Instapaper Is Now Equipped With iPad Retina Graphics And New Reading Fonts
March 17, 2012
So you just got a new iPad. And after installing and playing all those Retina-ready, action-packed games on it, all you want to do now is to rest a bit by reading the articles you have saved on your Instapaper queue. But, as you might have found out from us here at AppAdvice or from Instapaper's sole developer, Marco Arment, the app wouldn't be supporting iPad Retina text and graphics until the new update gets approved in a week or so. Well, in a surprising turn of events, the review team of Apple has quickly approved and released the update, ready for download right this moment on your new and Retina display-equipped iPad.
As promised, Instapaper 4.1 not only brings support for the very high resolution of the new iPad, but also introduces a number of great features for both iPhone and iPad, old and new. Leading the pack of new features are the new reading fonts built into the app. This new set of fonts is admittedly a direct response to the recent launch of Readability for iOS, whose professional fonts are among its most praised features. The new Instapaper fonts are an equal mix of serifs and san serifs: Elena by Nicole Dotin (the new default font), Lyon Text by Kai Bernau, FF Tisa by Mitja Miklavčič, FF Meta by Erik Spiekermann, Proxima Nova by Mark Simonson, and Ideal Sans by Hoefler & Frere-Jones (the only typeface licensee of Readability). Although these fonts undoubtedly look gorgeous on Retina iPhones and iPads, they still make for topnotch and comfortable reading when viewed on non-Retina devices. All of a sudden, Helvetica, Georgia, Verdana and the other old fonts supported by Instapaper look outmoded.
Full-screen reading is also now an option in Instapaper. About time, right? If you already know how to toggle full-screen reading in iBooks, then you're all set for full-screen reading in Instapaper. Simply tap anywhere on the reading area to hide or show the toolbar and status bar. Another new option is reading in sepia mode. Actually, Marco calls it Twilight Sepia. Twilight Sepia is part of Instapaper's Automatic Dark Mode. If enabled, it gradually applies a sepia tone to the screen in the early evening hours before finally switching to full Dark Mode. Conversely, it tints the screen with sepia in the early morning hours after switching to Light Mode. Why a sepia color scheme is not yet included in this update as an option that can be activated whenever desired is beyond me, but Marco says that it will be available as a separate color scheme in a future update.
And just like that, Instapaper 4.1 is out. Install the update now for free or download the universal app in the App Store for $4.99. The Apple review team must be big fans of Instapaper. Otherwise, they'd have reviewed it later, amirite?
