Podcast Summary: Hands-On Mac 185: Safari Reading List
Podcast Information:
- Title: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
- Host/Author: TWiT
- Episode: Hands-On Mac 185: Safari Reading List
- Release Date: June 5, 2025
- Description: Leo Laporte gathers fascinating technology personalities to discuss pivotal tech issues in a fun, relaxed, and informative manner. TWiT is renowned for delivering some of the best tech podcasts globally.
Introduction
In this episode of Hands-On Mac, host Micah Sargent delves into leveraging Safari's built-in Reading List feature as an effective replacement for Pocket—a popular "read it later" tool that has recently seen diminished usage.
Replacing Pocket with Safari's Reading List
Micah Sargent begins by addressing the decline of Pocket and introduces Reading List, Safari's native solution for saving articles to read later across all Apple devices.
Micah Sargent [02:57]: "Given the fact that Pocket has gone the way of the dodo, well, at least as far as it seems, I thought it'd be a good time to talk about the fact that you have a built-in tool for doing, you know, pretty much what Pocket did for you all that time."
He demonstrates accessing Reading List on macOS by navigating to the Bookmarks tab in Safari and selecting "Add to Reading List". He highlights the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + D for quickly adding articles.
Micah Sargent [02:57]: "Shift Command D adds that to your reading list instead. You can also see that right beneath it is a great option that says Add Open tabs to Reading List."
This feature allows users to save multiple open tabs simultaneously, ensuring that all articles of interest are easily accessible later.
Adding and Managing Items in Reading List
Adding Articles: Micah showcases how to add articles from various websites, such as The Verge, 9to5Mac, 6colors.com, and PaulThorat.com, using both keyboard shortcuts and shift-clicking on links.
Micah Sargent [04:10]: "You can simply shift click on a link on the page to add it to the reading list as well."
Accessing the Reading List: To view the Reading List, Micah clicks the sidebar button in the top-left corner of Safari, revealing sections like Bookmarks, Reading List, Shared with You, and iCloud Tabs.
Micah Sargent [05:00]: "We're of course going to choose reading list and that will open up our reading list."
Managing Items: Within the Reading List, users can:
- Search Articles: Utilize the search bar to find specific items.
- Sort Articles: Toggle between Read and Unread sections.
- Interact with Articles: Right-click options include opening in a new tab/window, marking as read, saving offline, deleting, or clearing all items.
- Trackpad Gestures: Swipe right to mark as read or left to remove/save offline.
Micah Sargent [06:15]: "Swiping to the right will open up the mark as read option. Swiping to the left lets you remove it or save it offline."
Enhancing the Reading Experience
Continuous Scrolling: Micah demonstrates the seamless experience of scrolling through multiple articles in the Reading List without having to navigate manually between them.
Micah Sargent [08:10]: "If I continue to scroll once I get to the bottom of the page, it will just pop us on to the next article."
Offline Access: A standout feature is the ability to save articles offline, ensuring access even without an internet connection.
Micah Sargent [09:00]: "The save offline option is great because what that lets you do is if you are in a place where you aren't able to access the Internet, that page will be available to you."
Automatic Offline Saving: For users who prefer their articles always accessible, Micah explains how to enable automatic offline saving:
- Navigate to Safari > Settings > Advanced.
- Enable "Reading List: Save Articles for Offline Reading Automatically."
Micah Sargent [11:00]: "That way you have those articles, you can get to them no matter where you are."
Reader View Customization: Micah highlights the Reader View feature, which simplifies article layouts and offers customization options such as themes and typefaces.
Micah Sargent [12:30]: "You can make it black in the background, gray in the background, sepia toned in the background and choose the typeface."
He personally prefers the Georgia typeface for its readability.
Micah Sargent [13:00]: "I personally love Georgia because of the serifs on the side and that way you are able to view these pages exactly as you want to in your reading list."
Conclusion
Micah wraps up by emphasizing that Safari's Reading List, combined with Reader View, offers a robust and integrated solution for managing articles across Apple devices. While it may not cover every feature of dedicated "read it later" services like Pocket, its seamless syncing and customization options make it a compelling alternative.
Micah Sargent [14:30]: "Between reading list and that reader view in Safari, hopefully you can find an easy to use and easy to find and easy to integrate replacement for Pocket if that's the tool you were using before."
He encourages listeners to explore these features to enhance their reading habits and productivity.
Key Takeaways
- Safari's Reading List is a viable replacement for Pocket, offering seamless integration across Apple devices.
- Users can easily add articles using keyboard shortcuts or shift-clicking links.
- Reading List supports offline access, ensuring articles are available without an internet connection.
- Reader View enhances readability with customizable themes and typefaces.
- Enabling automatic offline saving ensures all Reading List items are always accessible.
Notable Quotes
- Micah Sargent [02:57]: "Shift Command D adds that to your reading list instead."
- Micah Sargent [06:15]: "Swiping to the right will open up the mark as read option. Swiping to the left lets you remove it or save it offline."
- Micah Sargent [12:30]: "You can make it black in the background, gray in the background, sepia toned in the background and choose the typeface."
- Micah Sargent [14:30]: "Between reading list and that reader view in Safari, hopefully you can find an easy to use and easy to find and easy to integrate replacement for Pocket if that's the tool you were using before."
Closing Note: This detailed exploration of Safari's Reading List underscores its potential to streamline your reading experience, offering functionality that rivals dedicated services while maintaining the convenience of integration within the Apple ecosystem.