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After months on mobile, Google Chrome's RSS reader is finally making it to desktop
Chrome 106 may (or may not) have the feed panel we're all waiting for
Feed readers are your one-stop shop for collecting headlines from all over your favorite publications for easy perusal. In October, Google Chrome brought in an RSS feed reader — years after the demise of Google Reader — for Android and, shortly after, iOS. A desktop client was, unfortunately, a long ways to go. But there's some hope that we may be nearing the end of that line.
We now know who to thank for bringing back an RSS reader to Google's roundhouse. The Web Feed feature that has been hanging behind a flag in the Chrome web browser for several months has officially gone public.
gReader gets its first update in four years, but maybe it shouldn't have
Customers complain of obnoxious ads, and the paid Pro version is still missing
Once-popular RSS aggregator gReader just got its first update in almost four years. The new v5 release claims improved support for video and podcast playback, dark mode support in article view, and some miscellaneous bug fixes. We've also spotted Inoreader support. But unfortunately, reports also claim the app's ads are especially obnoxious now, and the ad-free "Pro" version of the app many customers purchased years ago is still missing from the Play Store.
Inoreader v7 brings a more Material look to our favorite RSS reader (APK Download)
No new functionality, though
It's been eight years since Google killed Reader, its RSS service, and that wound has yet to heal in our hearts. Many alternative services sprung up afterwards, with Inoreader being one of the closest things to the original Google Reader, even down to the web app's keyboard shortcuts. Now, many years later, Inoreader is still going strong and has just began rolling out v7 beta with a more modern design.
Even with things like Flipboard and Google Play Newsstand, RSS readers still remain popular. Since Google killed the popular Reader service in 2013, RSS readers seem to have grown in popularity and usage. Today one of the major RSS apps available on Android, Palabre, is getting a massive update to version 3.0.
Since the fall of Google Reader and the rise of Feedly as its de facto replacement, gReader has risen to become one of the best options for RSS reading on the Play Store. That said, it's been quite a while since the app was significantly updated, or updated at all: before today, the last time the app was touched was back in August of last year. But today's update bumps it up to version 4.3.0 and adds quite a bit of new content, notably tweaks to the user interface, settings menu, and a host of bug fixes.
If you follow and read RSS feeds on your Android device, chances are you're using Feedly or, at the very least, you've heard of it. You'll also be happy to know the app is getting a sweet new update that will make your experience more enjoyable.
Need a new RSS reader? Do you just want one that conforms to Material Design guidelines? Palabre might be for you. This simple, new app is fairly straightforward. You have a pretty interface with a little customizability and Feedly integration so that you don't have to rebuild your RSS lists.
[New App] Feature-Packed uPod Podcast Manager Rises From The Ashes Of GoodNews Reader
The uPod Podcast Manager features quite a bit.
Those of you who've ben lamenting the GoodNews reader, especially its tight integration with podcasts, now have a new alternative to consider. The developer of the aforesaid app has finally published a replacement that doesn't depend on Google Reader, and the wait has not been for naught: uPod crams in just about every feature a podcast fan could want. A free trial version of uPod and a $4.49 license are now available in the Play Store.
[App Roundup] Our Top Seven Picks For The Best New Apps Of December 2013
[App Roundup] Our Top Seven Picks For The Best New Apps Of December 2013
We're slap bang in the middle of CES at the moment, but if you're full up on wearables and Android-powered ovens, take a break and check out the best apps of 2013's final month. Below in no particular order you'll find our favorite new apps that debuted during the holiday season. There were a ton of significant app updates, of course, but these are the best new entries from December, along with a few honorable mentions.
Feedly has become the new darling of the RSS world after Google threw itself out of the market last year, but there are still plenty of users (including yours truly) who aren't crazy about the Feedly app itself. Hopefully the changes shown off in the newest beta release will change that. You can check out the beta via the usual Google+ community method: join this community on Google+, then head to this page in the Play Store.
Press is an RSS reader for people who take their feeds seriously. There are no gimmicks here, no over-the-top visual elements, and there's no free version to speak of. If you want this app, you're going to have to pay $2.99 for it, and that's okay, because it's good. Version 1.5 is now available, and it brings in a selection of features that round out your reading experience. For starters, there's support for KitKat's new immersive mode. It's not enabled by default, but once turned on, UI elements disappear to make more room for text.
Feedly began as a free service, but once the company really started to ramp up its efforts to create the next Google Reader, they introduced a monthly fee to go with it. Users can subscribe to use Feedly for $5 a month, or they can get it for a discounted price of $45 a year. When the company first rolled out this plan, they gave away $99 lifetime subscriptions to the first 5,000 people who claimed them. Those quickly sold out. Well, for anyone who missed out and has been waiting since then, lifetime subscriptions are finally back, only this time they will cost you 9.
Feedly doesn't want to go the way of Google Reader, so it is now rolling out a monthly subscription model to everyone in hopes of keeping the lights on. We've known about this for a while now, as the company offered 5,000 lifetime subscriptions for $99 earlier this month. They promptly sold out, providing them with $500,000 of cash to help get things off the ground. Early backers, and those who choose to subscribe now, get access to the first batch of pro features, such as the ability to search through articles and quick one-click integration with both Evernote and Pocket.
Press RSS Reader Updated To Version 1.4, Gains Fever Support, New Settings, UI Tweaks, And More
Press RSS Reader Updated To Version 1.4
If you're still in the market for a Google Reader alternative that's simple, clean, and well integrated with Android's UI, take a moment to check out Press. This straightforward, perhaps traditional, RSS reader received an update today that gave the already attractive app a touch-up, a redesigned Settings screen, a handful of new features, and a slew of general bug fixes and improvements.
The Old Reader May End Public Availability Following Flood Of Former Google Reader Users, Developers Want Their Lives Back
The Old Reader May End Public Availability Following Flood Of Former Google Reader Users
Perhaps Google Reader's largest advantage wasn't its features, usability, or ubiquity - it was Google's massive resources. The Old Reader was one of many alternatives that readers fled to in advance of Reader's imminent collapse, and its users swelled by over 1000 percent in just a week. Now, after having swelled from 10 thousand users to over 400 thousand, the developers are saying that enough is enough. They currently plan to re-launch The Old Reader as a private service and only invite back those who joined before the flood, but they're still open to alternatives that would ensure continued public access.
The old maxim "change or die" would seem to apply to apps and services left in the wake of Google Reader's upcoming shutdown. Popular RSS client GoodNews is exiting the Play Store, stage right, once Google Reader shuffles off the mortal coil on July 1st. The developer updated the Play Store description and the app's website with the news. Since Google Reader will not be functioning at all, this isn't your normal end-of-life app situation - development will cease, the GoodNews listing will disappear, the fat lady will sing.
Press RSS Reader Updated To Version 1.3 With Support For Feed Wrangler And Feedbin, Feedly and Fever Coming Soon
In case you hadn't heard, Google Reader will be mercilessly and permanently shut down in just over two weeks. It's kind of a big deal. Not just because
In case you hadn't heard, Google Reader will be mercilessly and permanently shut down in just over two weeks. It's kind of a big deal. Not just because of the millions of readers who actively use it, but because of the services that rely on Reader as a backend for their own platforms. Press, a popular reader launched on Android with some fanfare back in December, is now preparing for the Readerpocalypse. In addition to syncing with Google Reader, Press now works with popular paid alternatives Feed Wrangler and Feedbin.
At this point, everyone probably knows that gReader is my RSS client of choice on Android. Of course, everyone should also know that I love pretty apps. I'm actually a sucker for a clean, minimalistic layout, and will often choose what looks better over what's actually functional. Maybe I'm just vain.
Google's dedicated RSS aggregator, simply called Reader, received an update today that brings full Honeycomb support, as well as a few minor improvements to the app. Added features include a new layout and an improved method of marking items as read, which consists of long pressing on the item.