The popular media-aggregating app, Flipboard, which has won millions of loyal users across the world over the last five years, will finally be available for desktop devices as well. the app which was earlier available on mobile platforms like the iPad, Android, and Windows Phone will now be ready to roll in the web browser as well.
Flipboard on desktop will look very similar to what id did over the mobile phones and tablet devices. Users will be able to view their Flipboard contents over their desktop using the same account as the one over their mobiles earlier. “One decision in one place affects the other. All connected to the web, all made with the same clean design aesthetic,” explains Slashgear.
Created by mobile-first entrepreneur Mike McCue, the founder cum CEO of the company, is now convinced that the desktop remains the preferred mode for many readers.
“There is a whole group of people who don’t do that much browsing on their phones. That’s what they use their computer for,” McCue said.
Till now, Flipboard’s 15 million magazines could only be read through a mobile app. McCue hopes the expansion will help the company add to its 50 million user base besides becoming more popular with existing users.
The Flipboard decision to leap over to the PC comes shortly after the hugely popular mobile messaging service WhatsApp offered a version for Web browsers.
Says Frank Gillette, a Forrester Research analyst,“It doesn’t make sense to users if they up show up to a service on a PC and get ignored, but get all this magic if you show up on a mobile device.”
The web based browser will allow users to create their personalized digital magazine, much in the same fashion as the mobile app does. “Zines” can be created and create a system which other readers can tap into. Flipboard lists magazines under 34,000 different topics. Almost all of them are free to access.