October 1, 2018 (Vol. 38, No. 17)
Rating:
Strong Points: Easy to search for publications and customize collections of papers
Weak Points: Steep subscription cost, downloading publications takes up significant storage
Platform:
iPad/iPhone
Cost:
Free app, but requires subscription for full use
Summary:
As a scientist, keeping up with scientific literature is essential, but keeping your library of publications organized can be difficult. Enter Papers, an app that does all the work for you. The app makes it easy to search for, save, and organize the scientific literature that you need. Users can search for publications directly within the app using an advanced number of search criteria. Once you have found the publication that you are looking for you can save the paper to your own library. Libraries can be organized into collections, with the option of making folders and subfolders that users can sort their papers into for easy retrieval. Additionally, users can share their collections with others, making collaboration easier than ever. Although the app itself is free, users are only allowed a 30-day free trial before they have to pay for full access to the app, which runs from $50–80. However, the Papers app is definitely worth trying out, if only to see how much more organized your library of publications can be.
