One of our favourite RSS readers, Press, has been updated to version 1.5 with a number of new features sure to appease even the sternest of critics.
The main feature here is immersive mode for those running Android 4.4 KitKat, which works to remove the top and bottom navigation bar for a clean, full-screen reading experience. Paired with double-tap to enable Readability mode, another new feature, Press just became a whole lot easier to read long-form work in.
As with most big app updates, Press has received some aesthetic improvements as well. Specifically, the lighter theme has been complemented by a darker theme, perfect for AMOLED displays, though the former has also been tweaked a little for better readability. It’s now possible to tap once to add an article to Instapaper or Pocket, and the gesture system throughout the app, often criticized for being too confusing and inconsistent, has been overhauled as well.
There are little flourishes throughout Press that stand out to me as an Android user. For example, the delightful animation that indicates a return to the previous menu was rarely seen on the platform before 2013, and proves that developers are taking advantage of the improved tools to deliver exceptional performance. Of course, Press requires an Android device running Ice Cream Sandwich or above, but that comprises nearly 75% of all users now.
Press has taken the shutdown of Google Reader in stride, too, working with four new RSS services — Feedly, Feedbin, Feed Wrangler and Fever — to cater to every taste.
[source]Google Play[/source][via]Press[/via]
