SmartNews offers an easy and efficient news reading experience (pictures)

A newsreader that's already popular in Japan has finally made it to the US and is a great alternative to other popular news apps.

You can touch a tab directly to browse the news, or swipe horizontally to flip between each category.

The last tab is plus sign, with which you can add an individual website to get a channel that's all stories from that site.

You also can add channels in the settings or use the Channel Settings screen to reorder your tabs. Connect with your social networks at the bottom to add a Social tab that shows news from organizations and people you follow.

Use the Channel Settings screen to reorder your tabs by touching and dragging the handles on the right.

Set delivery times at three points in the day so that you know -- even if you lose connection -- you'll have stories to read from the time of the latest update.