The blog publishing platform, Medium entered the mobile space with its first standalone app for iOS-based devices but it is solely for reading purposes, for now.
Medium, the blog publishing platform, announced its presence in the mobile space with its first official app for iOS devices. The app, which goes by the same name as the site, resembles the fineness and the simplicity of its web counterpart and gives access to a wide library of stories from different writers, ranging from novice contributors to renowned authors.
Medium was originally founded by Twitter and Blogger cofounder Evan Williams in August 2012. Unlike the web version, the mobile app does not feature editing or posting of stories on Medium. The app is solely for reading, at least for now but the company has bigger plans in the future. The app might get the posting and editing tools in the future or a separate app with these functions might arrive. It is too early to decide what the future holds for the Medium iOS app, as the company is mum about the details. Expansion to other platforms, mainly Android, might also be a part of Medium's big plans.
"When we started working on this six months ago, we debated a lot about the purpose of the app," Williams said in an announcement post on Medium, Friday. "Was it just for reading? Should you write on it? If just for reading, what would be better about it than just using the mobile web?"
The app works simply by signing into Medium for iPhone with the Twitter account. Once connected, the app automatically shows stories based on who users follow on Twitter and Medium. The app also allows users to bookmark, recommend and share stories. Each story comes with an estimated read time, so it can help users find the right story while commuting from work to home. The app is fast and sleek, matches the iOS7 aesthetic look and is driven by swipes for next and tap for share.
The Medium app for iPhone version 1.0 is available for free download from Apple App Store and requires iOS7 or higher versions.
