Betas are a popular and efficient way for developers to get their apps into the hands of users, or just a great way for them to introduce new features to the app and have real users test things out before they make their way into final revisions and out to the general public. You’ll see betas for apps as well as games and from various developers including Google. Now Pocket is coming up with a way for users to get their hands on brand new stuff before anyone else sees it in a final release with the announcement of their brand new beta channel.
If you’re already familiar with Pocket (formerly known as read it later) then you already know the benefits of what it brings to the Android and mobile ecosystem. It makes for a great option to save or basically bookmark web pages, articles and other stuff online for reading at a later time when you simply don’t have the time to engage it right that moment. With the introduction of the new beta channel, users will be able to get their hands on early versions of some new stuff which Pocket aims to release in the near future, all of which Pocket is extremely passionate about and they think you will be too. If you’re a Pocket user there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t want to be part of the beta channel especially if you like new features and you like to be the first to try them.
The beta channel goes live today across multiple platforms which includes Android, web, and iOS, so no matter your platform of choice you can get in on the action and see what goodies Pocket has to share with you early. Pocket says the features will pop up in the beta channel in the coming months, so there’s no word on exactly when they’ll let loose on some of those new things to come, but if you’re part of the channel you’ll be notified before anyone else. Pocket is also kicking off the beta channel with their first new feature called recommendations which is live today if you have the beta version of the app installed, allowing users to view content which is saved to Pocket by others. You’ll only end up seeing recommendations based on what you already save yourself though so you won’t be getting recommendations that aren’t relevant to your interests. To be part of the beta channel all you need to do is join the beta Google+ community here, where you can find the steps to become a tester and then from there you either update the Pocket app or install it if it wasn’t already on your device.