Android First-look: WikiMobile

Filed under: Web services, Google, web 2.0, Android

Android First-look: WikiMobile

by Christina Warren Oct 23rd 2008

If you had asked me yesterday if I thought I would get any use out of the WikiMobile Encyclopedia for Android, I probably would have rudely laughed in your face. The joke is on me, because WikiMobile is actually a pretty fantastic. It's also free -- something that cannot be said for the $19.99 BlackBerry version (and I'm not paying $19.99 to access a free website on my Curve).

Bonfire Media really did a bang-up job bringing WikiMobile to Android. Just looking at the BlackBerry screenshots (apparently, it is also available as a subscription service on some AT&T and Verizon phones), the Android version is much easier on the eyes.

I'm not a huge Wikipedia fan -- I tend to trust it as far as basic time and date skeletons and for information on popular culture -- but I can't deny having found the service helpful. WikiMobile really accentuate and captilizes on those features.

Gallery: Android First-look: WikiMobile

When you open the program, you have five options:

Search - This is self explanatory

Random Article - This takes you to a random Wikipedia article. I could see that being a fun timewaster.

Popular - This lets you browse through various categories and then select one of the popular articles within that category. In the TV and Movies section, "Max Payne" (film), Heroes (TV Show), and Gossip Girl (TV Show) were some of the top picks.

My Bookmarks - If you come across an article you like, you can bookmark it for future reading.

More - More options. I confess, I don't remember what they were (this is a "first look" rather than a thorough review).

The "Popular" section is really interesting, because it makes it possible browse popular, and more than likely, timely, articles. Again, a nice way to waste some time.

Readability is superb. Each article is designed to fit onto one "screen" on the Android and you tap or select the "Next" button to go forwards and backwads. Additionally, you can view a Table of Contents, and select a section directly, you can view any images associated with the article in a slideshow and you can view the "mini" information that is reserved for the information box on the right hand of the Wikipedia screen on your desktop's browser.

You cannot actually edit Wikipedia pages using this program -- though you can using Android's browser -- but this was really designed as a way for people to quickly browse and read articles. It succeeds on all fronts.

Tags: android, android market, android-market, AndroidMarket, g1, google, wikimobile, wikipedia

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

poopy_pants said 4:37PM on 10-23-2008

I'm a fan of it. It was the 2nd app I downloaded when I received my G1 this past Tuesday.

John said 4:55PM on 10-23-2008

Don't forget wikipedia has a WAP friendly site:

http://en.mobile.wikipedia.org/

Jash Sayani said 4:05PM on 10-24-2008

I prefer the Wikipedia mobile site....

ryaninc said 8:16PM on 10-24-2008

I also love this program. An additional feature, that I didn't notice until after the first several times I used it, is that you don't have to press the "NEXT" button... you can also swipe your finger across the screen left or right to move between pages of the article. Pretty slick!

Firax said 7:01PM on 10-27-2008

Thanks for covering stories on Android. Keep the good posts coming :)

Now back to studying for my EU law exam :S

rb said 8:09AM on 10-29-2008

Check out Wikitap on Android -- besides the search and browse of Wikipedia topics, it also tries to present videos where possible.

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