Ziner Review
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Ziner Review

Our Review by Jennifer Allen on January 23rd, 2013
Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: SIMPLY GREAT
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A Google Reader app that's simple to set up, use and browse. Just what anyone could want then.

Developer: Creator3D
Price: $4.99
Version Reviewed: 1.1
Device Reviewed On: iPad 2

iPad Integration Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
User Interface Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
Re-use Value Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar


Clean, simple and fast. That's pretty much all anyone could want from a Google Reader app, which is handy given that's exactly what Ziner offers.

As quick to set up as it is to use, Ziner simply requires a Google account to get up and started. In fact, it doesn't even require that as it offers up a selection of quite convenient sites such as LifeHacker, to start users off. Solely through that, I discovered a few sites that I decided to add to my own Google account at a later date. Once logged in, users can browse their RSS feeds in a similar way as to browsing a magazine. Photos and summaries are offered along with headlines, giving users the chance to glance at content before deciding to read more. Tap on a relevant section and the app opens up to the full article, near instantly.

It's that sense of speed that ensures Ziner feels a cut above the rest. Saving users the time of waiting for images to load or text to be retrieved. Offline support further helps matters, with the ability to save article states such as 'starring' them or keeping unread, even while away from an internet connection. Sharing functionality is similarly extensive with options to post to Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus available, as well as saving to Evernote, Pocket, Readability and Instapaper.

More of a set up sequence would have been useful, guiding users through some simple settings such as when to consider items as read and the ability to change themes according to their liking, but that's a minor speed bump in an otherwise great app. Some apps can be simply defined as 'it just works' and Ziner is very much one of those. It makes browsing through a hefty pile of links a pleasure.

iPhone Screenshots

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iPad Screenshots

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Ziner - RSS Reader that believes in simplicity screenshot 6 Ziner - RSS Reader that believes in simplicity screenshot 7 Ziner - RSS Reader that believes in simplicity screenshot 8 Ziner - RSS Reader that believes in simplicity screenshot 9 Ziner - RSS Reader that believes in simplicity screenshot 10
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