Mashable is an internet news application and self-proclaimed "Social Media Guide" available for iPhone and iPad. Developed by nclud, the free app delivers the latest news on technology, apps, mobile information, social networking and general internet-related news. Mashable began as Pete Cashmore's blog in 2005 and has established itself as the ultimate source for up-to-the-minute information on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Apple, Google, YouTube and more. The rich web content has been optimized for the iPhone and iPad and boasts a well-designed and attractive interface. The app is one of the fastest-loading apps I've encountered and it's truly a pleasure to see a fully loaded main page after a quick splash screen. Multiple tabs allow for complete breakdown of channels which you can search by category, tag or even by author. The articles have a simple, clean layout and are easy to read and navigate. If you click on an external link in a select article, the link will open it in the app's own browser which allows you to go right back to your original article without leaving the app. This is one of my favorite features, especially when viewing YouTube clips.
Sharing on Twitter and Facebook is readily available, and Facebook Connect pops-up for easy sharing, but you must set up your Twitter client preference in your iPhone/iPad settings menu. Instapaper Credentials can be entered in this area as well if you use it. If you use Tweetie, Tweetie 2 or Twitter for iPhone, you are familiar with the pull-down/refresh timeline which is a terrific feature both in use and design. This feature is available on the article list page of the Mashable app but I don't find it particularly useful unless you are reading for quite some time and want to check for any new content. Still, it's a great addition to an already almost flawless app.
The app is actually fun to use and is so well-made that I find myself using it more often than loading the website, even if I am in front of a computer. If you want to totally geek out like I do, you can enable Push notifications, which send breaking internet news to you like an SMS. The Mashable app should be the template for all other news apps out there and if you like to stay informed on Web 2.0, social media, and technology, this free download is a must.
