<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/" -->

---
title: Spritz Samsung Smartphone App Turns You into a Speed Reader
description: Could smartphones actually help our reading skills?
canonical: https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/
author: Kyle Chayka
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2014-03-04T18:31:07.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:03:08.545Z
og:title: Spritz Samsung Smartphone App Turns You into a Speed Reader
og:description: Could smartphones actually help our reading skills?
og:url: https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt241a509f559db3fd/698683d9cd684803610936cd/books.png?branch=production&amp;width=755&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
og:image:width: 755
og:image:height: 425
og:image:alt: books
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Spritz Samsung Smartphone App Turns You into a Speed Reader
twitter:description: Could smartphones actually help our reading skills?
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt241a509f559db3fd/698683d9cd684803610936cd/books.png?branch=production&amp;width=755&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
---

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt241a509f559db3fd/698683d9cd684803610936cd/books.png?branch=production&width=755&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# This App Can Help You Read Up to 1,000 Words a Minute

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="4cd2a660-6859-41f5-a6f2-9617245e32be" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=4cd2a660-6859-41f5-a6f2-9617245e32be&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=4cd2a660-6859-41f5-a6f2-9617245e32be&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=4cd2a660-6859-41f5-a6f2-9617245e32be&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/GOoxcojn.m3u8" -->
## Video: Top 5 Domestic Grossing Young Adult Novel Film Adaptations

[Watch (HLS stream): Top 5 Domestic Grossing Young Adult Novel Film Adaptations](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/GOoxcojn.m3u8) (2:12)

![Top 5 Domestic Grossing Young Adult Novel Film Adaptations](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/GOoxcojn/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2015-06-21. Top 5 Domestic Grossing Young Adult Novel Film Adaptations_


by 

[Kyle Chayka](https://time.com/author/kyle-chayka/)


## Kyle Chayka


Mar 4, 2014 6:31 PM UTC

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt241a509f559db3fd/698683d9cd684803610936cd/books.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Abhi Sharma—Flickr

by 

[Kyle Chayka](https://time.com/author/kyle-chayka/)


## Kyle Chayka


Mar 4, 2014 6:31 PM UTC

Who says the Internet is making us less effective readers? [Spritz](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/27/spritz-reading%5Fn%5F4865756.html?utm%5Fcontent=buffer5bf3e&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fsource=twitter.com&utm%5Fcampaign=buffer), a new app that’s being released on Samsung devices, is devoted to turning you into a super-powered book devourer, conquering novels in a single bound (or subway ride).

Spritz works by showing you a sentence one word at a time, displaying the words in quick succession. Then, the words speed up, and you’re forced to grasp their meaning much faster. 250 words per minute is easy, but 500 is like looking at a page through a strobe light.

The highest setting of 1,000 words per minute would let you read _Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone_ in just [77 minutes](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/27/spritz-reading%5Fn%5F4865756.html?utm%5Fcontent=buffer5bf3e&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fsource=twitter.com&utm%5Fcampaign=buffer). The Bible would still take 13 hours, however.

Spritz’s technology does much more than just run through words. It positions the different words around their central letters, aligning them so they’re easier for the eye to digest. It’s subtle, but it makes a big difference. Maybe now we can finally digest more than 140 characters?


## Transcript

[ MUSIC ] Sorry. My bad. [ LAUGH ] I'm Augustus Waters. I've been in remission for about a year and a half. Maybe you'd like to share some of your fears with the group. My fears Are you angry? So angry. You need to break something. And I can't tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. To good life Hazel Grace. Okay? Okay. Divergents threaten the system, it won't be save until they are removed. [ MUSIC ] We have to fight back. [ UNKNOWN ] claimed you're all dangerous insurgents. If we were to combine forces. We'd be unstoppable. [ MUSIC ] Say it out loud. Say it Vampire. Are you afraid?

No. This isn't real. This kind of stuff just doesn't exist. It does in my world. After 18 years of being utterly ordinary, I finally felt I could shine. I was born to be a vampire. You're so beautiful. We're the same temperature now. Your a wizard Harry. I'm a what? Fought valiantly. But you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me [ UNKNOWN ] [ SCREAM ] [ MUSIC ] Come on. We can end this. [ MUSIC ] Different. I can see it. What can you see? Here, you're dealing with all experienced killer Any last advice? Stay alive. [ MUSIC ]

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/"},"headline":"This App Can Help You Read Up to 1,000 Words a Minute","datePublished":"2014-03-04T18:31:07.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T08:03:08.545Z","description":"Could smartphones actually help our reading skills?","url":"https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Technology","apps","Books","reading"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt241a509f559db3fd/698683d9cd684803610936cd/books.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kyle Chayka","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/kyle-chayka/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt241a509f559db3fd/698683d9cd684803610936cd/books.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"books","caption":"","creditText":"Abhi Sharma—Flickr","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/","name":"This App Can Help You Read Up to 1,000 Words a Minute"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Top 5 Domestic Grossing Young Adult Novel Film Adaptations","description":"Top 5 Domestic Grossing Young Adult Novel Film Adaptations","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/GOoxcojn/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-06-21T18:14:48.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/GOoxcojn.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/","duration":"PT2M12S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/12392/this-app-can-help-you-read-up-to-1000-words-a-minute/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}]
```

