Filed under: Software, Internet Tools
Times Reader Beta now available
A few days ago I mentioned that the Time Reader Beta would soon be open for Mac users, but I had no idea how soon it would actually appear.
Today the New York Times has released the Mac beta of their Times Reader. For those that don't know, the Times Reader is a stand alone app that tries to marry to best aspects of reading the Times on the web with the high quality typography and readability one finds in the physical paper.
As many Mac users have bemoaned, the Times Reader is built upon Microsoft's Silverlight technology allowing them to develop the app for both Windows and OS X.
While the Times Reader for Mac is in beta it is free, though once it leaves beta it will only be available via subscription. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions for more answers, and our gallery showing screenshots of the install process and of the app itself.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jim said 8:25PM on 5-22-2008
New York Times.
- strike one -
Microsoft technology
- strike two -
for a fee
- strike three -
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CRH said 8:36PM on 5-22-2008
"New York Times.
- strike one -
Microsoft technology
- strike two -
for a fee
- strike three -"
I didn't even get past New York Times.
Fail
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emil Hedaya said 10:03PM on 5-22-2008
This is a great way to read the paper. I can't seem to make the window bigger though, as in the screenshot provided. Anyone know how to do this?
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Quikboy said 10:43PM on 5-22-2008
Wow. I used the NYT Reader on Windows while it was still free, and it was absolutely a great way to read the paper. Everything flowed well, loaded instantaneously, and it was almost like reading the real paper, instead of a website.
I like how it uses Silverlight. I've already installed Silverlight to use on some Silverlight-only sites, and it's kinda cool. It's like Flash, but better. I don't know why anyone would be "bemoaning" this. It really isn't bad. Maybe you haven't tried it?
Hopefully the NYT Reader for Mac won't go final for a long time. :^)
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leon said 1:43PM on 5-23-2008
In what way (i'm only asking for one) is it better than Flash. Its a Microsoft technology which undoubtably means that you can do anything you want, aslong as its what they say.
I'm a Flash developer and have dabbled in Silverlight when it was in beta. For me to do the same thing in Flash that takes about 3-4 lines of code, Silverlight needed 10-15 (it was a simple animation).
Silverlight has it's benefits, but with the massive Flash following and development base, an Air based app would seem to be the better option.
Hey everyone is entitled to their own opinion though
Ralph Daily said 7:36AM on 5-23-2008
This is great. I am a print subscriber so it will be free to me and now I can read the NYT offline on my MBA which I carry around everywhere. It really flows pretty well on my MBA, easy to use. I appreciate the NYT making this available to mac users. I have been waiting for this for months. Thanks for the TUAW post. ralph
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Lee said 9:23AM on 5-23-2008
What's wrong with the NYT? The only no-go is Silverlight.
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stainboy said 10:19AM on 5-23-2008
from past negative experience with MS technologies on my Mac, there's no way i'm installing Silverblight. i just don't trust MS.
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Quikboy said 8:42PM on 5-23-2008
So you're going to say Silverlight is trash just because you "assume" it's trash?
Yes, it's very reasonable to hate stuff you never even used. I guess that's what makes Apple lovers the way they are - they never try anything new unless it's from their religion Apple.
Johnny Thrash said 10:28AM on 5-23-2008
I'm will never install Silverlight. But that's just me.
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slapppy said 11:47AM on 5-23-2008
Um, no thanks. The last thing I want is another MS application or help advanced another monopolizing initiative.
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Quikboy said 8:44PM on 5-23-2008
Yes, because we want Adobe to keep their Flash "monopoly", and make sure Microsoft doesn't keep a "monopoly", when Silverlight usage is still so low.
Quite a monopoly.
slapppy said 8:58PM on 5-23-2008
LOL.. what a blabbering lemming. You would just love to have MS tentacles on everything don't you? Maybe you'll be happy with an MS branded toilet paper to wipe the crap you've been happily swallowing from MS all these years. Let them have their way and maybe that will come true and make your day. I hope you bought a Kia, Hyundai or Ford to help fund your masters.
aptmunich said 12:19PM on 5-23-2008
If you like this, check out the eerily similarly named and looking "Times" RSS reader app:
http://www.acrylicapps.com/times/
Looks the same, doesn't require a subscription and even scrapes the NYT website to get the full content instead of their puny RSS feed.
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tbehunin99 said 12:58PM on 5-23-2008
I must admit: I'm a Mac fanboy AND a software engineer developing applications on the Microsoft .Net stack (including Silverlight). I have a love/hate relationship with MS. As much as I hate them (more specifically their OS), their development environment (.Net Framework, Visual Studio, etc.) is FAR better than any other development environment/language/etc. out there on the market today, IMO. Sadly, that's the one aspect which keeps me from developing on a Mac: from what I could read, Carbon/Cocoa just isn't as easy to work with and isn't as modern as the .Net platform. I've read that there isn't even a garbage collector - having to manage your memory on your own with malloc and calloc. As for Silverlight, it is truely quite amazing - the technology involved, that is. A slimmed down version of the .Net framework will install and run on the client (browser), without the need to post back to the server on every page. That makes it far more efficient. Additionally, it uses vector graphics (like Flash) so all text, lines, fills, etc., are crisp and look perfect, no matter how much you enlarge your window. It far exceeds Flash in it's technology and development environment. Like it or not, Silverlight is here to stay folks.
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dave said 2:15PM on 5-23-2008
From what you've read?! I think you're reading from the wrong sources. You might want to give Cocoa a try, I think you'll find that it's far more advanced than you think it is. You might even prefer it.
And yes, it does have garbage collection - not that any competent developer would need it.
Kevin said 1:19PM on 5-23-2008
Yeah, I also don't understand the dissing of the New York Times. It's the world's largest newspaper for a reason: great writing.
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dave said 2:21PM on 5-23-2008
Why they think they need a separate application to display their webpage is beyond me. They could do the exact same thing on their website, not using Silverlight but html & AJAX (and/or SVG or Flash). This just seems like an utterly stupid idea to me that is destined to fail.
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