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Reddit’s official Android app just began its closed beta test
In the internet equivalent of a State of the Union address, site founder Steve “spez” Huffman revealed that the closed beta for the official Reddit Android app will be starting today. Applications for the beta opened in December, but we haven’t heard much news about it since then. Only a few thousand candidates were selected to take part in the test, but we look forward to seeing what comes of this app. An iOS beta is also slated to begin soon.
Historically, users have had to rely on third party applications like Reddit is Fun, Baconreader, and Slide. Although access through a mobile browser is possible, the nature of Reddit’s content and organization make a mobile-optimized app a much more convenient option. Since the only options to date have been third party, there have always been hiccups and difficulties when Reddit makes any changes. Having an official Reddit app may make any transitions much smoother.
However, the opposite could also wind up being true. Many Twitter users, for instance, eschew the official app in favor of more powerful third party creations. Depending on the kind of functionality Reddit’s official app will have, it could become the go-to choice like Facebook’s app, or it might just become one of the competition.
There’s no details yet on what this official app will look like, so we’ll have to wait around to see what functions and aesthetics it will offer. If you’re a part of the beta squad, and there’s no agreement preventing you from disclosing your experience, feel free to let us know what it’s like in the comments! In the meantime, what app do you use to browse Reddit? Think you’ll switch to the official one when it comes out?