How do you get your RSS fix?

[Ashyukun]

So, this week we're putting aside the Notepad apps and moving on to RSS Readers- of which there are somewhat thankfully less to sort through (though we're curious to see just how much really different there will be between all of them).

What RSS reader(s) do you use, and what features do you like most about them? What features in general are important to you when it comes to RSS readers? And what the heck does RSS stand for anyway? (OK, so I'm kidding on that last one... )

There's a fairly good chance I'll do a spreadsheet comparing features of the different apps for these as well- at least for me it makes it a lot easier to compare things at a glance.

 

[Pgohlke]

I use dasiyfeed, it's easy to add your RSS feeds by auto-find or you can type in the whole address yourself. My only complaints are that menu navgation and feed refreshing is slow sometimes, also sometmes the scrolling is a bit choppy if every feed isn't loaded. But it is one of the better free RSS readers on the app store.

 

[macbookairman]

I use Newsstand. It has a really nice coverflow type view, and the next updates is adding some great new features.

 

[LostLogik]

I use Newsstand. It has a really nice coverflow type view, and the next updates is adding some great new features.

Another Newstand user. I used to have Newsgator, thinking I needed to have access to a desktop client but the whole beauty of RSS is it is read on the move, ideal with the iPhone. I just didn't need a desktop client. But I did need the ability to add/delete/organize feeds from the iphone, something Newsgator lacked. Newstand also has the ability to post to Delicious, which is a handy feature. Newsgator also stopped displaying graphics in one of my feeds, curiously, so that was the initial prompt to change.

The landscape coverflow in Newstand is pretty but I also see it as pointless and disabled it. I read all my feeds in trad portrait. Easier and faster.

 

[amy-is-good]

meh i really don't see any issue with just using google reader.

 

[robbieduncan]

NetNewsWire. Mostly as I also use it on my Mac and the read items/subscribed feeds etc sync seamlessly between the two.

 

[pranaysanghavi]

ProRSS is the best

PRO RSS is a paid app for RSS, but steals the prize. it has all the features u cud think of, and still simple to use. i just didnt' like the arrow buttons which are too thin to go to next/previous items.

but u can sync with newsgator, google reader, etc accounts, thats what gives it the highest prize.

hey readers, can you please post your OPML files here, that way new users wont have to discover feeds, and removal of subscriptions is easier in case they dont need few of the whole list. attached are my google reader subscriptions.

now can you please import in your respective readers and see how they work?

 

[notintheleast]

Another vote for Newsstand. It has a great UI wether your using the landscape coverflow mode or the standard portrait view. Its easy to read, flag, mark as read, and refresh feeds. Its even easier to add a new feed. You just type in the URL of the site with the feed you want and it discovers all of the feeds linked on that page and asks you which one you want to subscribe to. Its really easy and convenient. I would hate to have to sync every time I want to add a new feed... How do you netnewswire users put up with not being able to add feeds on the go? It does save your feeds for offline browsing, but it does not cache images. This is the only complaint I have with the app. I would have also complained that it takes a long time to load your feeds, but it just got an update today and my feeds are loading lightning quick!

So, for me, the most important features of an RSS reader for the iPhone are as follows:

-Ability to add feeds from URLs
-Offline browsing with cached images
-Quick load times for feeds
-The ability to mark single items, feeds or all feeds as read
-Ability to flag items

Right now Newsstand is only lacking in the offline browsing department. If they cache images, this will be the perfect RSS reader for iPhone.

 

[askthedust]

i love

times.app

 

[normwood]

I started with Google Reader then moved on to Gazette. No major issues with Gazette other than it insists on loading all feeds at once which can be slow. Switched to Newstand and used that for quite a while, but missed the two way sync with Google Reader on my Mac. Recently switched back to using Google Reader in the Google App and not looking back. Works great, loads fast and easy to work with.

Steve

 

[jgunn]

BOLT READER!!!

I've tried them all and bolt reader will sync all your feeds and pictures for offline viewing within 2 mins or less.

It's interface is a bit slow sometimes but the sync wipes the floor with newstand, gazette, byline. You name it.

 

[pranaysanghavi]

Another vote for Newsstand.
So, for me, the most important features of an RSS reader for the iPhone are as follows:

-Ability to add feeds from URLs
-Offline browsing with cached images
-Quick load times for feeds
-The ability to mark single items, feeds or all feeds as read
-Ability to flag items

Right now Newsstand is only lacking in the offline browsing department. If they cache images, this will be the perfect RSS reader for iPhone.

PRO RSS has all this plus more...

 

[LostLogik]

PRO RSS has all this plus more...

Can't see anything about posting to Delicious or emailing. Had a quick look on the website and there is nothing there. These Newsstand can do.

 

[TwiceNightly]

PRO RSS is a paid app for RSS....

but u can sync with newsgator, google reader, etc accounts, thats what gives it the highest prize.

No you can't. You can import them, NOT sync them

 

[.adam]

I use Byline.

I like to sync to Google Reader as the three places I read my RSS are on my iPhone, at work and on my mac at home.

I would use NetNewsWire but Newsgator is blocked by my work firewall so that is out of the equation. Google Reader web interface works fine and Byline keeps everything in sync.

 

[NewGenAdam]

I use Byline.

I like to sync to Google Reader as the three places I read my RSS are on my iPhone, at work and on my mac at home.

+1 for Byline. It works perfectly with Google Reader, and has some great features like caching, which can be customised ^_^ to the nth degree.

I used NewsStand, but I have too many feeds for it to be effective. Slotting in with my Google Reader groups is ideal.

 

[MaxPower49]

I am mainly looking for 2 features. The ability to sync with google reader and the ability do download feeds for offline reading. It sounds like byline might fit the bill, but I have a couple of questions before i purchase.

byline screenshot:

When you click to go into a folder (i.e. sports) does it then show a list of all of the different feeds that you can click on, or does the 'sports' folder just contain items of all of the feeds jumbled together?

Also, can you specify that only certain feeds be synced for offline reading, or do you have to sync them all?

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Google Reader.

Works across different browsers on different machines. All that I need.

 

[TwiceNightly]

I am mainly looking for 2 features. The ability to sync with google reader and the ability do download feeds for offline reading. It sounds like byline might fit the bill, but I have a couple of questions before i purchase.

byline screenshot:
[snip]


When you click to go into a folder (i.e. sports) does it then show a list of all of the different feeds that you can click on, or does the 'sports' folder just contain items of all of the feeds jumbled together?

Also, can you specify that only certain feeds be synced for offline reading, or do you have to sync them all?

1) They're all jumbled together. The folders are based on the folders you set up in Google Reader, so you can set up a folder for individual feeds if you like.

2) The choices are all, starred and/or notes

 

[MaxPower49]

thanks for the info TwiceNightly.

Anyone have thoughts on Gazette?
http://web.me.com/matt.rajca/

 

[notintheleast]

PRO RSS has all this plus more...

Like what? You should have elaborated. Its kind of silly to just pop in and say that without mentioning any of the other features you're talking about. Besides, if you read correctly, I said that those were the most important features for me, not every single feature of Newsstand...

 

[pranaysanghavi]

Like what? You should have elaborated. Its kind of silly to just pop in and say that without mentioning any of the other features you're talking about. Besides, if you read correctly, I said that those were the most important features for me, not every single feature of Newsstand...

roster of features are
full text and image caching,
the ability to categorize feeds into folders,
item archiving,
offline reading
email support,
image exporting to photo roll,
over-the-air OPML file
Google Reader import.
importing feeds from Bloglines and Newsgator [not sync]

--need more?
and yes, this is the app that i use to keep current when i'm on my toilet seat first thing in the morning. yes, the newspaper era is gone.. welcome ifone, thanks for marrying RSS!

 

[odelay]

thanks for the info TwiceNightly.

Anyone have thoughts on Gazette?
http://web.me.com/matt.rajca/

Yeah, I've been using this since it first came out. I'd previously tried byline & newsstand, and for me this beats both of them in terms of much faster syncing than the others, very stable, and a simple, intuitive gui. I use google reader on the desktop, so it's great to keep this in sync with Gazette. If google had made their own native iPhone app, I believe it would have looked much like this. Gazette v2.0 is in the pipeline I believe with many improvements and enhancements.

I'd highly recommend this app, I've not looked back since getting it.

It handles all feed types well, whether they have images or lots of updates from a feed - i.e. I subscribe to New/Updated AppStore apps feeds and sometimes there will be in excess of 300 new articles. These are downloaded fast with no issues.

It also separates feeds out by folder, i.e. if you have 3 different feeds within a folder in google reader, you don't get all the articles jumbled up, you just drill down into the folder, then into the feed name before you see the articles for that specific feed. Like in the attached images.

 

[Jeonat]

Another vote for Newsstand here which I bought a few days ago after reading this thread! Before I used a free RSS reader which was OK but nothing wonderful.

Really liking Newsstand though, folder organisation great, nice fast syncing and landscape view also useful too especially for feeds that contain video or pictures.

 

[MaxPower49]

Does gazette download embedded images for offline viewing?

I've got it narrowed down to byline or gazette... can't decide between the 2.