# Isle of Time — The story of Taiwan, unfolded > Digital exhibition of Formosa's history from exploration to modern Taiwan. (iPhone/iPad app by Wei-lun Su.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isle-of-time/id6762364458 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Wei-lun Su](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853979655) - Category: Education, Books - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 4 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.6 · 11 MB - Languages: American English, Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) - Released: 2026-04-21 - Data updated: 2026-08-22 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isle-of-time/id6762364458/reviews.md ## What is Isle of Time? Isle of Time is a digital exhibition chronicling four hundred years of Formosa's history — from the Age of Exploration to modern Taiwan. Presented with the editorial clarity of a broadsheet newspaper, each article draws from primary sources, archival documents, and images spanning eight distinct historical eras. Browse at your own pace, follow thematic threads that weave across centuries, or let the app surface a new reading each day. CHRONICLE Browse a curated timeline spanning eight eras of Taiwan's history — from Dutch and Spanish colonization through the Qing Dynasty, Japanese colonial period, and the road to democracy. A parallel music timeline traces the island's sonic heritage from early gramophone recordings to contemporary indie. HISTORICAL ATLAS See where history took place. An interactive map of Taiwan, Penghu, and Green Island plots key events as color-coded dots. Pinch, zoom, and tap to explore connections between eras, follow thematic threads across the island, and jump straight into any article. THEMATIC THREADS Follow cross-cutting themes — trade, governance, identity, resistance — that connect events across four centuries into coherent narratives. DAILY READING A different article surfaces each day, drawn from across the full archive, so there is always something new to discover. LISTEN Have any article read aloud with built-in text-to-speech, and continue listening as you browse. BOOKMARKS & SEARCH Save articles for later and search across the entire archive by title or keyword. Sources and images are drawn from the Academia Historica, National Archives Administration, U.S. National Archives, and other publicly available scholarly resources. Designed and developed by Studio Aspen. ## Key features - Interactive historical timeline - Archival documents and images - Interactive historical atlas - Thematic historical threads - Daily featured articles - Text-to-speech functionality - Bookmark and search capabilities ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time | | Supporter Tip | $2.99 | one-time | | Patron Tip | $8.99 | one-time | ## Frequently asked questions about Isle of Time ### What historical periods does Isle of Time cover? Isle of Time covers eight distinct historical eras of Taiwan's history, beginning with the Age of Exploration and extending to modern Taiwan. This includes periods like Dutch and Spanish colonization, the Qing Dynasty, and the Japanese colonial period. ### Can I listen to the articles in Isle of Time? Yes, Isle of Time features built-in text-to-speech functionality. You can have any article read aloud and continue listening as you navigate through the app. ### How does Isle of Time track user progress? Isle of Time allows users to save articles for later using a bookmark feature and search across the entire archive by title or keyword. It does not explicitly mention progress tracking for learning modules. ### What is the learning methodology used in Isle of Time? The app presents historical information with the clarity of a broadsheet newspaper, drawing from primary sources and archival documents. It encourages exploration at the user's own pace, following thematic threads, or discovering a new reading daily. ### Does Isle of Time offer certifications? Isle of Time is a digital exhibition and does not offer any formal certifications. Its focus is on providing access to historical information and resources. ### How often is Isle of Time updated? The latest version of Isle of Time is 1.14, which was last updated on June 24, 2026. This indicates a relatively frequent update schedule for content and features. ### What devices is Isle of Time available on? Isle of Time is available on iPhone and iPad devices. It is designed for mobile and tablet use. ### Does Isle of Time have ads? No, Isle of Time does not contain advertisements. The app is completely free of ads, providing an uninterrupted learning experience. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.18.0 — 2026-08-07 History can now be read by where it happened. This update brings a location axis to the Atlas, letting time and place meet on a single map. ・Read history by place Filter by 15 cities and islands, from Keelung to Pingtung, including Hualien, Penghu, and Green Island. Choose one and the map focuses automatically, revealing four centuries of stories layered over the same ground. ・Era × Location, read together Use either axis on its own, or both at once. Select an era and step through events with the previous and next arrows; add a location and see exactly what one city lived through in that period. ・See a city's weight at a glance Each city shows its volume count and cover thumbnails, and combinations with no records yet are clearly marked — no need to tap through to find out. ・Island-wide events are no longer left out Volumes that shaped the whole island and can't be pinned to one place are collected in a pill above the map, one tap away. ・A persistent sidebar on iPad and Mac Eras and locations sit side by side, so you can adjust and compare in a single glance. ・Your view is remembered Leave and return to the Atlas, and your filters will be waiting for you. We've also refined map zooming and node spacing, so densely clustered events stay legible as you zoom in. Thank you for reading. If this project means something to you, a rating on the App Store helps more people discover Formosa's story. ### 1.17 — 2026-07-30 A major expansion covering the full sweep of Qing-era Taiwan — pioneer settlers, water engineers, rebels, Western naturalists, missionaries, and the final Qing literati. Story Threads updated: Resistance adds the commanders of the Lin Shuangwen and 1895 Taichung campaigns. Builders adds Guo Xiliu of the Liugong Canal. Pioneers adds early Zhudong settler Wang Shijie. Arts gains a new Qing literati segment bridging into the Japanese-era awakening. Indigenous Histories is now a curated figure thread featuring six Indigenous voices across four centuries. ### 1.16 — 2026-07-17 New: Story Threads — the threads that run through history ・Follow one theme across centuries, weaving people and events into a single line ・A gallery of figures along the timeline up top; related volumes below ・Tap a figure for their life, or a link marker to jump to where they're mentioned ### 1.15 — 2026-07-08 ・Tip Jar: A new way to support this digital museum. If it brings you joy, you can leave a small tip to help keep it going. ・Reimagined figures browsing: Jump between historical eras with a new era selector, and enjoy a freshly curated order within each era that better follows the flow of history. ・Redesigned Settings for a cleaner, more intuitive experience. ・Numerous layout refinements and stability improvements across iPhone and iPad. Thank you for journeying with us to the Isle of Time. ### 1.14 — 2026-06-24 - The Historical Atlas timeline has been redesigned for clearer eras and cleaner connections. - The Historical Figures list has been refreshed, with quick links from each figure to the volumes they appear in. - Reading progress is now remembered: return to any article and pick up where you left off. - Polish across bookmarks, the About page, volume cards, and overall pacing. ## More apps by Wei-lun Su - [OsakaNavi](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/osakanavi/id6755448078) All apps by Wei-lun Su: https://appshunter.io/developer/1853979655 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-22.*