out of 5 stars by
AppAppeal Editor
Newser presents users with yet another online news source. The difference is that Newser doesn’t just compile mass quantities of information. Instead, it includes an element of human intelligence to the process. It finds the most popular, frequently read news stories from all across he internet. It then reads the story and recreates it in a concise, abridged version. The result are to the point summaries in a grid format that includes supplemental media such as photos, audio clips and videos along with links to the original story source. Users can also check out headers that include popular topics, user contributed content, and grid customization features for an experienced tailored to the user’s preferences.
Newser was founded in October of 2007 by Michael Wolff. Today, the Newser team includes Chairman and CEO Patrick Spain and Editor in Chief Caroline Miller. Based out of Chicago, Illinois, Newser was intended to give readers a better way to get the news. With time being an issue for some readers, the creator focused on building a tool that provided more online news in a way that was easier to consume. The result was Newser which helps users get only the important details with the option to read more if they wish to check out the original news source.
Newser creates an experience that is tailored entirely for the user. Other news websites feature full stories in lists and categories with a few highlighted pieces showcased. While this works, it can take a lot of time for a user to read through all the relevant articles and watch video clips without spending a great deal of time each day doing it. Newser makes it possible to get all the important details at a glance. This leaves it up to the user to pursue the story and read more or move on to the next. Customization options also allow users to narrow down the pieces presented so they are given a better selection of stories they find interesting and relevant.
A new visitor to the Newser website might be a little overwhelmed until they learn how the site works. News stories are presented in a grid format so the user is staring at many stories at once. The site’s snapshot approach to sharing the news works well with the grid layout. The user can see a related image or photo and read the headline or a small snippet of text that explains the story. Once the user becomes accustomed to the system, it is very easy to use and navigate.
Visitors can browse Newser without creating an account. The stories are accessible either way, although the account provides added customization features that return users may want to utilize. By clicking on the underlined, black “Register” link along the top right hand corner of the page, the user can access the registration form. This asks for a username, email address and password. The user must also check a box to confirm that they are over 13 years of age. A list of eight newsletter opt in boxes are also presented, although thankfully only the Newser News one is automatically checked (and can be unchecked if the user prefers).
Anyone can browse Newser without logging in, however an account is available for free. There are no subscription fees or other payments required for using Newser. In reality, the site is pulling content from other resources and condensing them. While this is a helpful feature, it is not really worthy of a subscription fee without adding a little more to it. No premium paid account currently exists. For now, Newser is priced perfectly, making it a great tool for almost anyone.
Frequent online news readers can really enjoy Newser. The site can dramatically decrease the amount of time needed to find and read entire news stories. The user can catch up on current events within minutes (or longer if they really want to). Newser gives the user more of their time back without sacrificing information to do so.
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