Broadersheet iPhone app finds just the news you need

Sometimes I can’t keep up. There’s just too much news from too many sources and wading through the daily tsunami of RSS feeds to balance what I need to know with what I want to read is starting to feel like a full-time job.

Broadersheet ($3.99) might not be the end-all, but it’s another hopeful step in the news customization movement for those who need to be in the know without wasting their morning.

The app worships practicality above all else. Void of all pictures and an interface worth noting, what Broadersheet lacks in style, it makes up for in precision by searching hundreds of articles from major publications such as the BBC, The New York Times and The Economist.

It might take a little time to train by rating the stories you like and dislike, but eventually this app will learn your tastes and filter out the rest. It will also show you other news sources providing additional coverage on any topic you’re currently reading—a personal favorite feature.

However, Broadersheet brings readers to the original publication Web site when they select a story, requiring awkward browser zooming and annoying loading times. It does offer an option for a specialized iPhone format that’s easier to read, but that’s not even available until after you visit the online version, defeating the punch behind this app’s time-saving mantra.

Otherwise, Broadersheet is a handy news app.

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