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The Top Three RSS Readers for PC Users

Shevonne — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:42:23 +0000

In previous weeks, we have discussed the best RSS Readers for the Web and the Mac. This time we will be talking about the desktop-based RSS Readers for the PC.

1. FeedDemon

FeedDemon is an application, made for the PC, created by the people behind NewsGator. It has numerous functionalities that will help enhance your RSS feed management. It has the basic layout: All Subscriptions, Unread Items, Starred Items, Shared Items, and tags.

During the installation, users are able to sync the FeedDemon with their Google Reader, if they choose to.

They are also able to decide if they want to allow FeedDemon to add default feeds, which is useful if you do not have any subscriptions. Another useful option is the ability to import subscriptions from Bloglines, OPML file, RSS Bandit, or a Windows Common Feed List.

There is also a featured called “Watch,” where you are able to add keywords. Whenever one of your feeds has one of those keywords, the folder is smart enough that it contains it. If you want to remove posts, you are able to do so using the Cleanup Wizard. It allows you to remove them by date, number of items, and folder.

Other useful features are desktop alerts that are customizable by time and feed; ability to share with other people specific items; and the fluidity with Internet Explorer. If you want to choose another browser, you can always open links outside of FeedDemon.

It’s definitely a great RSS Reader with tons of functionality, which is especially useful if you have tons of RSS feeds, like I do.

2. Feedreader

Feedreader is a simple RSS Reader that does not have the number of features that FeedDemon, but it does what it sets out to do. The layout is very similar to FeedDemon, which has your subscriptions, unread items, and starred items.

If you want to import your Google Reader (or from another service) items, you can do it by uploading the OPML file and picking the feeds to import in. Feedreader allows you to add default feeds to get you started.

There is this useful feature call “Rating” that you can turn it on. When it is on, Feedreader will monitor your behavior and suggest items that you might find interesting. If you do not want a keyword to be used to make these suggestions, you are able to blacklist it, so that the application doesn’t take it into account.

It also has desktop alerts that summarizes the unread items for each feed.

This is definitely an useful RSS Reader if you are just looking for simplicity.

3. Snarfer

Snarfer is a robust RSS Reader that really uses Google apps. the layout is just like the other two RSS Readers.

It is very similar to the other two that it allows Snarfer to import default RSS feeds to start off users that need the assistance. After you select the feeds you want, you are able to place them in preexisting folders or folders you have already created (or imported).

If you don’t want to put your feed into one of the folders listed, the application should give you the option to create a folder. Users are able to add two plugins: Google Reader Synchronization plugin and Google Reader plugin. These allows you to import and sync your feeds you are maintaining in Google Reader, and the ability to share interesting items with others. Snarfer even has a Google translate function, so you are able to translate feeds from one language to the next.

Snarfer also allows you to do three types of searches: ebay, keyword, or web. If you want to monitor items that you bid on Ebay, you are able to do this using Snarfer.

Like FeedDemon, you are able to watch certain keywords, and whenever it comes in, Snarfer automatically adds them to a “Watch” folder. You are also able to search by web sites. It really takes searching to another level. Snarfer is the most visually-pleasing RSS Reader of the bunch. Additionally, it has great plugins that enhance the reader even more. However, needing to add plugin, whereas with others, it is already built-in the app, is an extra step that isn’t needed. It also doesn’t have desktop alerts, which can be useful. Overall, it’s a nice RSS Reader application.

Which RSS reader do you use on your PC?

Image credit: dwingdwang01

The Top Three RSS Readers for PC Users originally published on Make Tech Easier (RSS)

Top Three Web RSS Readers to Manage Your RSS Feeds

Shevonne — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:10:28 +0000

The Internet is quickly becoming many people’s one-stop shop for getting information. There are tons of newspapers, magazines, podcasts, blogs, etc. talking about something that will be of interest to a group of people.These publications usually offer RSS feeds that make it easy for their readers to continue viewing their content outside of their site. If you have more than ten RSS feeds that you read every day, you probably use (or need) a RSS Reader to manage them. These RSS Readers can be web-only or downloadable software.

Below are the top three web RSS Readers that you can use to manage your RSS feeds:

1. Google Reader

Google Reader provides its users with a simple interface that gives them a lot of options to manage their RSS feeds. You are able to sort feeds into folders and tag the feeds’ content. Google Reader provides a variety of ways to share feeds:
1. Email the information to different recipients, or
2. Share it on your personalized, public Google Reader page.

Google Reader also gives you the capability of connecting with your friends and seeing their shared items. If there is a particular item that you want to bookmark to read later, but don’t want to share it, Google Reader allows you to star it. Recommendations are given according to the feeds that you subscribe to. Overall, it’s a robust and easy RSS Reader that can be read from any computer or mobile phone.

2. Feedly

Feedly is a Firefox-only add-on that builds on top of Google Reader. It interfaces with Twitter and FriendFeed, so you are able to keep up with the conversations on the two sites as well. Like Google Reader, you are able to see your friends’ shared items, star items to read later, and hide the items you have already read.

One of the best things about Feedly is that gives you three ways to view your feeds: Cover, Digest, and Latest. Cover gives summary view of all your feeds, tweets, visuals, etc. Digest is more of a detailed view. Latest provides a chronological view of all your feeds, starting from the most recent. It provides a prettier view of Google Reader, but it doesn’t give the flexibility of using your browser of choice.

3. Bloglines

Bloglines is a web-based RSS feeder that currently has two versions – Classic and Beta. The beta version provides you with the capability of customizing your own front page. Additionally, it allows you to drag-n-drop feeds into this page. You can choose to “mark as read” individual posts or the entire folder, which is the only option in the classic. Bloglines can be accessible via mobile phones, and it provides you with the capability of customizing your personalized mobile site. It also works with OpenID technology, which means you can quickly login with your OpenID and bypass the troublesome process of registering a username.

As with the other two readers, you are able to save and email individual content. The drag-n-drop function, modifying the front page and mobile site, and OpenID settings are pretty nice. However, it’s missing the sharing functionality within the reader, like the other two readers support.

Which Web RSS Reader do you use? What would you say is the best functionality of it? Regardless of your RSS reader of choice, if you read numerous RSS feeds, you need one. It provides a great way to organize and maintain your feeds, and relieve some of the stress of having to sift through all of them.

Top Three Web RSS Readers to Manage Your RSS Feeds originally published on Make Tech Easier (RSS)

The BEST Way to Read News on Your iPhone

jamesyeang — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:25:31 +0000

Free RSS readers on the iTunes app store are a dime a dozen. Most of them however, are not worth even a second look. So what IS the best way to read your news and get yourself up to speed on an iPhone?

Well one app clearly stands out head and shoulders over the crowd, and it’s Net News Wire for the iPhone.

It’s powerful. It comes with a plethora of customizable options, which lets you completely customize your reading experience. At the same time, it’s simple to use. If you don’t care for customization, it works out of the box beautifully. It even syncs up with your online newsgator account so the feeds you read on your laptop will be in sync with the feeds you read on your iPod.

The best part? *Drumroll* ….Offline reading.

While almost all other free RSS readers rely on a net connection to function, NetNewsWire will download the feed onto the phone so you can read it offline. That way you never have to worry about having a decent 3G connection. If you’re using an iPod touch, it is truly a Godsend to be able to read feeds offline because you no longer need a Wi-Fi hotspot to get your daily news fix.

Do you read news on your mobile device? Tell us about it in the comments!

The BEST Way to Read News on Your iPhone originally published on Make Tech Easier (RSS)