If you’re not sure exactly what Rockmelt is, worry not: I don’t either. What used to be a social-focused web browser for desktop has shifted to a mishmash of Flipboard and Stumbleupon, while retaining some of that browser DNA it began to shed in the mobile age.
Rockmelt for Android purports to “discover and share the best stuff on the web” by asking you about your favourite topics — music, movies, tech, arts, travel, food, etc. — and establishing a list of content catered to you. Much like Vu, which we covered in a previous post, Rockmelt improves as you use it, providing more accurate recommendations based on what you like and dislike.
The app has a floating “R” button which appears like magic when you want it, usually when you’ve stopped scrolling up or down a page. Unlike a traditional browser like Chrome or Firefox, there is no text input box; all the discovery is made through search, topic-based recommendations and how you interact with specific posts. Like Vu, you can affix little notations to each post, “aww”, “want”, “lol”, “hmm”, “wtf”, “like” etc., and shared content will be revealed by connecting the app to Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow active users of Rockmelt, who individually curate lists of content.
It’s an interesting approach to content discovery, though I prefer the aforementioned StumbleUpon, or even Flipboard’s new magazine feature, to Rockmelt. You may disagree: that’s what makes mobile such an interesting platform.
Rockmelt is available for Android phones, 7-inch and 10-inch tablets, and works on Android 4.0 and above.
Download Rockmelt for Android.
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