• Chozo@fedia.io
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    5 months ago

    I think most people these days don’t use browser bookmarks as a “check this out later” tool, and instead as more of a “I frequently need to access this page” function. For me, I only bookmark a page if it’s something I frequently access; things like my email, Lemmy, some work apps, etc. In my use-case, bookmarks are a more “permanent” installation to my browser.

    Also, “read later” apps generally strip the web page formatting and advertisements, and usually have an offline function of some sort; both of which you typically can’t do with bookmarks. These are especially useful for those who like to read on their commute.

    • moreeni@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      I think most people these days don’t use browser bookmarks as a “check this out later” tool, and instead as more of a “I frequently need to access this page” function.

      So what’s preventing those people from using bookmarks as “check this out later” tool? The personal preference of using an app that reinvented those same bookmarks? Just create a “read-it-later” later directory and boom, you’re good to go.

      Also, “read later” apps generally strip the web page formatting and advertisements, and usually have an offline function of some sort; both of which you typically can’t do with bookmarks.

      Yeah, because these are features typically provided by your browser. Hence, browser bookmarks. It’s not a unique feature to read-it-later apps in any way.

      • xad@lemmy.ml
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        5 months ago

        So what’s preventing those people from using bookmarks as “check this out later” tool?

        Bookmarking a page does not give you control over its content. So if you bookmark something and the host deletes it, you are screwed.

        If you instead clip the content or save it as a PDF, you retain access regardless of the original host.

        For example, I save every good article I read as a PDF, which I cloud sync to a folder. I have a second folder for stuff I don’t want to keep open as a tab but still want to read later. There are probably far better services out there, but I like the lack of technical dependencies and lock-in.