The internet is great, but all the ads, fonts, images, layouts and all the other superfluous stuff can make it hard to read the actual content. Here are three services that can make the web a lot easier on the eyes.
1. Readability
Readability is pretty simple. You select the font you would like to read in (Newspaper, Novel, Ebook or Terminal) and the margins, and drag the bookmarklet to your bookmarks bar. Then, whenever you find something worth reading, click the bookmark and your page is instantly transformed, removing all the clutter, and nicely presenting the text. Readability also has some nice buttons to easily print or email the text.
>> Readability
2. Readable
Also working off the bookmarklet principle, this site offers a greater number of options: everything from font size to different themes and support for videos. Unlike Readability, Readable shows the text over the top of the page, showing the readable text in box over the darkened page.
>> Readable
3. TidyRead
Another bookmarklet, TidyRead has no up front controls, it instead allows you to change font size and theme after you have clicked the bookmarklet. Of the three, this is the most cluttered service, as a banner is added to the top of the page to control settings.
>> TidyRead
And the winner is?
I like Readability for its minimalistic and simple interface. There is only 3 buttons on the left to interfere with the content, but even these are semi-transparent. Although it allows lest customisation than the other two, the presets are simple and attractive. It is definitely the clear winner for me, but what about you? I’m sure I’ve missed a service or two in the process. What simple reading website do you like the most?
Internet obsessed and addicted to twitter, Dominic is the self proclaimed technology journalist writing the majority of the posts on Exploring Tech. Despite the glaring evidence agianst him within these pages, he still continues his attempts at being humorous, and often fails. You can find him on Twitter as @orismology.
