No, I’ve never really understood the point. I have bookmarks in my browser if I want to save something for later. I don’t really need anything more fancy than that.
I don’t use pocket any more but I tried it out. I think the benefit was that you had the sync of articles to read between all devices with pocket.
Personally, I use a browser for specific sites or searches. I use apps like Lemmy (connect) for content discovery pocket is a bridge between the two. It also allowed sharing between peopke. So rather than sharing a link by email or WhatsApp, I’d just add it to their pocket.
Came here to say the exact same thing. People really do love to reinvent browser bookmarks.
I think most people these days don’t use browser bookmarks as a “check this out later” tool, and instead as more of a “I frequently need to access this page” function. For me, I only bookmark a page if it’s something I frequently access; things like my email, Lemmy, some work apps, etc. In my use-case, bookmarks are a more “permanent” installation to my browser.
Also, “read later” apps generally strip the web page formatting and advertisements, and usually have an offline function of some sort; both of which you typically can’t do with bookmarks. These are especially useful for those who like to read on their commute.
I think most people these days don’t use browser bookmarks as a “check this out later” tool, and instead as more of a “I frequently need to access this page” function.
So what’s preventing those people from using bookmarks as “check this out later” tool? The personal preference of using an app that reinvented those same bookmarks? Just create a “read-it-later” later directory and boom, you’re good to go.
Also, “read later” apps generally strip the web page formatting and advertisements, and usually have an offline function of some sort; both of which you typically can’t do with bookmarks.
Yeah, because these are features typically provided by your browser. Hence, browser bookmarks. It’s not a unique feature to read-it-later apps in any way.
I use Inoreader to read RSS feeds of my favorite sources, and I save interesting articles to Pocket. I use the tagging feature and sync my Pocket entries to an Obsidian vault using an extension. It creates a web of information I found valuable enough to save, connected by tag. It helps me see trends and topics I’m interested in emerge over time
https://fortelabs.co/blog/the-secret-power-of-read-it-later-apps
So this article was included with Omnivore, which is suggested elsewhere in this thread, but it does provide a bunch of well structured arguments for the utility of a dedicated app.
