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Mac App of the Week: Caffeinated is a polished RSS reader for desktop users
Caffeinated was a polished Google Reader RSS client with a great layout; but the demise of Google Reader forced developer Curtis Hard to rewrite the core components of the app and liberate it from its Google roots. Now in version 2.0.1, Caffeinated is a very capable standalone RSS reader for OS X. Caffeinated looks likes most RSS readers with a three-column layout that includes your RSS feeds on the left, a feed preview in the middle and a full article view on the right. Now that Caffeinated is no longer tied into Google Reader, you'll have to manually add your RSS feeds or import them if you have an OPML file that you exported from another service. I was able to import my Google Reader backup without an issue and was up and running with Caffeinated in just a few minutes. Manually entering feeds is equally as easy -- just enter the URL of the website or the feed that you want to add. Caffeinated supports groups / folders so you can organize your RSS feeds. It's easy to move your feeds once you add them into Caffeinated. Just click on a feed and then drag and drop it where you want it. You can put an individual feed at the top of the list, at the bottom of the list or drop it in a folder / group. You can also drag groups to rearrange them manually or sort them alphabetically Unlike other readers that display feeds in a magazine-style layout, Caffeinated only supports a list view. It's a polished view that shows you the publication name, the title of the article, the first sentence and a preview of the article's main image. There's also a time stamp so you can see when the article was posted. Buttons at the top of the middle column allow you to easily filter your list to include unread items, all items and starred items. A search field allows you find articles in the feed or group. Though Caffeinated's views are limited, its options for reading are not. A simple click and hold will reveal a contextual menu that's filled with options to let you share, bookmark and mark an item as read / unread. Third-party services include Buffer, Evernote, Safari reading list, Delicious, Pinboard, Twitter, Facebook, Google +, Instapaper and Pocket. The app also supports Readability so full articles are easy to read and not filled with ads or other fluff. This built-in Readablity support can be toggled on / off in one click. When new articles come in, notifications stream into the OS X notification center. One missing feature in Caffeinated is the ability to add authenticated feeds. Many OS X users connect to internal company RSS feeds that require the user to type in a username and password in order to view the feed. Though it does not officially support authenticated feeds yet, developer Hard has said support for password-protected feeds is on his to-do list. He recently released a video showing this feature in action, so authenticated feeds will likely be added to the app soon. Caffeinated is an excellent RSS reader for OS X users who don't want or need mobile syncing. If the bulk of your reading is done on your Mac, then Caffeniated definitely is worth checking out. You can grab a free 14-day trial from Caffeinated's website, which is under construction at the time of the writing of this post. You can also buy a copy of the software from the Mac App Store for US$5.99.
Ask Engadget: best Google Reader replacement?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Everyone on the internet, who emailed in at once to ask the same question. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Please tell us which news reader we should use now that Google Reader has closed!" Naturally, we held off on posting this until Google Reader was dead and gone, so people had time to get used to one of the replacements. You've got a two more days before your feeds are gone forever, so please tell us which service you've switched to, and why, in the comments below.
PSA: Download your Google Reader data by July 15th
Right on schedule, Google's popular Reader site has gone offline. Visitors are now greeted with an apology message of sorts, along with a warning that data will be permanently deleted after 12PM PST on July 15th. In the meantime, you can use Google Takeout to download a copy of your subscription info, including lists you follow, starred items and notes. In fact, now might be an excellent time to snag data from other sites -- you never know when Mountain View will opt to "sunset" your other beloved services, too.
Reeder for iPhone updated with support for Feedly and Feed Wrangler
Reeder for iPhone, the popular mobile RSS reader from Silvio Rizzi, was updated today to support Feed Wrangler and Feedly. With this update to Version 3.2, Reeder now supports Feedbin, Feedly, Feed Wrangler, Fever and Readability. Customers looking for the Mac and iPad version of Reeder will be disappointed to find out that those apps have been pulled from the iOS and Mac App Store. They still rely on Google Reader for feed management, so Rizzi has removed the apps until he can update them with support for third-party services. There is no ETA as to when these updated versions will be available. While you wait for the new Reeder apps, you can check out these alternative readers.
RIP: Google Reader
We hope you've had time to say your goodbyes, because Google Reader bows out today, ending its eight-year existence. The search giant gave a two-month warning, with many users incensed that they'd be losing their defacto RSS reader -- their favorite way to absorb news and internet goings-on. We'd like to hear why Reader managed to pull in such a devoted following, so leave us your memories in the comments below and let us know which service you've moved your feeds to, because some of us haven't decided yet.
RSS Reader Roundup: Feedly leads the pack with web, mobile and third-party apps
Earlier this year, we listed several services and apps that'll potentially replace Google Reader. Now that the Reader shut down is imminent, we are taking a second look at some of these services (and a few new ones) to see which companies have scaled up enough to become a true Google Reader replacement. In this next post in the series, we will look at Feedly, a startup RSS platform that stepped in to fill the shoes of Google Reader with a web app, mobile apps and robust third-party apps. Initial Setup and Impressions Just like its competitors, Feedly will allow you to login to your Google Reader account and transfer your feeds to the service. All your subscriptions as well as your folders, tags and starred items are imported. Individual RSS subscriptions can be added manually by typing in the site name, RSS URL or topic. If you like to browse for new feeds, Feedly provides a hub of suggested sites. When you add a new site, you are prompted to add it to a category as the Feedly UI emphasizes the use of categories/folders. If you opt not to organize it, the feed will go into an uncategorized category by default. Unfortunately, you cannot bulk import your feeds via an OPML file, but you can export your feeds from Feedly as an OPML. As pointed out by reader Chris, you can go to the Organize tab and select the "As OPML" option at the top. This will bring you to http://cloud.feedly.com/#opml, where you can copy/paste the text into a local text file that can be saved as an OPML file. Feedly has a unique UI with a full-width column for your feeds and a collapsible left-side column that provides access to your feeds list, settings and more. There are several views for this center column, including a list, magazine, cards and full article view. The magazine view has a blog feel to it, while the cards view is a series of tiles arranged in a grid-like fashion as shown above. If you want a splash of color, you also can change the theme for Feedly. Reading your feeds in Feedly is filled with options to make it efficient. You can mark all items in a feed or a category as read. You can even mark as read those articles that are more than a day old or more than a week old. Feedly includes an option to quickly unread an item that was accidentally marked off as read. Unread items are a nice dark black, while read items are grey. To keep your feeds fresh, you can use a filter that shows your unread articles only. Likewise, there is an "oldest first" filter that'll help you clean out those lingering articles from a year ago. Major Features Here's a rundown of the major features of your average RSS reader and information on which ones are supported by Feedly. Google Reader Import: Yes, automatic by logging into Feedly using your Google account. Tags and starred items are imported. Does not support OPML import. OPML export takes a few steps. Folder Support: Yes, imported from Google and create your own. Deleting a folder/category removes the folder and the RSS feeds. Authenticated RSS feeds: No. Keyboard shortcuts: Yes. Tags: Yes. Feedly imports Google Reader tags and you can create new ones. Resizable elements like fonts, columns: The column width is fixed, but you don't need to change it as it takes up most of the screen thanks to a collapsible side column. Header fonts can be changed, link colors can be changed and you can pick a new theme to give Feedly a different look. Mark all read/unread: You can mark all items in an RSS feed and all items in a folder as read. You can easily unread an item as well. Another option lets you mark as read those articles that are more than a day old or more than a week old. Search/Sort: There is no RSS search. You can use a filter to sort articles so the newest or the oldest is at top. You can also hide unread articles with a a few quick clicks. Star/Favorite: Yes, you can mark items as "Saved For Later." Read Later/Offline: Yes, you can save to Pocket Instapaper, Evernote and Del.icio.us. Pocket and Instapaper for mobile. Social networks: You can share articles on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google +. Pinning images to Pinterest is supported as well. You can also send via email or schedule your sharing via Buffer. API/Third-Party: API for developers of third party apps is available now and, judging by the number of third-party apps, is actively in use. Other features: Feedly has a handy setting that'll let you scroll through a feed to mark it as read. Scroll to read only works in Full Articles View only. There are other cool tweaks like the setting that'll automatically add a postfix to a tweet and the option to select your start page. Pricing: Feedly is available for free. Mobile Syncing Mobile apps are the icing on the cake for Feedly. The native universal app is a great companion to the web client. The native apps are free and include syncing across devices, swipe gesture to move between articles and offline reading via Pocket or Instapaper. If you don't like the official app, you always can find a third-party app. Feedly was preparing its back-end service, Normandy, long before Google said it was shutting down Reader. Consequently, the Feedly team was able to get the service up and running quickly for other developers to use in their third-party apps. What's Missing The biggest item missing from Feedly is search. I miss being able to search for an article based on a word or two I remember from a title. Conclusion Feedly is one of the top options for folks looking to replace Google Reader. It has a nice web-based client, a universal iOS app and its API is being used by developers in some top-notch third-party apps. The biggest unknown is its financial future. With free apps and a free service, how is the company going to raise the money needed to scale the service for a large number of users and continue active development? With Google shutting down Reader so unexpectedly, it's good to question the potential longevity of the service that you choose for your RSS feeds.
Third-Party RSS Readers-- Which ones are ready for the Google Reader shutdown?
The Google Reader shut down is imminent, and RSS app developers are scrambling to move their apps away from the Google sync service. Some third-party apps have selected Feedly or Feedbin to drive their syncing, while others have decided to go it alone with their own syncing solution. Still others have decided to become a standalone reader with no syncing until they have time to evaluate which syncing service is the best for their customers. Here is a list of popular third-party RSS reading software and their current syncing status: iOS Reader Apps Mr. Reader [iPad; $3.99] Syncs with BazQux Reader, Feedbin, FeedHQ, Feedly, Feed Wrangler and Fever. Reeder for iPhone [iPhone; Free] Syncs with Feedbin and Fever now. Also standalone/local RSS without syncing. Feedly and Feed Wrangler (No support for smart streams yet in Reeder) in version 3.2, which is pending approval. Update: Reeder Version 3.2 went live July 2. Reeder for iPad [iPad; Free] App will be pulled until a new version with syncing is available. Slow Feeds [iOS Universal; $2.99] Syncs with Feed Wrangler, Feedbin, FeedHQ and NewsBlur. Newsify [iOS Universal; Free] Syncs with Feedly. Byline for iPhone [iPhone; $2.99] Syncs with Feedly. Byline Universal [iOS Universal; Free with IAP] Syncs with Feedly. Favs [iOS Universal; $2.99] Favorites browser that syncs your private starred articles with Feedbin. Readlines for Feedbin [iOS Universal; $0.99] Syncs with Feedbin. Bulletin for Feedbin [iPhone; $0.99] Syncs with Feedbin. Sunstroke [iOS Universal; $4.99] Syncs with Fever. Ashes for Fever [iOS Universal; $7.99] Syncs with Fever. Pulse [iOS Universal; Free] A standalone reader, but you should import your Google Reader feeds as soon as possible using these instructions from Pulse. NewsBar [iPhone; $3.99] Standalone reader with iCloud sync. iPad version in the works. OS X Reader Apps Readkit for Mac [OS X; $4.99] Syncs with Fever, NewsBlur, Feedbin and Feed Wrangler. Also standalone RSS capabilities. Favs [OS X; $9.99] Favorites browser that syncs your private starred articles with Feedbin. Reeder for Mac [OS X; Free] App will be pulled until a new version with syncing is available. Caffeinated [OS X;$5.99] A standalone RSS reader. Follow these instructions if you are updating from version 1.3 of the app. NewsBar [OS X; $4.99] Standalone reader with iCloud sync to the iPhone. Leaf RSS Reader [OS X; $4.99] A standalone reader, with possible syncing in the future. Read this post about Leaf's migration away from Google Reader. NetNewsWire 4 [OS X; $10] NetNewsWire 4, the first version of the classic reader from current owner Black Pixel, is a standalone OS X app with mobile app syncing in the future. NetNewsWire is free to use while it is still in open beta. You can save money by pre-ordering now for $10. The app will cost $20 when the final version with syncing is released. Read our review of NetNewsWire 4. For those who have chosen a Google Reader replacement and are looking for apps, here is a list of third-party RSS Readers organized by service. Feedly: Mr. Reader, Newsify, Byline for iPhone and Byline Universal. Reeder for iPhone version 3.2 with Feedly support is pending App Store approval. (Update: Reeder Version 3.2 went live July 2.) Feed Wrangler: Mr. Reader, Slow Feeds and Readkit for Mac. Reeder for iPhone version 3.2 with Feed Wrangler support is pending App Store approval. (Update: Reeder Version 3.2 went live July 2.) Feedbin: Mr. Reader , Reeder for iPhone, Slow Feeds, Favs, Readlines for Feedbin, Bulletin for Feedbin and Readkit for Mac. Fever: Mr. Reader , Reeder for iPhone, Sunstroke, Ashes for Fever and Readkit for Mac. NewsBlur: Slow Feeds. Standalone: Pulse, Caffeinated for Mac, Leaf RSS Reader for Mac, NetNewsWire 4 and NewsBar for iOS and OS X.
Github tool extracts all your Google Reader data, including starred items, tags and more
Google Reader is shutting down and you, hopefully, have backed up your Reader data for future import into your reader app of choice. As pointed out by Mihai Parparita of persistent.info, Google's Takeout service creates a backup of the RSS subscriptions, but fails to include all the data like starred items, tags, comments and more. To grab all your data, Parparita has created a tool that uses Google's API to pull down everything but the kitchen sink from your Reader account. You can download the reader_archive tool from github and check out the article on persistent.info. The article details other tools like CloudPull and the readerisdead.com website that compiles tools, tips and tricks on extracting all your data from Google Reader. Happy Google Reader backup weekend, folks!
RSS Reader Roundup: Feedbin, Feed Wrangler and NewsBlur
Earlier this year, we listed several services and apps that'll potentially replace Google Reader. Now that the Reader shut down is imminent, we are taking a second look at some of these services (and a few new ones) to see which companies have scaled up enough to become a true Google Reader replacement. In this next post in our series, we are turning your eyes towards an outstanding article by Josh Centers of Tidbits, who took a detailed look at Feedbin, Feed Wrangler and NewsBlur. Though they lack the name recognition of readers from companies like Digg and AOL, these smaller products hold their own and, in some cases, surpass their bigger brethren. Feed Wrangler is an excellent example as it has a great web UI and already works with third-party apps like Mr. Reader for the iPad and Readkit for the Mac. On the iPhone, it also lets you export articles to Drafts. Feedbin mixes the best of both worlds with a Google Reader-like web interface and syncing with Reeder for iPhone, Mr. Reader and Readkit. NewsBlur offers its own apps for the web, iPad and iPhone, but lacks third-party app support. Within its own apps, it has an intelligent filtering option and support for comments from the NewsBlur community. Head over to TidBits for screenshots and additional insight on the brave, new world of RSS readers.
RSS Reader Roundup: AOL jumps into RSS with web-based reader, no mobile apps yet
Earlier this year, we listed several services and apps that'll potentially replace Google Reader. Now that the Reader shut down is imminent, we are taking a second look at some of these services (and a few new ones) to see which companies have scaled up enough to become a true Google Reader replacement. In this next post in our series, we will look at AOL Reader, a new RSS service from AOL. Note: TUAW is a part of AOL Tech. Initial Setup and Impressions AOL Reader will allow you to login to your Google Reader account and transfer your feeds and folders. You can also bulk import your feeds via an OPML file. Tags and starred items are not imported from Google Reader. RSS subscriptions can be added manually by typing in the site name or RSS URL. If you like to browse for new feeds, AOL provides a catalog of suggested sites that you can add to your AOL Reader account. AOL Reader does not allow you to export your feeds via OPML or any method. AOL Reader's UI is straightforward with a left navigation bar that houses all your RSS feeds and a main pane that previews all your content. You can choose from a few different layouts including a list view, a magazine-style card view (shown above), a three-column pane view and a full view that shows the entire article. There are ads on the right side of the screen, which showcase other AOL content like AOL On. Each view allows you to easily mark an item as read and unread, but the read/unread behavior is inconsistent. You can mark an entire folder or an entire feed as read, but this change is permanent. You cannot go back and mark individual items as unread. You can, however, mark things as unread when browse through your articles one at a time. When you read your feed on an article-by-article basis, each article is marked as read automatically, and there is a toggle that lets you mark it unread if you want. As shown above, I find it very unusual that this mark unread toggle is there when you read individually and gone when you digest your feeds in bulk. AOL Reader allows you to star articles you want to remember and add tags to help organize unruly feeds. The web app supports folders, called categories, and imports them in nicely from Google Reader. You can organize your subscriptions and manage these categories in Reader Options > Organize. Note that AOL Reader is different from other readers when it comes to deleting folders. Many other readers will delete the folder and all the feeds inside of it. AOL Reader removes the category, but saves all the subscriptions within that folder as individual feeds. This can be nightmarish if you delete a category with 30 feeds and then are left to delete the leftover subscriptions one feed at a time. Major Features Here's a rundown of the major features of your average RSS reader and information on which ones are supported by AOL Reader. Google Reader Import: Yes, automatic by logging into Reader using your Google account. Also supports OPML import. Does not import tags or starred items. AOL Reader does not allow you to export your feeds via OPML or any method. Folder Support: Yes, imported from Google and create your own. Deleting a folder/category only removes the folder. The app keeps the RSS feeds that were formerly in the folder. Authenticated RSS feeds: No. Keyboard shortcuts: Yes. Tags: Yes. You can create new ones, but they are not imported from Google Reader. Resizable elements like fonts, columns: Yes, you can change the font sizes and toggle between a dark and light theme. Column width is fixed, but you can switch the views between List, Card, Full and Pane. Mark all read/unread: You can mark all the items in an RSS feed and all the items in a folder as read. This change is permanent, you cannot go back and mark them as unread. If you read articles individually and they are marked as read, you can go back and mark the individual articles as unread. Search/Sort: There is no RSS search. Surprisingly, the search field at the top of the Reader app searches the web. You can sort articles so the newest or the oldest is at top. You can also sort by read/unread status. Star/Favorite: Yes, you can star items. Starred items are not imported from Google Reader, though. Read Later/Offline: None. Social networks: You can share articles on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google +. You can also send via email. API/Third-Party: API for developers and third party apps (available now, free during beta) Other features: AOL Reader has a handy setting that'll let you scroll through a feed to mark it as read. Scroll to read only works in Full View. Pricing: AOL Reader is available for free. There are smallish, visual ads on the right-most column. Mobile Syncing Mobile apps are not yet available, but coming soon for iOS and Android. In the interim, you can use your mobile browser as the UI for Reader is tablet-friendly. What's Missing The two biggest items missing from AOL Reader are search and an option to read offline in a service like Instapaper or Pocket. AOL Mobile apps are also MIA, with the promise that they are under development. Conclusion The new AOL Reader is a decent first effort, but it lacks the polish of other readers like NetNewsWire, Feedly and Digg Reader. The UI can be inconsistent regarding read/unread, and there are no mobile apps. On the plus side, the service does have a tablet-friendly layout for your on-the-go reading, and performance is responsive.
RSS Reader Roundup: NetNewsWire 4 polishes its desktop app, but misses on mobile
Earlier this year, we listed several services and apps that'll potentially replace Google Reader. Now that the Reader shut down is imminent, we are taking a second look at some of these services (and a few new ones) to see which companies have scaled up enough to become a true Google Reader replacement. In this latest post in our series, we will look at NetNewsWire, a service that has seen its share of ups and downs since its debut in 2002. Initial Setup and Impressions NetNewsWire was acquired by Black Pixel in 2011 and development of the reader stalled as its new owner revamped the software. After two years, the beta version of NetNewsWire 4 for the Mac was released on June 24, just in time for the shut down of Google Reader. Version 4 of NetNewsWire represents a new start for the well-known RSS reader. NetNewsWire was one of the first news reading apps and consequently has along history with RSS. Its transition to Google Reader back in the day and now away from Google Reader is expectedly seamless. When you fire up NetNewsWire 4 for the first time, you can easily import your Google Reader content by logging into your Google account. The app does not import tags or starred items. If you have an OPML file kicking around, you can also use that file to add your RSS feeds to the app. New feeds can be added by typing in the URL of the website or browsing through NetNewsWire's predefined list of sites. You can export your feeds from NetNewsWire 4 using an OPML file. NetNewsWire 4 has a traditional three column layout. All your feeds are in the leftmost column, previews are in the center column and the right column displays the article's content. The columns are adjustable, so you can tweak their size to fit your screen and reading preference. There is one view so you will always have these three columns until you read a full article with the app's built-in browser. A full article will change the view so you have a large center column with images and text. As shown above, a new column appears on the right that lets you switch from reading an article to browsing through the feeds. In this view, you can have multiple articles (tabs) open and easily move between them. You can customize the look of NetNewsWire 4 by switching between a day view with a white background and a night view with a dark background. You can also change the font type and the font size. The menu bar is customizable, too, allowing you to add and remove items to suit your RSS reading habits. NetNewsWire 4 supports folders, bookmarks for individual articles and favorites for feeds. You can further organize feeds by dragging them and dropping them into a folder. Folders then can be nested inside other folders for convenience, as shown above. When you delete a folder, you delete the folder itself and all the subscriptions within it. Major Features Here's a rundown of the major features of your average RSS reader and information on which ones are supported by NetNewsWire 4. Google Reader Import: Yes, automatic import via your Google account or manually via OPML import. The app does not import tags or starred items from Google. NetNewsWire 4 allows you to export your feeds via OPML. Folder Support: Yes, imported from Google and create your own. Authenticated RSS feeds: No. Keyboard shortcuts: Yes. Also has right-click contextual menus. Tags: No. Resizable elements like fonts, columns: Yes, has a night or day view and different font sizes and types. Supports full screen mode on OS X. Mark all read/unread: You can mark all items in an RSS feed and all items in a folder as read. You can also mark as unread. Search/Sort: You can search for a word in an article, in the title of an article or by author. You can also sort articles so the newest or the oldest is at top. Star/Favorite: Yes, you can save articles as bookmarks and add feeds to a Favorites section. Read Later: Supports Instapaper. Social networks: You can share articles on Facebook, via email and down to Instapaper. API/Third-Party Apps: None announced. Other features: NetNewsWire 4 has a Today section that shows only RSS feed content from today. There are also tabs that let you switch between articles which are open in the built-in browser. Pricing: This beta version is available for free and costs $10 to purchase in advance. The price will jump up to $20 when the final version with mobile sync is released. Mobile Syncing Mobile apps for version 4 are not yet available, and there is no target date for their launch. Black Pixel won't divulge its plan for syncing NetNewsWire between devices, but the company did say in March 2013 that iCloud was not suitable for syncing. What's Missing NetNewsWire 4 has all the basics you need for reading RSS feeds, but some key features from earlier versions, like smart lists and authenticated feeds, have been removed. There's also no support for tagging. Mobile apps are MIA in this beta trial, and Black Pixel has not said when these companion apps will launch. Conclusion If you want a great desktop experience, then go with NetNewsWire 4 and be patient while Black Pixel finishes off their iOS Apps. Black Pixel makes some great apps like Versions and Kaleidoscope 2. I expect their mobile NetNewsWire 4 app will be as good as their other offerings. If you want mobile syncing right away though, you will have to look elsewhere for your RSS reading needs.
Digg Reader web, iOS apps are open for the public
As we stand on the precipice of the shutdown of Google Reader the search for replacement RSS clients is more frantic than ever, and now Digg has opened access to its app for any users interested. Currently available on the web and as an iOS app (Android coming soon), importing ones Google account is just a few mouse clicks away. The experience as it exists now is pretty barebones, and Digg says it plans to add a "View unread items only" option, "Mark as unread" button and the always crucial "accurate" unread counts for feeds and folders in the near future. Hit the source link below to give it a shot, and then let us know if it's a contender for the throne.
PSA: Back up your Google Reader account before July 1, 2013
Just a reminder that Google Reader will shut down on Monday, July 1. If you still haven't switched to another service, now is the time to do it before your subscriptions are no longer accessible. While you figure out which service will become your next news-reading home, you should download your RSS feeds from Google Reader and store them on your computer. Once you have a local backup on your computer, you can import these feeds into any RSS service in the future. Follow these instructions to back up your Google Reader RSS feeds and stay tuned as we take a close look at the latest Google Reader alternatives, including new services from AOL and Digg.
Digg starts rolling out its Reader app to beta users
Digg announced on its blog that its new Reader service will be available to the public on a rolling basis starting today. The beta version of the service will target Google Reader users looking to jump ship before the Google RSS service shuts down next week. Initially, the company is opening Digg Reader to survey participants who were part of the development process. Invitations then will be sent out in batches to customers who signed up for the beta. Digg is scaling up slowly in order keep the service running smoothly, but it hopes to get all beta customers on board sometime today. You can sign up here: digg.com/reader. Besides its web app, Digg Reader will also launch on the iPhone and iPad. Look for an update to the current Digg app that'll add the Reader functionality.
Editorial: As Google Reader dies, reading struggles to be reborn
When Google announced it was pulling Reader's plug (which will happen next week), the outcry was loud and viral. If I may speak for those who were most wounded by the knife in Reader's back, the announcement shock was mixed with betrayal, anger and loss. Those who built RSS reading into their lives generally placed it at the epicenter of their online activity. Anticipating life without Reader was a black-hole view -- the web with a void punched into the center. As the wailing turned practical, exporting and migrating recommendations proliferated. The commotion died down for a while, and has now resumed for Reader's final week. Major and minor brands are jumping into the feed-reading game, seeking to sway a vocal population looking for new homes. But is a loud community of users also a large community of users? Feed-based web consumption hasn't had this much publicity in years. Does all this product development and media attention signal a rebirth of RSS's geeky convenience? Or are money and effort being thrown at an ephemeral market?
NetNewsWire 4 enters open beta, gives Mac owners a new, local RSS reader option
As Google Reader's closing in on the end of its days, a spate of new RSS aggregators have popped up to replace it. Sure, web-based readers from AOL, Digg or Feedly could do the trick, but what if you want your RSS stored locally? You're in luck, because one of the elder statesmen in the RSS world, NetNewsWire, has what you need with its version 4 open beta. This new beta is a more refined version of NetNewsWire 4 Lite, which was released in 2011, and will allow folks to pull down all their GReader archives and store them locally for free while it's in beta. The catch? You've gotta be running Mac OS X 10.7.3 or later, and while the beta's free for now, the software will cost you once it's final -- $10 dollars for those who pre-order, and $20 after that.
AOL launches Reader for RSS
AOL has announced the debut of its latest online service --an RSS reader to replace the soon-to-be-defunct Google Reader. The new AOL Reader is a no-frills web app for reading your RSS feeds. There are no mobile apps, but the service does have a tablet-friendly layout for your on-the-go reading. The AOL Reader UI is straightforward with a left navigation bar that houses all your RSS feeds and a main pane that previews all your content. You can choose from a few different layouts including a list view, card view and full view that shows the entire article. Each view allows you to easily mark an item as read. You can also star it or share it on social networks like Google+, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. There are ads on the right side of the screen, which showcase other AOL content like AOL On. AOL Reader will let you add RSS subscriptions manually to the service or import them in bulk from your Google Reader account via an OPML file. You can also browse through AOL's catalog of suggested sites and add RSS feeds from there. AOL Reader is a decent first effort that'll give RSS fans another alternative to Feedly and Digg Reader. You can access the beta service by going to reader.aol.com and signing up for an account using your AOL login, a Facebook account or Twitter credentials. Note: TUAW is a part of AOL Tech.
AOL Reader beta officially available for your RSS-perusing needs (hands-on)
Wondering how AOL's RSS client will rank as a Google Reader replacement? Today's the day we find out, as the doors to the AOL Reader beta have officially swung open. Feedly's been absorbing Google's castaways for weeks now, and Digg's only two days away from launching its own freemium RSS client -- but we couldn't resist getting an early taste of what our parent company (Disclaimer alert!) is cooking. Join us after the break for all the details about this latest entrant in the field of feed readers.
Facebook reportedly building Flipboard-style mobile reading app
There have been murmurs of Facebook building a mobile reading app; tonight, that talk is getting a little louder. The Wall Street Journal claims that the social network has spent the past year working on a dedicated story browser, codenamed Reader, that would curate articles in a Flipboard-like interface. While most other details of the rumored project aren't available, it's reportedly important enough that Mark Zuckerberg is closely involved. The company isn't commenting on its plans, but there's reason to believe that Reader is more than just idle speculation: Facebook recently added hashtag support as a "first step" toward helping users track topics. Accordingly, the company's Graph API includes some unused RSS code that could prove relevant for browsing story feeds. There's no guarantee that we'll see the app soon, if at all. When mobile is becoming the cornerstone of Facebook's business, however, we wouldn't completely rule out Reader's existence.
AOL Reader launches into private beta, thanks Google for the opportunity
Google: "Eh, we're kind of over this Reader thing. Let's go launch some balloons." AOL: "Why, thanks guys -- don't mind if we do!" The above mentioned quotes are still unofficial, mind you, but it appears that AOL (disclaimer: that's Engadget's parent company) is joining Feedly and Digg in an effort to capture the audiences who will soon be forced to flee from Google's Reader product. AOL Reader launched today in beta form, promising to collect "all your favorite websites, in one place." It appears that the design language follows that introduced in the entity's Alto mail product, and if you've forgotten your AOL password, fret not -- those who request (and receive) an invite will be able to sign in via Facebook, Google or Twitter. Oh, and judging by the shot above, it's designed to work universally across screen sizes and devices, including your tablets, phones, desktops, laptops and space-age computational creations. Of note, it appears that the sign-up forms aren't entirely active just yet, as we're hearing that the bona fide launch won't occur until next week. Update: We've confirmed that invites will be accepted starting on Monday, June 24th.
