--- title: "Shorts, the RSS reader app\n | Ubuntu" description: As you can see in the image above, I have spent some time looking at different types and contexts of reading, trying to understand what the reading experience might be for Ubuntu. The contexts of reading varies from libraries to magazine stands to the sofa in your lounge, and these each have an impact on […] url: https://ubuntu.com/blog/shorts-rss-reader-app?format=md keywords: index, follow --- 1. [Blog](https://ubuntu.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Canonical](https://ubuntu.com/blog/author/canonical "More about Canonical") 16 May 2013 # Shorts, the RSS reader app [app design](https://ubuntu.com/blog/tag/app-design) [Design](https://ubuntu.com/blog/tag/design) --- Share the article As you can see in the image above, I have spent some time looking at different types and contexts of reading, trying to understand what the reading experience might be for Ubuntu. The contexts of reading varies from libraries to magazine stands to the sofa in your lounge, and these each have an impact on how and what you read. Something we all know (from ~~a healthy bit of stalking~~ field research on public transport) is that reading on a phone means you are probably doing something else at the same time. You are waiting for your friends in a restaurant, or on a busy train on your way to work. You open the reader app to quickly check some news. ## Meet “Shorts”: leaf through your news while you wait Paul is in the station, waiting for a train. He has 5 minutes until it arrives. He launches Shorts. The app opens up with a view that shows short snippets of articles on the topics that interest him. The items are laid out on the page in the organic grid, similar to the grid that is used for the gallery app. It is going to rain tonight. Paul decides to stay in and cook a meal with his flatmates. All he needs is a recipe. He navigates to one of his topics, Food. Paul selects a recipe and reads through it. He decides it is too elaborate and returns to the topic. He looks further through the topic and taps on another article. This recipe is perfect for tonight! Paul saves it so he can easily find it later. Check out this video too: See how this concept also fits with our [Design Vision](http://design.ubuntu.com/apps/get-started/design-vision) and the other [ritual apps](http://design.canonical.com/2013/02/app-patterns-applied-core-utilities-as-rituals/ "Ubuntu ritual apps")? ## Next steps We will be connecting the dots and working on key journeys for Shorts. Follow development progress on [Google+](https://plus.google.com/communities/111350780270925540549/stream/7914b6fd-cb15-485c-a50a-cd18b7768c2d), the [Ubuntu Phone mailing list](https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-phone) and [IRC channel](http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=ubuntu-touch). ## One last thing What do you think of the name? [Get in touch Interested in running Ubuntu in your organization?](https://ubuntu.com/about/contact-us/form) ## Newsletter signup Get the latest Ubuntu news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Challenges designers face in open source (and how to fix them)](https://ubuntu.com/blog/challenges-designers-face-in-open-source-and-how-to-fix-them) Open source powers up to 90% of modern software, yet many projects lack usability. Canonical’s Design team surveyed 115 cross-functional professionals to uncover the 4 core... [Kola Ojoodide](https://ubuntu.com/blog/author/kola-ojoodide) 26 June 2026 [### Template: Streamlining open source design contributions](https://ubuntu.com/blog/template-streamlining-open-source-design-contributions) As designers working at Canonical, we’re always thinking about open source. We believe that encouraging more designers to contribute to open source benefits everyone, from the... [Nina Rojc](https://ubuntu.com/blog/author/ninarojc) 16 June 2026 [### Decoding design: How design and engineering thrive together in open source](https://ubuntu.com/blog/decoding-design-how-design-and-engineering-thrive-together-in-open-source) Open source thrives on engineering-driven processes. Fast feedback loops, terminal tools, Git workflows: they’re the lifeblood of how we build software in the open. But for... [Miguel Divo](https://ubuntu.com/blog/author/mdivo) 22 May 2026 [### Why web engineering is great](https://ubuntu.com/blog/why-web-engineering-is-great) Hi, I’m Johann! I’m an engineering manager in Canonical’s web team. For the larger part of my 15 years of work experience as engineer, I’ve been working in web development.... [Johann Wolf](https://ubuntu.com/blog/author/johannwolf) 27 April 2026