SurfCube 5 for Windows Phone introduces cinema-like article reader

SurfCube 5 for Windows Phone 8 is now available to consumers. This major release of the popular web browser introduces a number of new features, including support for the new speech API in Windows Phone 8. The app is a popular choice for those who require that little bit extra which Internet Explorer doesn't quite provide. So what joins speech in version 5?

We last looked at SurfCube back in January when the app was bumped to support Windows Phone 8 in general. But in version 5 we're also looking at more file types being supported. Users can now access the following within the browser:

• WMV
• AVI
• PDF

As well as the above, the development team has also implemented the first steps of Readability (readability.com) integration. The "Reader mode" strips down a web page to the content (ignoring CSS and other 'clutter') to display text and images. Perfect for viewing articles without having to deal with other distracting elements. The mode can be accessed via the contextual menu (press and hold on a web page).

Next up is "Article Cinema." It's regarded as the most complex single feature in SurfCube since tabs were introduced in version 2. Articles are transformed into a cinema-like experience. Images are displayed while the article itself is read out to the user (see above screenshot). Multiple articles can be added to a playlist for future playback, using the "Play later" option from the context menu while selecting a link. It really is a cool feature.

If all that wasn't enough, there are a number of cosmetic changes and bug fixes included to boot. Check out the official video, demonstrating some of the new features in version 5 of SurfCube:

You can download Surfcube for $1.99 (free trial present) from the Windows Phone Store. A free, ad-supported version (left-hand QR code) is also available.