap on the empty star that includes a + sign.

TheColumnist also encourages users to engage with the opinions through an upvote or downvote. Tap on the “Share” button in Safari, buttons are in the lower horizontal scroll.

The app is configured to sync your favorite writers and new opinions among all your devices. You will need to connect a social media account in the "More" tab so that we may recognize your associated devices.

If your device supports 3D Touch, press TheColumnist app icon from the home screen to get quick access to searching writers, your new opinions and Favorites in addition to sharing TheColumnist app among your friends and family.

The "Most Recent" tab offers a walk-through all recent opinions published today from the user selected publications. Scroll to the right to load more opinions published on the day. Scroll down until 10 days prior to today's date.

The "Reader" tab offers a detailed overview of writers by user-seleced publication, including a powerful easy-to-use search mechanism in all featured publications and in all featured writers, even those not selected. Searching in Favorites is also available.

Users can also browse the opinions that TheColumnist had kept references to by each featured writer. Tap on any given writer and you will be taken to the list of all opinion articles by this writer. Users’ anonymous collective activity on each opinion is summarized below the opinion article published date in icons of reads, upvotes and downvotes.

Users are also able to upvote or downvote an opinion from here too. For iOS 11.0 and above swipe left to upvote, right to downvote. For iOS below 11.0 swipe left and both buttons will appear.

The “More” tab is where you may connect social media accounts. That is required for up-voting or down-voting as we wish to show stats to the best accuracy of our ability.

Users also have easy access to a list of all their favorite writers, previous upvotes, previous downvotes and new opinions from here.

You are also welcome to ask us to add a new publication of your choice. Please review the languages TheColumnist app currently supports.

For publishers who would like to connect with us, we have added a section so that you may express your feedback.