Reader: Economist
An experiment in improving the reading interface of the world’s best news magazine. Very early days. Check it out at elzr.com/reader.
Right now it’s just a glorified table of contents but even that I think helpful. It includes the abstract of every article or it’s first line ) — in my experience The Economist‘s pithy, playful titles can be under-descriptive. And there are also backbars behind every title, giving you an ambient, non-verbal hint to the article’s size. Both features are there to fix something that got lost in the transition from print to web.
I’ve read The Economist for many years now, almost since the beginning from the web (I subscribed for a year when it was behind a paywall, the only time I’ve paid for content). And almost as long, I’ve been struggling with it’s interface. I guess it’s not that bad for casual readers, but for longtime junkies it can be much improved. Which is what I’ll try to do in the coming days.
Changelog:
.3 version, 16 June 2009: BIG changes. See http://elzr.com/posts/03-release-of-the-economist-reader for full details. Read the whole magazine in a single page, columns, much better design (sections separators!), and… flags!
.12 version, 14 June 2009: Fixed
.11 version, 13 June 2009: Prettier version.
.1 version, 8 June 2009: Kicking it off.
4 Comments
I like it.
The playful titles is a problem with all the print publications. They really need to be different between print and the web version. Is like the sections of some online newspapers in Mexico… do we really need a section called “cancha” instead of “sports” or “tribuna” instead of “politics”?
I like the “backbars” too. Did you try a lighter color?
It would be good if followed links could change colour.
Sergio G.: I’m glad you like both the reader and the backbars! I did try the backbars on a lighter color but they become hard to see (specially taking into account the very different outputs of different displays). I chose visibility for now, maybe later I’ll add a setting to lighten them.
xbat: Indeed, they now change color (even their backbar in fact!).This tiny update was mostly cosmetic (though sorely needed for sure). Tomorrow the real fireworks start! Hint: did you know it’s actually smaller to download the whole textual contents of the magazine than the current crappy, ad-ridden frontpage?
A fascinating idea; but one that has to be used judiciously. I have discussed this at some length in a post on my blog.