5 tools to kill clutter, improve reading and save time.
This is a first post of a promised “Goodies Series”.
I go through tons of webpages everyday and most of them are so cluttered with banners, blinking adds and other “useful” features that make reading and concentration impossible. We all tend to skim text instead of reading (oh, do I hear a sound of a tweetdeck alert? ;). Furthermore, add chaotic multitasking and you get the picture – till you get to the end of that thought-provoking article, which is almost a never-ending battle, you have no idea what the post was about.
However, there are simple tools that will enable you to gain control over naughty webpages (in case you are not multitasking anymore).
1. Readablity
First and the best bookmarklet to enjoy your online reading. After 3 easy settings you can grab your customized bookmarklet and you are set to go.
Here is a screenshot of RWW before and after:
2. Alltextpaper
This project combines functions of a reading improving service with saving-for-later capabilities. That’s why you will have to enter your email or username. No actual registration is required, but it makes you think for a while if you really need this service. There is no tuning or any other options available. You get a bookmarklet and that’s it. Very similar to Readability, but with less customization:
3. TidyRead
TidyRead is a more advanced bookmarklet, and whenever you use it, a built-in menu appears, which allows you to select the font size, color, type and specify how the background should look like. What’s even more important, TidyRead doesn’t eat YouTube videos, so you have all the media intact + smooth text for easy reading:
4. Finch
Finch, has a little different approach and would be suitable for you, if you are on a slow network or mobile device. This services removes all CSS, media, flash, etc from a web-page, but leaves navigation and comments. Finch doesn’t cut a story for you like all 3 mentioned services do, but processes the whole page:
5. Readable
This is the most sophisticated bookmarklet in terms of customization – here you can set up the perfect text style for yourself, choosing from many options. Readable, just as TinyRead, displays YouTube videos. But what is more, it doesn’t format the comments, so you can read the article and leave your comment without reloading the original page.
You have a pretty wide variety of choice here. My favorite one is Readabilty, which offers customization and is not overloaded with features, does not require registration and works perfectly with each and every web-page.
What’s your favorite reading bookmarklet and why? Please share in comments!