Umano App is History – Here’s some on-the-go Solutions
It always seems to be that whenever I fall in love with an app, it makes serious changes, or gets bought out. Well that curse has struck again!
Umano will be closing down on June 12th. I’ve been a huge fan of Umano since I discovered it. The app gave me the chance to listen to articles I was interested in but didn’t have time to read while I was walking to the subway. I’ve also enjoyed recording my own posts, so I will be sad to see it go.
But what’s next? What can I do now to consume content on the go?
Here’s what I plan on trying to help move on now that Umano is closing down:
ReadQuick App – This app displays an article (no books) one word at a time at the pace you are comfortable with. You can start at the slowest speed and gradually move on to get used to the technique! It will also tell you how long an article will take you to read, which is perfect when you only have a few minutes to spare. It integrates with Pocket and other bookmarking sites ($9.99 for iPhone)
Read to me Apps – For those of us whose commute mainly consists of walking or driving, reading isn’t always an option. So why not have something read to you? (Like Umano used to do!) Audible sells digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs, and audio versions of magazines and newspapers. First 30 days are free and then it’s $14.95 a month.
If you don’t want to read a whole book you can also try Blinkist. It provides a quick and short synopsis of a book—this time on your iPhone or iPad! The first 3 days are free. After that, it is $49.99 for a yearly subscription.
TED Talk App – If you want to learn on the go, you should try the TED app. This app allows you to access riveting talks from some of the world’s most fascinating people. The TED conferences have such a huge variety of speakers so you won’t feel like you’re being oversaturated with the same information. This is one of my favorite talks to introduce you to the app.
Delicious – A social bookmarking website, that you can use to discover new and interesting content. It’s not very easy to use initially. But I discovered that you can follow other people to see what they have bookmarked. So I would recommend the best way to use it is through following thought leaders or influencers that you like and trust. I’m going to start with Ramit Sethi.
Make reading your reward – Not all content is suitable for an on-the-go lifestyle. So if you have a favorite blog or website it might be worth setting time aside to indulge. Use this to treat yourself after completing your lists, or while you take a 10 minute break. When you find articles you want to read you can save them in the Pocket app to get back to later.
How do you consume content on the go?
UPDATE: I’m currently working on trying to find a new home for the audio version of my articles. Until then you can listen to me on the So Money podcast, Ali Brown’s show or on the Inspired Conversations podcast. You can also subscribe to my youtube channel! I’m trying to make more videos in 2016. You can also subscribe to my mailing list for all the latest List Producer news.