Right, I would never even consider a desktop reader since I read from home, work, phone, PSP, etc. Some people seem to swear by them though, so I'm curious why as well.

dancemonkey

Apologies, but one more question - how do you overcome the lack of portability for a desktop-based reader when traveling?

djr1904

Adam:

For those of us familiar only with web-based RSS readers, what is the biggest advantage to switching over to a desktop-based reader? I'm a hardcore Bloglines user considering a switch to Google Reader, but now I'm wondering if I should consider Newsgator as well.

djr1904

I switched back to a local RSS reader from "I'll update your feeds when I feel like it" Google Reader just last week. This time, I'm using the USB portable GreatNews [www.curiostudio.com] . I tried a couple other portable apps (FeedReader, RSSBandit), but the database that GreatNews uses (rather than a rotating and expanding gaggle of text files) was a better fit. It has a cleanup wizard, smart lists, customizable views with css, and will update your feeds when you want.

I might just give this Newsgator syncing capability a try, though.

joelena

I use Snarfer, the fastest Desktop RSS reader I have came across. Add "Google Reader Synchronisation" and "Share with google reader" plugin. So now you have two way sync with google reader. Enjoy!

techone

In today's day and age, reading "Windows and Mac only" is like reading "Site best viewed in Internet Explorer" from 7-8 years ago.

I would rather use Google reader or Blog Bridge.

hchaudh1

Plus, Google Reader seems to be slow in updating.

holymogwai

This is great news. I almost paid for the NewsGator Go application for my Blackberry (for like $40). Awesome!

Like Adam said, just register an account and it keeps everything in sync.

jarhead

@djr1904: For me it's a matter of speed. Beyond that, you can manually refresh your feeds whenever you want, which is always a plus.

@dancemonkey: They do have portability, though, assuming you have them installed on more than one computer. All you have to do is register an account with Newsgator and your reader will sync. In fact, I believe the entire Newsgator suite syncs, meaning whether your on a Mac, Windows PC, or Windows Mobile device, you'll be syncing your feeds.

On top of that, you can also access your feeds Newsgator's web-based portal... which, again, syncs to your desktop apps. It may not be for everyone, but it really is very good.

Adam Pash, LH Senior Editor

I don't see the point of desktop readers. The only advantage might be taking data with you on a laptop, but you can do that in Google with gears. I think the desktop scene for rss is going to be history sooner than later.

philosopher_dog

Also . . . does Google Reader's "Refresh" button not work for anyone but me? If I want my feeds updated, that button generally does the trick.

Rae

The statement that you didn't want to go back to Google Reader got me curious enough to try it out. I must say I'm rather disappointed: the application is actually slower than Google Reader on my Mac, checking all my feeds (+-200) takes quite a while (not even mentioning the traffic it's consuming), and I can't seem to be able to get it to only list my feeds with unread items on the left, a Google Reader feature that I really need to stay on top of things (or am I missing something obvious here?). Add the fact that there's no client for my Linux machine, and that the synchronization is not working properly (I had to delete the default feeds about 10 times before they actually got deleted, it didn't tag my read items as read properly, ...). I think I'll keep Google Reader for now, and live with the fact that it doesn't update all my feeds on demand (which is the only thing I see 'missing' from it).

Remko Tronçon

yea, I'm not that impressed right now with Newsgator Desktop. I'm refreshing it now and getting nothing, yet Google Reader is working fine.

holymogwai

Wow... Newsgator Online (by itself) is terrible compared to Google Reader. I'll be trying NetNewsWire tonight to see if I'm swayed, but based on web apps alone, Google's winning for now.

Rae

This is great news, I just posted about it as well. I've always been interested in trying it out, and now there is nothing holding my cheap ass back from doing so.

codykniffen

Hey folks, don't miss out on the fact that Newsgator also **has web based** capabilities also (called Newsgator Mobile)

There's also an iPhone-compatible web-based version which is different than the mobile one, but I use the mobile one on my iPhone.

And they sync.

It's like IMAP for RSS with Webmail.

Do check it out. As a paying customer of NNW for several years, I'm thrilled that more people can use this service!

luomat

@Rae: The "Refresh" button will often pull in new items for you, but for we hopeless information addicts can't stand it when Lifehacker has 2 or 3 new items posted that take an extra 30 minutes or even an hour to show up in Google Reader.

Writing that gives me a little perspective. Maybe I should seek help.

joelena

I didn't much like Newsgator online, but I've been intrigued by the Outlook plugin for a while. I think it'll be handy for work-related feeds, keep me away from the distracting stuff during the day. :) We'll see.

epersonae

@techone: What use is synchronization if it doesn't sync read/unread status? [www.snarfware.com]

@Remko Tronçon: It can list only unread feeds (under the "Views" icon or the "Views" item in the "View" menu) or unread feeds in a folder hierarchy.

The first time it successfully updates a feed might take a while. GreatNews was pulling in old items a couple of days after I started using it. Since then, I haven't noticed it falling behind on any feeds or missing any posts.

I haven't run into any sync problems yet. I do have one problem with the UI - when a folder is selected, you can still see the "Newspaper" view, but not the list of items from the feeds. However, the keyboard shortcuts are extensive and customizable, and I'm switching from GreatNews as long as the sync remains trouble-free.

joelena

Just tried FeedDemon, and wow is that thing ugly. Sorry, but it's nowhere as easy to use as Google Reader. Plus, w/in 5 minutes I discovered how much I disliked running an additional app. And, no AdBlock :(.

Still and all, thanks for continually posting stuff like this, Adam.

hector7g

Lucky for me, I'm using a portable version of everyone's favorite open-source email app, Thunderbird. Its built-in RSS reader is good enough for me, I don't need any fancy features (in fact, I stumbled upon this very story in a feed delivered by the TB. Since it's portable (Windows, I wish I had a Mac ;), I get the anywhere power of the web-based reader with the features of a desktop reader. The only downside to TB Portable is that if IT has got you WAY locked down, you're in trouble.

hayden0103

All the NewsGator readers synchronize, so you never have to read anything twice. In terms of portability, we have a reader for basically anywhere you want to be. NetNewsWire on the Mac, FeedDemon on Windows, NewsGator Inbox inside of Microsoft Outlook, and the Go! clients for Windows Mobile and Blackberry - and they all let you read when you're offline.

If you love reading through web interfaces, we've got a web reader and just point your phone at m.newsgator.com for our cool iPhone reader or lightweight html reader for other phones. And they sync with your account as well. And they are all free.

We have some other cool tools like a browser toolbar and a system-tray notifier if you want to play with those as well.

Have fun,
Brian Kellner
VP Products

bkellner

@Adam Pash: The syncing capabilities sound pretty interesting. Perhaps I should free a bit of my digital life from google's hands...

Oberg

Wow, FeedDemon has been my absolute favorite RSS reader for years now. I gladly paid for it and would do so again!

I love the nice overview I get with the "Blue Vista" style. I've tried many online feed readers but I could never actually get used to them.

I am sort of sad that they've gone free now, I used to belong to the cool club of people that still paid for quality software ;-)

Sebastiaan

What, no appreciation for Thunderbird's RSS reader? Fine by me, aside from being unable to log into sites without opening each individual post...

drjayphd

Those of you testing out desktop readers should check out BlogBridge. I absolutely love it. www.blogbridge.com

Gerard Sorme

Wow, I too tried this after reading about how much more you liked it than google reader. Not impressed at all. Difficult to navigate, not nearly as efficient w/ keystrokes/mouse clicks, and just pretty ugly all the way around.

I guess I knew I would never be able to fully adopt it b/c of the lack of a linux app too, but I figured I'd try it.

Google Reader remains the first and only RSS app that convinced me to keep coming back to it. I wasn't even a regular RSS reader until I found it, now its a permanent tab in Firefox at all my computers. All other RSS programs now just look and feel 2nd rate to me. No wonder they're giving the away now.

OrionTheSmiter

I prefer online RSS readers, because most of the stuff I read ends up getting opened in a browser. Opening them from a seperate application and having to switch back constantly gets a bit annoying.
That and synchronization is a non-issue.
I do use Vienna for a few feeds, but for news'y stuff, online RSS readers make more sense in my eyes..
That said, I may as well play around with NetNewsWire now it's free

dbr

I've been using the wizz RSS reader addon for Forefox happily for several months. Never-the-less, I tried Newsgator. I spent the day with it, as I track some 50, or so feeds. In the end, for me at least, the wizz reader addon in Firefox is more than adequate, and eaiser to use.

GeneThomas

Can anyone school me on the major advantages of using a software reader as opposed to web based? I'm pretty happy with bloglines, but would happily switch to a better thing. On that note, should i ditch bloglines for a different web based reader? I'd like to have my feeds spread across both web and desktop.

sway666

Adam, I hope you'll tell us more about why you made the switch and what's made you decide to stick with the desktop reader--maybe an online vs desktop readers showdown?

Dan Butcher

I think I'll stick with RSS Bandit for the time being. I started using RSS Bandit due to the fact that FeedDemon was pay and RSS bandit was not. Now that feeddemon is free I tried it out real quick and found that the organization capabilities of RSS bandit are far better than feedDemon.

boredcollegekid

Is rss Bandit free?

sway666

Does anyone know of a RSS Newsreader that will scrape links on some feeds? There are some feeds I'd really like to read on the bus, but only offer blurbs in their RSS...

Guizzy

@Guizzy, FeedDemon can prefetch links for offline reading. For details, please see [nick.typepad.com]

nbradbury

I have to admit that the whole switching applications idea that DBR mentioned really sways me. After trying to to use a desktop reader and switching back and forth between firefox I decided I was sticking with Google.

kolbyk