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Flipboard adds SoundCloud support for new audio features

Some say the next killer app is sound and a new Flipboard update out today offers more news and updates you can listen to instead of read.

Jason Parker Senior Editor / Reviews - Software
Jason Parker has been at CNET for nearly 15 years. He is the senior editor in charge of iOS software and has become an expert reviewer of the software that runs on each new Apple device. He now spends most of his time covering Apple iOS releases and third-party apps.
Jason Parker
Flipboard
The new Audio category lets you view the available recommended news, music, and podcasts you can listen to while you read. Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Flipboard (free) is already many people's go-to app for flipping through the latest news and social network updates. But today, a new update lets you connect Flipboard with SoundCloud to offer audio clips created by major news services like NPR, and audio clips created by your friends and people you follow.

You can sign into the new SoundCloud component by using a previously created SoundCloud account, by starting a new account, or by using your Facebook account. Once connected, Facebook and Twitter posts, and any story that includes audio, can be listened to with a handy player that resides on the lower left of your screen. You also can browse all the available recommended audio feeds in the new Audio category tab in the Content Guide.

Flipboard
Access the player's basic controls in the lower-left corner by tapping the musical notes icon. Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Audio plays another important role in the latest update of Flipboard with added accessibility options, enabling it to read stories out loud for the visually impaired.

One feature that's new to the iPhone version specifically, is the ability to read related sections on social networks. Flipboard describes this as being able to view related sections on Twitter including Your Tweets, Your Favorites, and Tweets Mentioning You.

Flipboard is available now for free at the iTunes App Store or you can update the app directly on your iOS device to get the new features.