Wattpad, the global story sharing site that has a user following of more than 20 million readers and titles available in over fifty languages, announced today that it has released a major update to its immensely popular iOS and Android apps. The app, which enables readers to browse and consume stories on the go, originally required internet access for reading, but the new update incorporates offline reading, as well as a host of other features.
“At Wattpad, we’re making it easy for people to access millions of free stories on their mobile devices,” said Allen Lau, co-founder and CEO of Wattpad, in a press release. “With the latest update, it doesn’t matter where you live, what device you use, or even if you’re connected to the internet, you can still find a great story to read on Wattpad.”
Two other exciting features of the update include the Archive for Android capability and the Inline Commenting option. Archiving allows readers to move older stories to their archives and enjoy faster loading of new content, while the Inline feature lets users actually comment at specific points in the story. This a feature that both authors and readers have sought for some time, as it allows fans to make remarks, point out inconsistencies or errors in a helpful way, and generally interact more fully with the story.
Other options in the update include reading recommendations and the ability to create mobile reading lists, two features that will enhance the portability characteristic of the reading experience. The app update is available now through users’ own app suppliers. A free Wattpad account is needed to take advantage of these features.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.