FAQ, New Features, and FlipTips for Flipboard 1.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Have You Updated to the Latest Version of Flipboard?

Before you read further, to have access to all of these new features, you’ll need to be on Flipboard version 1.1. To check which version you have, go to the Content page, tap our logo in the top left, and this will show you the version number. It should be 1.1, if you're up to date. If not, please download the latest version from the App Store.

How Do I Set Up New Social Networks Flickr and Google Reader?

To access Flickr and Google Reader, you must first have an account with these services. To create an account for Flickr please go here. To create an account for Google Reader, go here. Note, just having a Gmail account does not automatically give you a Google Reader account, you still have to go through the process of activating the service in your Google account settings.

Then you can add Flickr and Google Reader by selecting an empty Content tile, tap "Add a Section". This will open a menu and at the top of the menu, there will be the various social networks you have to choose from. Select the one you want, provide the appropriate login credentials and a new content tile will be created for it. You can move the tile by tapping it, hold down for a couple of seconds, then drag it to this desired position.

I’m Having Problems Logging In with Google Reader, What Can I Do?

We have seen reports from some people that they cannot successfully log in to Google Reader. We have determined the cause of this issue and we are working on a permanent solution to this issue. In the mean time, we have this work around:

First, be sure you have a Google Reader account (see above). Then, go to your Google account via the web and change your password to something easy to input. Then go immediately to Flipboard to login. You have only one chance to get this right, so if you still have problems, please go through these steps again. If it still fails, please check this support topic for the most up-to-date information on this issue.

Again, we are working on a solution for this matter.

Why am I only seeing one post from my Flickr contacts, or why does it seem that the Flickr history does not go back very far?

There are limitations on the total number of photos we can present at one time. To keep the feed from being dominated by one person who posts a large photo album, for example, we have limited each contact to one photo. To see all the photos from a contact, you can navigate to each of your contacts full photo list. Just pull up one of their photos, then tap on their avatar / icon, this will bring up a menu to see all their photos or their profile.

If it seems the photo feed is not going back very far, then it is possible you have a very active Flickr account and the maximum number of pictures is being hit often, which can make it look like we only pulled the last few hours, when in fact, the oldest images have simply been bumped by the most recent.

Going forward, we will work with Flickr to fine-tune this set-up.

How Do I Quit Flipboard and Quit the iPad Fast App Switcher?

Fast App Switching was introduced with the Apple iOS 4.2 update, so make sure your iPad is updated to the latest version. Flipboard’s support for Fast App Switching was part of our 1.1 update.

If you would like to force your Flipboard to update or refresh, you should close Flipboard and quit the Fast App Switcher in your iPad. To do so, first close Flipboard by tapping the main action button on the face of your iPad.

Then, to quit the Fast App Switcher, double tap the main action button on the face of your iPad. This will bring up a menu of open applications at the bottom of the screen. Find Flipboard in this list (you can scroll right and left by swiping), then tap and hold down the icon for a few seconds. A “-” sign will appear in the top left corner, tap the minus sign and Flipboard will be completely closed.

Now, re-open Flipboard for a fully refreshed restart. This can be a helpful step to take every so often with all applications.

My content not updating, what can I do? How to I do a clean reinstall of Flipboard?

We’re very pleased with the reliability of Flipboard and we always strive to improve it, but there comes a time when all software can hit a snag. On rare occasion the local data cached by Flipboard on your iPad can have issues that can cause the content to basically get stuck and not update.

To remedy this, please try deleting Flipboard directly from the iPad. To do so, hold down the Flipboard icon on your iPad until an "x" appear in the top left corner. Tap the "X" and confirm you want to delete when prompted. Once the app is remove, turn off your iPad, then turn it on and go to the App Store and install it again.

This uninstall process will remove the data associated with Flipboard, which upon re-installation, should return your application to a functional state. Even if you tried this before, please go through these specific steps one more time to be certain. Deleting from iTunes will not have the same result.

Please bear in mind, this will require you to set up all your content again because this is what’s known as a “clean installation.”

If this does not help, then we can look into the matter further. Please visit our Support page or email support@flipboard.com .

FlipTips & New Features

Fast Section Switching and Access Social Network Options via New Masthead Navigation

We have added a great deal of navigation control to Flipboard. At the top of every page is the “masthead” or the title header. If you tap the masthead, it will present a pull-down menu of options, depending on where you are in Flipboard.

If you are in a regular section, this will bring up a fast section switcher, allowing you to select other content in Flipboard directly without having to return to the Content page.

If you are in Google Reader, it will give you the menu of options including your folders, your starred items, etc. Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr all have many more features in the masthead menu, you should explore and get to know these new options.

Avatar / Icon Profile Access

You can tap the icon next to the name of a person that posted content and this will bring up a menu to see their profile or go to their wall or other social options, depending on where their post originates.

Add to Contents Button

When you are in any feed that is not currently set as a content section, you can tap the “Add to Contents button in the top left of the page. This will automatically drop the feed into a new content tile on your Contents page. Combined with the Fast Section Switcher, you can re-configure your Flipboard on the fly now, it’s very useful and mighty fun.

Logging out of a social network and logging back in again

You can only log into one Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or Google Reader account at a time on Flipboard. To change accounts, go to the Content page, tap Edit in the top right, then delete your existing Twitter content tile (for example) and confirm log out. Then, tap an empty tile and "Add a Section". Choose Twitter from the list at the top and this will prompt you to login in. Now you can log in to the other account you'd like to access.

Tweet-sized FlipTips!