Thirst app creates your 'personal newspaper'

A screenshot of the app Thirst.(Photo: Thirst Labs)

Most news apps known for aggregating stories require the user to plug in their sources and watch the content flow.

The iOS app Thirst takes a different approach, using your Twitter feed to deliver stories and other content you want to read, all packaged in a sleek and elegant design.

Users start by creating a Thirst account, or logging in through Facebook or Twitter. The app will open with a selection of topics displayed in a style reminiscent of Flipboard.

When selecting a topic, users get a list of stories, a tab highlight chatter on social networks and a section for comments. Users can choose to follow a specific subject on top of any social recommendations, if enabled. Stories are displayed as they would on a standard Web or mobile browser.

Users can explore broader subjects such as politics or sports and drill down to get stories on something detailed, such as "Barack Obama" or "Oscar Pistorius." They can also perform searches or follow other users and check out stories they like.

Thirst's layout is gorgeous, with a strong emphasis on images displayed in a user's "personal newspaper." The selection of stories is strong and updates quickly, although there seem to be some limits on sharing. Also, it's hard to find an option for taking external links and sharing them within Thirst.

Despite the sharing shortcomings, Thirst is a wonderful option for users wanting a cleaner interface and sharper presentation when consuming news.