Flipboard Update Allows Users To Become Magazine Publishers

The news reading app Flipboard has just gotten a new update that will allow its readers to act as magazine publishers, opening up new possibilities for both users and content creators.

"With more than 50 million users, Flipboard is used every day as a place to catch up on the things you care about," says Flipboard CEO Mike McCue. "But starting now, it's also a great place to share opinions, save favorite stories, and express your point of view. This is our biggest release ever and one that we think will open an entirely new experience for our readers."

The update will introduce a new "+" symbol button that allows users to instantly save and share their favorite stories and multimedia content to personalized electronic "magazines."  Curators will first create a magazine by giving it a title, and then choosing whether to make it public or to keep them private for personal use.

For those who are looking to take their magazine public, Flipboard will provide information on reader interactions with a new Notifications tool. Additionally, users will also be able to customize their magazine covers, and share the publication on social networks. In addition to the Flipboard app, the new feature will be available as a browser bookmarklet called Flip It.

To anyone who's worried about their articles being re-appropriated and spread around, Flipboard will also maintain the correct attribution to the content's original source. Flipboard hopes that all of this will allow publishers to better utilize archived content, as well as make it easier for users to find related material. 

Other changes bundled with this update include a new Content Search option that allows you to browse what other readers have published, as well as a new partnership with Etsy that will integrate that site's product listings.

The update is available now for iPad, iPod, and iPhone versions on the App Store. An update on the Google Play side will hopefully be on the way soon.