Prompted by Matt Cutts' recent overview , I thought I'd give the new version of Google Reader a run through. I've never been a fan of web-based news readers. I've actually never been a fan of web-based applications in general because they get lost in my dozens of browser windows that get opened during the day. I suppose I could improve my own browser-window management behavior, but that's not the way things are supposed to work, is it? In any case, I like to have my oft-used applications right in the application bar as an icon so I can see when new items are available, and they're a single click away. This is part of the bigger problem with the browser becoming the OS....applications running within applications is not the most usable solution.
I AM, however, a geeky web-developer at heart and love working with elegant Javascript applications. (Google Maps is still one of my favorites.) And it looks like this one will be a treat, at least from that perspective.
First thing, it automatically detects my Google account, like all other google properties. But here is the problem with that. I have a few different Google accounts that I use (Gmail, Adwords, and Adsense). The primary ones are the Adsense and Adwords accounts. I share these with my business partner, and if I use one of them as my newsreader account, he'll see them too. I suppose there's a potential benefit there, he and I can share RSS feeds, but I don't think that's what Google has in mind. In order to maintain quick access to my own personal Google account, I'll have to use a second browser. Google, if you're reading, perhaps you could remember which account I last used in each of your applications.
Google has somewhat addressed my quick-access issues and provides some bookmarks for the browser's toolbar. in a "goodies" tab, they provide a "next" link and a "subscribe" link. The former goes to your next unread item. The latter takes the place of clicking on any RSS link on the page. I don't think Google's figured out a way to make Reader the default RSS application in the OS.
I do really enjoy the interface. It makes it very easy to get through many different RSS feeds. I also like the integrated blog search. To re-subscribe to some of my favorites, I simply type in the domain name or even a search term, like "mattcutts.com", "techcrunch.com", or "David Naylor".
Ironically, in spite of my aversion to browser OS applications, I find myself trying two new browser-based apps this week, the other being WriteToMyBlog that I've written about here.Â
RSS
Prompted by Matt Cutts' recent overview , I thought I'd give the new version of Google Reader a run through. I've never been a fan of web-based news readers. I've actually never been a fan of web-based applications in general because they get lost in my dozens of browser windows that get opened during the day. I suppose I could improve my own browser-window management behavior, but that's not the way things are supposed to work, is it? In any case, I like to have my oft-used applications right in the application bar as an icon so I can see when new items are available, and they're a single click away. This is part of the bigger problem with the browser becoming the OS....applications running within applications is not the most usable solution.
I AM, however, a geeky web-developer at heart and love working with elegant Javascript applications. (Google Maps is still one of my favorites.) And it looks like this one will be a treat, at least from that perspective.
First thing, it automatically detects my Google account, like all other google properties. But here is the problem with that. I have a few different Google accounts that I use (Gmail, Adwords, and Adsense). The primary ones are the Adsense and Adwords accounts. I share these with my business partner, and if I use one of them as my newsreader account, he'll see them too. I suppose there's a potential benefit there, he and I can share RSS feeds, but I don't think that's what Google has in mind. In order to maintain quick access to my own personal Google account, I'll have to use a second browser. Google, if you're reading, perhaps you could remember which account I last used in each of your applications.
Google has somewhat addressed my quick-access issues and provides some bookmarks for the browser's toolbar. in a "goodies" tab, they provide a "next" link and a "subscribe" link. The former goes to your next unread item. The latter takes the place of clicking on any RSS link on the page. I don't think Google's figured out a way to make Reader the default RSS application in the OS.
I do really enjoy the interface. It makes it very easy to get through many different RSS feeds. I also like the integrated blog search. To re-subscribe to some of my favorites, I simply type in the domain name or even a search term, like "mattcutts.com", "techcrunch.com", or "David Naylor".
As for the features and screenshots, Gina at Lifehacker gives it a very good overview , so I'll just direct you there, if you don't mind.
Ironically, in spite of my aversion to browser OS applications, I find myself trying two new browser-based apps this week, the other being WriteToMyBlog that I've written about here.Â
Tags: google+reader, ajax, browser+os