reader
Latest
Square's new chip card reader will make your payments more secure
There's a good reason you don't usually see Square readers outside of the US: they're built to read payment cards with magnetic stripes, not the more secure chip-and-PIN cards that are common everywhere else. All that's set to change, however. Square has revealed plans for a reader that accepts the chip-based EMV format alongside stripes, letting shops handle credit and debit cards from around the world (and the US, once it catches up). The company will only start taking pre-orders for the payment device later this year, but it could be worthwhile for stores and customers alike. Besides the greater availability, it's much harder to clone a chip card -- you shouldn't have to worry about an unscrupulous clerk (or a clever hacker) stealing your credit card and going on a shopping spree.
Facebook Paper got its first big update today, but is anyone using it?
Here's a shocker: Facebook's first major update to Paper, its socially augmented news-reading app, makes it more social. Specifically, the app's 1.1 update now allows users to comment on posts using photos, as well as added birthday and event notifications and tacked on an unread-message counter to help users keep track of Group activity. Facebook hasn't fiddled with the user interface much, but content from Bloomberg, Mashable, Popular Science and six other news sources has been gussied up with new, custom article covers. Oh, and the company says it's made the app run a little faster, too. It's not a game-changing update, but anything's better than forgetting your spouse's birthday -- assuming Facebook's main app didn't already remind you. Has Paper found its way to your home screen? We're running a quick poll: Skip past the break to drop in a vote or leave us a note.
Sony to close Reader store and move users to Kobo's e-book platform in 'late March'
With its eye firmly fixed on a return to profitability, Sony's been making extensive cuts to its business arms in recent days (bye bye, VAIO!). So it's no surprise the company would train that cost-cutting eye onto another underperforming unit -- its e-reader business. Sony announced today that it'll be shuttering its Reader store in the US and Canada come "late March" and that all Reader accounts (including library content) would be moved to Kobo's platform during that time. Existing users shouldn't have much to worry about though, as Sony claims the "migration process" should be painless and that it'll issue a how-to email to walk users through it. The deal will also see Kobo's app pre-installed on select Xperia devices, which should give Kobo a significant boost in audience reach. That's assuming consumers start buying Xperias in bulk. Update: Sony contacted us to clarify that the Kobo app will only come pre-loaded on select Xperia devices.
Flipboard now learns from your reading habits, arranges your favorites in sections
In an effort to predict what you want to read, Flipboard is updating its Cover Stories to learn from your perusing habits. This section of the app learns how you navigate content and will feature articles from sections that you spend the most time reading -- rather than displaying selections in the order they're posted. Here, stories will also be sorted by source, social network and topic for quick scanning, and the mute function is still in play for the text you wish to hide. The outfit plans to integrate the functionality in other areas of the app too, like its curated magazine The Weekend. Android and iOS users can expect to see the new Cover Stories features soon, as the roll out has already begun.
Google Now's latest update adds Reader-like website updates, Waze traffic reports and more (updated)
Some of the Google Now enhancements mentioned at the Android 4.4 KitKat unveiling are ready to roll, as the search giant has started pushing a new version of its app on Android today. The ability to follow news about specific people started popping up last month, but the news update card follows specific topics you've searched about or chosen to follow. It's not quite a replacement for Google Reader (RIP), but the new website update card brings the latest posts from selected sources (we can recommend one you should follow), while the "What to Watch" card adds more suggestions for movies and TV shows. That's not all however, as the crowdsourced Waze traffic updates that we've started noticing on the desktop and in Google Maps are also coming to Google Now, with alerts relevant to your commute highlighted. The final additions noted are notifications for in-store pickups, real-time rugby scoring and the ability to set reminders that repeat. As usual, it's one of Google's staggered rollouts so you might not see the new features right away, check out the Google+ post for an idea of what they look like. Update: Android Police and Droid-Life point out that with this update, it also means you can easily add the Google Experience Launcher from the Nexus 5 to any device running Android 4.1 or higher. Both sites have downloads for the official Home APK, which along with this update lets you activate search and commands with the "Ok Google" hotword straight from your home screen, as well as enjoy some new animations. Update 2: As Ars Technica notes, the update also brings some notable improvements that Google's apparently chosen not to highlight. Namely, you can now interact with Google Now using more conversational voice commands, not unlike Siri. You can try that out yourself, or see an example in a short video Ars has put together.
Feedly turns to Google+, Twitter and Facebook for easier logins and sharing
After leaning heavily on Google authentication to transition millions of users from Google Reader, Feedly wants to make it even easier to log into its RSS reader. In an official blog post, the company says it will soon transition from Google OAuth to Google+, simplifying access across different devices and laying the foundation for improved social sharing. Feedly says it has also been testing Twitter, Facebook and Wordpress login options and plans to roll them out "over the next seven weeks." Don't expect to wait too long for the new Google features to take effect though: they're coming to the Feedly website today and will be added to its iOS and Android apps in "a couple of weeks."
Digg for Android gets an unread mode and speed improvements
Busy Android users with Digg no longer have to plow through previously read RSS entries as they hop from device to device. The company has just given its Android app the same unread mode that reached iOS this summer; enable the option and Digg will show only stories that haven't been seen on at least one device. There are also a few performance optimizations under the hood. If you can't help but check Digg on every gadget you own, you'll want to grab the updated Android app from Google Play now.
Digg for Android arrives with Reader support
Digg was ready with a Reader-enabled iOS app in time for a rush of Google Reader exiles, but it left Android users looking for alternative newsreaders. That void is now filled with the launch of the company's Android app. The Android build closely matches its iOS counterpart, with support for Digg's own news, RSS feed subscriptions and sharing to both read-it-later apps as well as social networks. Just be aware of a few rough patches -- this release is missing background updates, some display options and an unread-only filter. If you can live without those features in the short term, though, you can grab the Digg app through Google Play.
Instapaper gets new app-like web interface, fresh mobile apps to follow
When Instapaper got acquired, its new owners swore they wouldn't let it go stale. Now, we're seeing the first wave of changes roll out since the save-and-read-later tool changed hands, starting with a complete overhaul of its web interface. Instapaper's new website still remains simple -- good thing, because that's part of its charm -- but borrows design elements from its iOS and Android apps. In the next few weeks, Betaworks (the company that now owns Instapaper as well as Digg), will also unleash revamped mobile apps, improved browser extensions and a handful of new features. Whether these Instapaper updates can insta-entice people to switch from Pocket and other competitors remains to be seen, but hit the source links if you'd like to give the tool a shot.
Feedly Pro now available to everyone, offers a 'more powerful' reader for a fee
Feedly's popularity increased massively with the news of Google Reader being put out to pasture, so much so that it figured it wouldn't be such a bad idea to introduce a paid version of its RSS service. Therein Feedly Pro was born. Now, after being available to a limited amount of people, Feedly Pro is opening its doors to everyone, provided folks are willing to fork over the $5 per month or $45 per year for the extra functionality. Here's what those fees will get you in return: more search options within feeds, one-click integration with Evernote and Pocket, premium customer support and, lastly, HTTPS support to keep things vastly more secure. According to Feedly, additional features will be coming regularly to Feedly Pro in order to bring more productivity tools to users and, perhaps more importantly, make itself sustainable going forward.
I'm afraid to tell you about Shrook, but RSS users deserve to know
As I write this article I am filled with fear. I'm going to tell you about the only RSS reader I have found that fits my style of browsing, but I'm worried that in doing so I will unintentionally curse it. You see, ever since the death of Google Reader, I've been searching high and low for an RSS reader that meets my needs. It needs to be fast (web-based or standalone app, it doesn't matter); it must accept OPML files; and it needs to have a reliable search feature. That's not too much to ask, is it? Well apparently it is, because after over a month and a half of searching and testing, I've only just now stumbled across Shrook, the free RSS reader of my dreams. I'm not going to go through the entire list of both standalone and web apps that failed me, but here are a few dead-end streets I found myself on: Feedly -- No search feature (unless you're one of 5,000 testers of the US$5 Feedly Pro). AOL Reader -- No search feature. Digg Reader -- No search feature. (seeing a pattern yet?) NetNewsWire -- Has a search feature! Huzzah! It also has system-crippling memory requirements and can't do anything in less than 45 seconds. I has a sad. As you can see, the most common reason for disappointment was a lack of search features. I thought I had discovered my new go-to in The Old Reader and then, after the service blew up in popularity, almost died entirely and was brought back to life, the search option disappeared. It was like a sign from the internet gods that I should just give up. And then I found Shrook on the Mac App Store. Shrook has been around for a very, very long time, and although I had overlooked it in my panicky search for a Google Reader replacement, I finally figured I'd give it a shot. All I can say is that it's as close to perfect as I could possibly want. It's fast, has a fantastic search function and auto-refreshes constantly, but uses only a small fraction of the system resources of every other standalone reader I've tried. Oh, and it's free. I don't know what kind of voodoo magic was used to code Shrook, and frankly I don't want to know. The only thing that I ask of the RSS gods is that Shrook live on for eternity. Now go download it and enjoy it with me; just please don't break it, or so help me...
Digg for iOS gets unread mode, Reader mobile mirrors its app counterpart
Couple of updates for those who like their Digg on the go. First up is the revamp of the social news aggregator's iOS app. Using the latest version, you can view stories by unread items only and delete feeds from directly within the app. Scrolling has been improved as well, and the offering now has support for Readability. Digg Reader's getting a boost as well, with optimization on the mobile site "captur[ing] the look and feel" of the iOS app, according to Digg. There's also full support for sites like YouTube and SoundCloud via HTML5. More info can be excavated in the source link below.
Feedly goes Pro: $5 per month for better search, security and more (update: sold out)
Log into your free 'n easy Feedly RSS service this morning and you may be offered the opportunity to make it less free, but potentially even easier to use. An upgrade to Feedly Pro will normally cost $5 per month or $45 per year, but it's also currently be sold for $99 with a lifetime membership for the first 5,000 claimants. In return, the cloud-based reader promises the following: Https support to "add a layer of security to your Feedly browsing" Article search that allows you to search "within your Feedly feeds"; Evernote integration that enables one-click saving of an article to a selected notebook; Premium support, which means upgraders will "get bumped to the front of the support line" if they need a hand. And there we have it. An inevitable move on Feedly's part, no doubt, though we can't help but remember the days when it made us all feel special. Update: Those 5,000 limited editions are all gone. The outfit has set its sights on unleashing the full-on pro version "in a few weeks" thanks to the funds raised.
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.
Comixology adds options for subscriptions and bundles (update: Web app only)
Comixology is, as we've discussed here before, basically the premiere app for comic books on Apple's iPad. And now, the app (well, the web app at least) is adding one more feature to its already long list. Starting today, you can subscribe to your favorite comics right inside the app's web store, which means that instead of going in every week to buy the comics you want, you can tap one button, and you'll automatically pick up a comic when it arrives. That's pretty handy if you buy a lot of comics -- it's like having your own personal comic book store pulling issues as you need them. The company has also added support for buying comics in bundles, which means those deals we occasionally see come out of Comixology's offices will probably be a lot better (it's much easier to buy a bunch of comics at a time for cheap, rather than a ton of issues individually on sale). This also means that the company can bundle up storylines and back issues, so finding what you want to read and purchasing it all in one go should be a piece of cake. Update: Bundles and subscriptions are only available on the web app, we're told. But you can definitely buy comics on the web, and then browse them on your iPad.
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.
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.
Digg adds reader to its iOS app, offers instant Google Reader import
There's more than a few enterprises that have an eye on filling the void in the RSS market left by Google's curious withdrawal. Digg is one of those hoping to woo Mountain View's refugees and has updated its iOS app to incorporate its experimental new service, which offers direct imports from Google Reader. It's available from the App Store right now, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that there are other, ahem, AOL-sanctioned, alternatives.
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.
WSJ: Facebook developing 'Reader', a Flipboard-like Twitter competitor for iOS
According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook is developing a new app called 'Reader,' which looks a lot like Flipboard, at least in its current iteration. Reader will reportedly compete with Flipboard directly. The Wall Street Journal says that currently Reader is only being developed for iOS and that Mark Zuckerberg is personally involved in the project. Interestingly, one of the original iPhone interface designers (and a current Facebook designer), Michael Matas, is leading the project. The fact that Reader is only being developed for iOS right now could be a sign that it relies heavily on some of iOS's APIs or frameworks. iOS is also a natural start for big software initiatives, as many of its users are early adopters and more tech savvy than Android users as a whole. Reader also shows that Facebook is fairly nervous about Twitter as a news distribution source. Reader will reportedly compete with Twitter by displaying content from Facebook users, news organizations and other publishers in a user's timeline. Reader will also, of course, be another away Facebook can monetize its services on mobile.
