Syllable Review
iPhone App
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Syllable Review

Our Review by Jennifer Allen on September 10th, 2013
Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: PRACTICAL SPEED READING
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Encouraging its users to read fast, Syllable is a handy tool for those with limited time.

Developer: Christian Selig
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0.2
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 5

iPhone Integration Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
User Interface Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Re-use Value Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar

It won't garner applause for its looks but Syllable could well be the ideal tool for those keen to boost their reading skills.

It's an app that enables users to collect articles either via Pocket, Instapaper, URLs, or by simply copying and pasting text into it. That sounds like something any RSS reader will do, but Syllable has a trick up its sleeve: it displays the text of each article, one to five words at a time, and at a speed predefined by the user. Slow readers can start out at a very slow speed with ridiculously fast readers also catered for. The idea is that as one gets used to a particular speed they can gradually increase it, thereby boosting their reading ability.

It's an interesting way of reading and does actually work quite well. While I'd have appreciated the ability to view the article on the whole, as well as bit by bit, it's an oddly beneficial way of conducting things. Linking Syllable to Pocket and Instapaper is simple to do although the latter does require users to be a subscriber to Instapaper, not just a free member.

Further options come from the ability to change font, as well as being able to view the app as part of a Night mode. For those short on time, Syllable is all too happy to report how long it'll take to read each article, meaning it's easy to slot an article into a break during the day.

Syllable could perhaps do with a tutorial upon first loading, in order to get users set up quickly. Other than that, though, Syllable is a streamlined and convenient solution to both finding time to read many great articles, as well as boosting one's reading speed. For the busy reader, it'll be a handy time saver indeed.

iPhone Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

Syllable Speed Reader screenshot 1 Syllable Speed Reader screenshot 2 Syllable Speed Reader screenshot 3 Syllable Speed Reader screenshot 4 Syllable Speed Reader screenshot 5
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