Pocket (for Mac) Review

Pocket, the cross-platform bookmarking service formerly known as Read It Later, is now available to OS X users. Like the browser extension and mobile apps, Pocket for Mac lets users save Web pages, video clips, and images to their accounts and access them at a later time.

So why would you use Pocket for Mac desktop client instead of the browser-based Pocket? The tweaked user interface features an improved icon layout and, more importantly, you can access content without an Internet connection. Previously, the only way to view your saved clips was to log into the Pocket website. Pocket for Mac may prove a highly valuable tool if you're a frequent Web reader.

Getting Started With Pocket
You're prompted to sign into your Pocket account, or create one, after you launch Pocket for Mac. You then arrive at a screen that's vertically split into two portions. The left column is your List of saved content. The larger, right area is where Pocket display content. You're given two options after logging in: "Save From Browser" and "More Ways to Save."

The former takes you to getpocket.com/add where you can install a Safari browser extension. Once the extension is installed, you can save any page to Pocket by clicking the Pocket icon located left of the browser's address bar. You can also add tags that should help you better organize content. The latter option displays the many ways you can save to Pocket via third-party apps (there are over 300 in total including the likes of Dolphin Browser HD and Flipboard)

The Pocket for Mac Experience
Pocket for, regardless of which platform, pushes articles, images, and more to your Mac desktop. The pages, meme images, and other interesting online finds that I'd previously saved using mobile apps populated my Pocket for Mac library soon after I connected my Mac to Wi-Fi. Like the Pocket mobile apps, Pocket for Mac displays web pages (and video clips!) in a stripped down view that eliminates visual clutter and focuses on what's on hand. You can, of course, click an icon that lets you view full pages. However, video, unlike images and web pages, isn't available for offline playback. That may prove an irritant to the YouTube crowd, but you can watch your favorite saved clips when you take your Mac back online.

Pocket also includes a number of tools designed to enhance the app's usability. You can also archive, filter, search, and share content, which makes managing and distributing content a breeze.

The Wrap
Between our laptops, smart phones, tablets, and other Web-enabled devices, we read and view lots of online material—Pocket gives users away to not only save their favorite clips for reading at a later time, but manage them as well. If you're a Mac user who loves clipping and sharing the Web, consider Pocket an essential app.

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Pocket (for Mac)

4.0

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Pros

• Doesn't require an Internet connection to access saved content.
• Improved interface.
• Free.

Cons

• Doesn't save video for offline playback.

The Bottom Line

Pocket for Mac is a free, easy to use bookmarking application that lets you sync and save Web content across a variety of Web-connected devices that also run the software.