WordPress for iOS 3.7 is out and now available for download from the App Store. This release introduces a revamped Reader, some under-the-hood improvements for account management, and lays the groundwork for some neat things to come.
Native Reader
We first introduced the Reader in version 2.9 back in September of 2011. The original Reader was a hybrid approach — some native code wrapping what was essentially a webpage and lots of JavaScript. It served us well, but there were places where embracing a fully native experience offers better performance. Version 3.7 introduces a new Reader built with 100% native code. It’s very fast and beautiful to look at. What’s more, we’re already working to make it even better!
Access the Reader from the sidebar while signed in with your WordPress.com account. Read stories from blogs you follow, posts you liked, as well as your favorite topics. Join the conversion by liking, reblogging, and commenting from within the Reader, and follow blogs you enjoy reading.
Accounts Management
We’ve streamlined how the app manages your credentials and handles authentication with a new accounts system. The improvements are all under-the-hood, so visually, there’s nothing to see there. You will notice the app doing a better job connecting to multiple services including your blog, Jetpack, the Reader, and notification features.
Other Improvements
More goodness in 3.7:
- Several bug and crash fixes.
- View Admin now opens in Safari instead of inside the app for a better experience.
- Thai is now a supported language.
What’s next?
Apple has announced iOS 7 and we’re keen to be ready for the launch of the new OS later this year. We’re already working on improvements to the new native Reader. We’ve also planned improvements to media and a new themes management feature. Follow our progress at http://make.wordpress.org/mobile.
A huge thanks to the nine contributors who worked on this release: @aarondouglas, @aerych, @daniloercoli @hugobaeta, @irbrad, @isaackeyet, @koke, @sendhil, and Daniel Smith. If you would like to get involved with WordPress for iOS development, drop us a line at http://make.wordpress.org/mobile and grab a copy of the code at https://github.com/wordpress-mobile/WordPress-iOS.
Have feedback? Leave a comment below or tweet us at @WordPressiOS.
