Perch Reader is an aggregator app for writing on the Internet, e.g. blogs, newsletters, substacks etc.. It neatly stacks these blogs in a format which makes it easier to access, read and find whatever you need. The app comes with added functionalities of searching and bookmarking, which further aids the user in accessing whatever he desires. When we were asked to provide a short form feedback or review for the app, we decided to provide some bullet points to the developer on how to improve the app. The good or positive aspects for the app were already present for everyone to see, so we mainly focused on providing a constructive feedback. Its a wonderful app, and would definitely make life much easier for someone who likes to subscribe to loads of blogs or newletters or alike. A very comprehensive app in itself, its a must download for avid online readers.
You can download the app for iOS here:
https://apps.apple.com/in/app/perch-reader/id6474042480
Here are a few points related to the constructive feedback that we provided:
- Need to be able to put Newsletters in various categories, like Tech or Finance etc. on Home tab itself.
- While doing voice playback of a Newsletter, the background should highlight the portion being read, else it can become difficult for someone to track if he/she could not understand something, and wants to revert to the written portion.
- Newsletters can have placemarkers so that we can start from a particular placemarker later, if we want to continue reading some portion later.
- Newletters can have 'Sticky Notes' for someone who might be using the data to create some presentations or alike.
- On Home tab, all subscribed newletters should be available like in Subscriptions tab on Youtube, and only on clicking on a particular publication, should it take towards only that publication.
- On Search tab, instead of having to click on Trending Articles and Recommended Playlists to see more Categories, the Categories should be available right on the Search page itself as well.
- On Search tab, Trending Articles and Community Playlists show an infinitely long list for each of the Categories, there needs to be more search criteria or filters or sorting criteria, like a Search bar, filter like 'Country the publication belongs to', Alphabetical sorting, Datewise sorting, Video lengthwise sorting etc., else you only use your hunch to find what to read, rather than making an informed decision regarding the same.
- After bookmarking a Community Playlist in Search tab, we need to refresh the Library tab for that particular Playlist to be visible, it should not require a Refresh, and should appear under Library page automatically.
- The app had me confusing with Playlists and Bookmarks, it uses the same icon for both, on Home tab, the icon is used for Bookmark, while on Search tab, the same icon is used for Playlist on clicking the same sign, utterly confusing.
- A Community driven social media page can be added on the app, where users can add their own Newsletters, for some fees that they pay, may be, and then moderation can be done as to what content from these standalone users is allowed to be shown in the app, and what to be blocked, a separate tab called User Content can be added.