AppleInsider Staff
The previously unreported addition to Apple's next-gen operating system was unearthed by Gear Live on Tuesday and adds to the already substantial list of new features that will roll out when Mountain Lion is released this summer.
New to Reading List in in the forthcoming OS X is the ability to read pages offline, a feature presumably facilitated by automatic on-site caching. Although it is not exactly known how Apple's system will work, it may be akin to available third-party software like the popular apps Instapaper and Readability, both of which offer offline reading on iOS devices.
Safari's Reading List, which debuted in 2011 in tandem with the no-frills Reader function, can be thought of as a smart bookmark button that offers users a way to quickly save and sort web pages for later reading. More than a bookmark, however, the Reading List keeps track of what a user has read and displays webpages ad-free.
Message displayed when attempting to access a webpage offline shows new Reading List mode. | Source: Gear Live
The system also leverages iCloud to automatically sync pages across all devices attached to an account, meaning that when a page is saved on a Mac, it is pushed to a user's iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Safari's Reader tool can also be integrated with Reading List to consolidate text into a more digestible format for small screens.
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
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Andrew O'Hara
William Gallagher
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8 Comments
Mountain lion "features" are like .1.1 updates to run of the mill iOS apps. Wow we can now actually consume read it later, sorry reading list content offline? The work that must have gone into this, is anyone even sleeping in the os x team these days?
+1 for this feature although I really wish it would come to iOS. I read a lot on the subway and my connection is a little spotty. I'm using the excellent and recently updated Pocket app but it would be awesome if Safari could do it natively. In fact, I'd be happy if Safari just wouldn't refresh pages automatically.
[quote name="ddawson100" url="/t/150255/mountain-lion-to-bring-offline-mode-to-safari-reading-list#post_2114719"]+1 for this feature although I really wish it would come to iOS. I read a lot on the subway and my connection is a little spotty. I'm using the excellent and recently updated [URL=http://getpocket.com/]Pocket[/URL] app but it would be awesome if Safari could do it natively. In fact, I'd be happy if Safari just wouldn't refresh pages automatically. [/quote] Good luck with that, safari refreshes pages automatically even on a mac these days, go with iCab instead, despite the occasional crash it's a superb browser on ios, really powerful.
I feel like a long time ago, the 90s, when you hit the back button browsers would use the CACHED version of the page by default.
I have a spotty connection, too.
I have noticed that for years now it seems that Safari, Firefox, etc all refresh the page when you hit back. And even refresh open tabs sometimes. I really wish there was at least an option to disable this and use the cached page. I guess this is sort of a fix, though?
Mountain lion "features" are like .1.1 updates to run of the mill iOS apps. Wow we can now actually consume read it later, sorry reading list content offline? The work that must have gone into this, is anyone even sleeping in the os x team these days?
Pretty much 100% of your posts are compromised of hating on Apple, its products, features, decisions, marketing, business practices, iOS, iPhone, iPad, and everything else under the Apple sun. So tell me, what is it you actually like about the company, to justify all the time you spend posting on a fansite messageboard? All your anger and hatred seems to stem from the fact that not all their products have a matte-screen option, as well as being butt-hurt about their focus on post-pc products. God, grow the hell up. While you're at it, go outside and get some fresh air, as well as some perspective, and try to stem all your unjustified hatred and anger. Apple will continue to make products that appeal to hundreds of millions of people, and, believe it or not, they don't base their operations on the extremely niche needs of YOU, personally. Try to understand that concept, because you come off as someone who is incredibly whiny, entitled, and utterly childish with your little petty grudge.