Denuo - denuology.com

The latest must have app on the iPad has to be Flipboard. It is equal parts content aggregator and magazine for those that haven’t had hands-on time yet which doesn’t sound too groundbreaking. It becomes very interesting because it integrates content from your social networks into other pre-selected news/content sources (e.g. Wired, Fast Company, etc.).

My relationship with this new app darling got off to a rocky start. As with most initial courtings, Flipboard was playing hard to get. While the early access to those general sources was cool, the real attractive feature (the social integration customized to my virtual circle) was hidden in a walled off garden. Unfortunately, the overwhelming demand for access meant I would be forced to wait on a list, which is the digital equivalent of a line. I hate lines. Needless to say, my first impression was not off to a good start despite the obvious potential of the app.

A lengthy ten days later (240 hours in online time) I received an email notifying me that I now had the proper access to skip the “velvet rope” but that access was short lived as an accompanying email informed me that I actually didn’t have access yet. Can you say Strike #2?

The very next day a notification laced with apologies for the previous day’s false alarm and an official approval greeted me. Playing the role of cool guy, I decided to wait a few hours before actually checking it out. I didn’t want to look anxious, right?

After eventually giving in, I soon found out that it was actually more than worth the effort and patience involved so far. The magazine representation of my social graph in short is brilliant. It not only visually represents links, photos, and other content from facebook in relevant ways but more importantly makes mundane updates from my friends look interesting. Also, Flipboard removes the need to click through the links cluttering my twitter timeline by providing useful recaps of linked material. It actually makes sense of the mixed bag of information found in Twitter. As the company states, “it always has articles you care about because it knows who your friends are.” And they are right.

Now that it is all said and done, I have my own custom magazine thanks to Flipboard.