Ask The Reader: How Do You RSS On The Go?
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Lately I have been using two devices on a daily basis. I my my Samsung Epix as my work device. It helps me stay organized, acts as my main phone and text device, and is my usual device I use to listen to streaming radio (thanks to SPB Online). I had originally planned on using my iPhone 3G as mostly a media device, but it has also taken over as my information device. I use it to read books, feed the Twitter addiction, and read my Google Reader feeds. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been strongly considering doing something sinister (microwave, cliff, bath tub) to my iPhone because it seems to crash applications, even built in apps like Safari, if I look at it the wrong way. Maybe it just knows that it is just an affair since I really love Windows Mobile, but it’s getting old.
Then along comes an app called Byline. While Byline has not completely saved my iPhone from destruction yet…it has given it a stay of execution since it almost allows me to tolerate reading RSS feeds without crashes. Byline is basically an offline interface for Google Reader. You log in with your account information and it downloads the feeds organized by your folder setup. You can star, share, email, and add notes to feeds and it will sync those changes up with Google Reader.
Using this program has led me to one question…
Why does this not exist for Windows Mobile?
I know that NewsGator does something similar, but I do not want to re-create the perfect news reading setup I have on Google Reader. I have been using Google Reader for years and love the way that you can star, share, notate, and organize RSS feeds. I have used programs like Spb Insight and Iliumsoft Newsbreak, but then when I get on my computer…I have tons of feeds that I have already read that I need to sort through. It amazes me that several similar applications like Byline are popping up on the App Store for the iPhone, but I have been unable to find anything like it for Windows Mobile.
So, for our first “Ask The Reader” segment, I have to ask…how do you read RSS feeds on the go? If you are one of the many Google Reader fans, would you find value in a program that synced up directly with your Google Reader account for Windows Mobile?
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I use Newsgator for general RSS feeds and newsbreak for my podcasts. It works well for me. But I don’t use Google Reader. I tried the first generation and at the time Newsgator was much better. I never went back to Google.
I have used Insight and Newsbreak (I own both), but I was always frustrated with not being able to finish a story when I was in an area with no cell coverage or wifi. This is often in the area where I live and work. I’ve been using mDigger for several months now and love it. There are many different full-text feeds to choose from and you can add any RSS feeds you want. The people that run the site even created several full-text NY Times feeds for me upon request. Plus it’s free. I highly recommend it for PPC/phone use, but I don’t think it has a PC counterpart.
I use the iphone interface for google reader with opera mobile. Works great on both my touch and my touch pro
I use Newsbreak for most of my reading. I’ve exported my Google Reader links via OPML and imported it to Newsbreak.
You can also just access the mobile pager for reader from your WinMo device and use the mobile interface if you want live access, the ability to star an item, or share.
http://www.google.com/reader/m
It isn’t simple to navigate, and it obviously requires a data connection … but neither is that big of an issue for me.
I use bloglines and Opera Mini
Great to hear your comments guys, keep them coming in.
For me, I am not much of a RSS-reader-on-the-go, if you may call it that.
There are 2 problems with reading RSS on the go.
For one, part of my ride to work is underground and there is no reception there. Which makes reading from mobile sites such as Google Reader impossible on the go. If I were to use an offline solution, I would have the problem Brett described above, that of going through feeds on the desktop when I get back to sort out what I have read. If Google Reader Mobile supported Google Gears, this problem might just be solved.
The second problem I faced is that of sites that have partial feeds. For these sites, if I see a feed I am interested in, I would have to click to view the full article on their site. While there are sites who have pre-formatted mobile sites, most do not and can make viewing their web page a hassle.
Thus, I try to stay away from sites like that if I do read my RSS feeds on the go. Hopefully, Google comes up with Gears support for Reader Mobile. Like Brett, I do not want to use any other RSS application/solution because of how well Reader has served me.
I just tried the google reader for iphone, works great, and its the same google reader that you have on your PC. synchronizes your read feeds immediately when refreshed. Good interface, much better than the mobile interface, which I had been using.
I am also searching for an app that could sync with my Google Reader web base rss agregator but can’t find any around’
Until then, I am also using the iPhone version of G Reader with Opera Mobile and it works great. Only thing is I could use an app to sync my feed and read them without any wifi connection, like in the town buses or subways …
hmm i use google reader mobile on my touch pro and have been since the 6700. Dont know why anyone needs anything else. its all synced, but maybe not all have internet phones
does google gears support google reader mobile yet? i know it does with picasa
http://www.google.com/reader/i is the iPhone version of Google Reader if anyone needs the link.
@VW: Do you have issues with the pictures being too wide on the screen sometimes? I currently use Opera Mobile and I seem to have issues with pictures being too large. I am also only on a 320×320 screen, so that could have soemthing to do with it. I would actually be completely happy if the iPhone version of Google Reader acted exactly like it did in Iris or Opera Mobile (minus the crashing-every-5-minutes thing that Safari does).
@Adam S: I may have to try NewsGator out, but honestly, I am stubborn and love the way I have Google Reader organized.
@psyjohn: mDigger looks interesting. It has PC, iPhone, and WinMo clients. But…again I am stubborn, but willing to give this one a shot.
Here is what I am looking for in a Google Reader application:
I would like to see is a RSS Feed Reader that lets you specify how many feeds to download at a time. The reader would then download the feeds, and the full website that the feed links to. You could click on an icon to star, share, or add a note to any feed. When you get a network connection, you could sync it back up to Google Reader and then when you go to your PC, it would be in sync.
I could be dreaming, but Byline (http://www.phantomfish.com/byline.html) for the iPhone is pretty perfect and can do all of this. I would just like to see a Windows Mobile version. I think this application actually solves most of your issues too, Tariq. The problem on the iPhone is that the websites that it archives or pulls live crash the app…this is an Apple issue more than the developer’s because Safari does the same thing when loading RSS feeds with too many pictures.
Byline sure sounds like a great application. I just hope they come up with a WinMo version soon. That, or for Google Reader Mobile to support Google Gears Mobile for offline reading.
Once upon a time I used FeederReader, but it seems to have slipped into oblivion, so I switched to Newsbreak on my ppc and have been generally quite pleased. I haven’t been mulling about a reader for my iPod Touch, though may keep an eye on Byline.
I use iGoogle, works brilliantly both on my laptop and PIE. No need to set up a device, its web-based.
I use Beyond Pod.
It is of course in Beta like most programs out here on the Wild Wild Web, but lets me manage feeds and podcasts easily.
http://www.codeplex.com/beyondpod
to check it out.
It almost exists for Windows Mobile.. Egress.
http://www.garishkernels.net/egress.shtml
This WM app needs so much more publicity - it’s brilliant. Ilium and SPB’s offerings are nothing in comparison. And to add insult to injury, it’s much cheaper.
It can work with either Newsgator or Bloglines so you can have your feeds synchronised with your desktop. Moving from Google to either of the aforementioned services is trivial. Export your OPML, and then import it at the new service. All folders and feeds intact. If you contact the developer, I wouldnt be surprised if he eventually added Google Reader support too, he’s pretty responsive.
This was the first app I bought on my WM device. I’ve trialled the other two since, and neither of them can match Egress capabilities, ease of use, stability and reliability.
@James:
Egress looks promising. I thought I read that it supported Google sync too, but I am having trouble finding out how to do it in the application.
Hi,
I have been a RSS junkie for the last 5 yrs. My setup is Egress on the Win Mo Phone. I update my feeds via Wi-Fi once or twice a day.and read it offline when ever i have the time. and email my self the articles (or links to articles) from the rss reader. then all those emails can be read at leisure.
vinit
I agree with James. I use Egress on WinMo and FeedDemon on my 2 laptops, all sync to one newsgator account. It works pretty well for me. FeedDemon can work offline as well. Also the default Newsgator client is not too bad. Only time i have syncing issue is when i try to sync 2 devices at the same time.
@Tushar & Vinit: That sounds like a pretty good solution. The only thing I will lose with this solution seems to be sharing the feeds outside of sending them via email. It looks like I will be taking a look at the Newsgator alternative for a couple of weeks and see how it works out.