Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Byline 2.0 update a huge improvement: adds tag support, mini browser
Phantom Fish yesterday updated Byline to version 2.0, adding functionality to browse by tag, and a spiffy new wood-grain interface.
I briefly reviewed Byline 1.0 in July, but wanted to re-visit the application after the update. Byline 2.0 is a Google Reader client and offline browser for the iPhone and iPod touch. After having used beta versions for the last few weeks, I can say with certainty that this update takes Byline head and shoulders above the first version.
Byline 2.0 is faster than both version 1.0 and Google Reader's MobileSafari-optimized interface. Articles are now grouped in folders according to tags you've already set up in Google Reader. You can mark whole folders of items as read, and save items to your phone by starring them. The app doesn't show a splash screen at startup, but instead a "blank" version of the interface, which gives the illusion that the app is hanging for a short period of time. As soon as the list of folders appears, however, loading items was zippy on my iPod touch (connected via WiFi, of course).
Also, Byline 2.0 now includes a built-in web browser (similar to the mini-Safari that's built into Twitterrific), which eliminates the need to quit Byline and launch MobileSafari when you click a link. You can now create and delete notes, too, which will automatically sync with Google Reader (along with all your other read and starred items).
Byline's new wood-finish interface might not appeal to everyone, but I think it looks spiffy. Byline's icon also got a facelift that brings it in line with the texture of the rest of the app.
I found periodically with Byline 1.x, I would use Google Reader's MobileSafari interface, if only to read items in a particular folder. I'm pleased to say that since I installed the beta that Phantom Fish was kind enough to send me, I haven't gone back.
Phantom Fish has a video tour on their website, if you're interested in seeing the features first-hand.
Phantom Fish is offering Byline for $3.99 "for a limited time only." This is a six-dollar discount from its original price of ten bucks. It's an excellent product, and if you're as tied to Google Reader as I am, an excellent investment. You can get a copy of Byline 2.0 in the App Store.
Programming note: We'll also be sharing an interview with Byline developer Milo Bird later in the week.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mebpenguin said 1:28PM on 10-15-2008
Agreed, Byline is by far the best RSS reader now available for the iPhone.
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tico24 said 1:32PM on 10-15-2008
Its a fantastic reader. Not sure why they decided to go down the route of making it look like crap. Whats with all the dodgy wood-effect all over the place? Please Byline...give me an option to bring back the sleek Apple look.
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Mikooster said 2:48PM on 10-15-2008
I agree... I like the functionality of the new update, but I am really upset they made it look extremely ugly in the process.
HP said 1:52PM on 10-15-2008
For those of us that aren't Google Reader users, is there any reason to switch from the free-and-excellent NetNewsWire?
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Jonathan Chan said 2:04PM on 10-15-2008
what does the 4th icon do? The one w/ the signal bars. I know the first icon pulls up the original web page, the 2nd is to mail links, the third to star and the last to add notes but I couldn't figure out what the 4th icon does. Sorry if it's a dumb ?.
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Robert Palmer said 2:11PM on 10-15-2008
It shares it as if you were to click the "Share" button on a post in Google Reader. I think it makes it a public part of your Google Reader profile, so other people can see what you're browsing, etc.
http://bit.ly/3Gp9p4
HTH!
Amani77 said 2:27PM on 10-15-2008
I have recently switched from netnewswire and this is what I like so far about byline:
- starred articles are caches and available on the iPhone unlike nnw's clippings
- you can swipe on headlines to mark read/unread
- the program has yet to crash on me unlike nnw which would crash almost every session
What I don't like:
- I wish it would break down the feeds further by site. For example instead of listing everything under a tag in one list, I would like it broken down by site before the actual articles.
maxim said 2:23PM on 10-15-2008
i think that's for sharing the news item. can anyone confirm?
Jash Sayani said 2:42PM on 10-15-2008
I like the Google WebApp better... It has a good mail interface, Google Docs, Nice Google Notebook interface and a pretty good Google Reader as well.....
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Victor said 4:18PM on 10-15-2008
Just looked at the app in the AppStore and it's doing $3.99 right now...
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Victor said 4:23PM on 10-15-2008
Apologies. Guess that's common knowledge.
Jim said 9:00PM on 10-15-2008
It's not common knowledge to me - I paid ten bucks for this when it first came out.
That being said, I don't regret the purchase at all. This product transforms my touch into an offline eReader and is by far the most-used app. It is the sole reason why I am now addicted to my ipod, for better or for worse. The upgrade is amazing - the individual folders allow me to carry around even more feeds... the self-contained browser is awesome, it behaves just like safari.
but yeah wtf is up with the faux wood?! makes it look damn cheap and hillbilly... is it supposed to reflect a 'sitting by the fire warming up your toes while you are drinking wine and smoking cigars reading the paper... in the 19th century' theme? because, um, it ain't working. why? cus it's a app on a touchscreen phone, that's why. trying something like this is just tacky kitsch...
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PSM said 9:18PM on 10-15-2008
I currently use Feeds as my RSS reader. One thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't cache photos for offline reading. I only read RSS on the subway, so basically I never get to see the photos. Does anybody know if Byline can download photos to be viewed offline?
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Andy said 1:01AM on 10-16-2008
Yes, Byline can be configured to download a copy of the actual post (so effectively you see the whole webpage) which includes any images - and site ad's of course.
This for me is the killer iPhone app. I use it daily and rely on the fact that offline reading is possible (and excellently done). The 2.0 upgrade is great but like other posters here I can't say I like the wood grain effect. I agree with Jim, the old fashioned thing is just too much of a contradiction with the tech it's running on..
PSM said 3:29AM on 10-16-2008
Thanks for the reply. I bought the app, and offline reading seems to work great.
Moshe said 11:10PM on 10-15-2008
I love Byline and use it daily. But I hate the new UI and icon! At this point, I will be ignoring future updates. I'm sticking to 1.0.2
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Kevin Andersson said 10:01AM on 10-16-2008
I was lucky to work on the icons together with Milo Bird, the developer of Byline. I really enjoy the latest version of Byline, it is perfect if there is no internet connection available, and you want to keep yourself posted :)
You can read a bit about the icons, and see a high resolution of the pencil here: http://blog.kevinandersson.dk/2008/10/14/case-byline/
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Mike Krus said 1:20PM on 12-29-2008
recently bought the app because of things in the iphone web reader that drove me crazy. It's really good except:
- the look, not to crazy about the fake wood
- the fact that it clips the title of the item in list mode, I find it slows down my scrolling through list of items because it make it harder to read.
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