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NetNewsWire starts syncing with Google Reader, NewsGator Online perishes

I have fervently wished for a desktop client to work with Google Reader for as long as Reader has been around. NewsGator finally answered my plea, announcing that NetNewsWire and the rest of the NewsGator RSS Reader Suite would be syncing solely with Google Reader after August 31, 2009. This signals an immediate move away from NewsGator Online, and the demise of the RSS feed syncing service.

NetNewsWire was a favorite of mine well before it became free software, and I'm excited to start using it again. While I've had a lot of fun tweaking my Fluid/Google Reader SSB, I miss the solid companionship of a desktop newsreader. I had originally given them up when I wanted to sync my feed-reading with my iPhone, as I wasn't thrilled with NetNewsWire on the iPhone at the time and Google Reader was the only choice left for syncing. Byline and Google's own mobile page were both top-notch, but up until today there were zero Google Reader clients (barring AIR apps ... I have my reasons) available on the Mac, so it was Fluid/Reader on the desktop. While I have the warmest of warm spots in my heart for Fluid, I'm ecstatic to have NetNewsWire back!

NetNewsWire is free, and a new beta with Google Reader sync is available for download. The updated NetNewsWire iPhone app is promised soon, but Byline will work for me right now. For current users of the NewsGator Online syncing service, detailed instructions for making the transition have been provided. You've got until August 31st to make the move and stay in sync. Lastly, if you haven't already picked a favorite stylesheet, don't miss Brockmann ... just another reason I've missed NNW!

Thanks Stephen, Barkin and everyone who sent this in!



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I have fervently wished for a desktop client to work with Google Reader for as long as Reader has been around. NewsGator finally answered...
 

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sporobolus

Grant: because i'm using already Byline for a small set of feeds on my phone, and i don't want my large set of desktop feeds lumped into that; i did say "if" ... there's a chance the new NNW will manage this all nicely, but with all the gotchas (problems with folders, disappearance of clippings) just being diligent before switching over is going to be quite a bother

August 05 2009 at 4:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

I hate that I was not warned that I would lose my over 500 clipplings!!!

I used that to flag things for later review or later blogging. Now their gone. I didn't flag them because they were in that folder.

Thanks NNW for warning us before you erased them all! :(

August 02 2009 at 5:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pentumforever

Not having all my data saved at google was actually one of the upsides for me - and I hoped for notification support, I dubt that will happen with Google.

Also will it still be possible to define multiple locations with different feeds available?

July 31 2009 at 4:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
greenldr

I use Google Reader (as a Fluid app) with the "Mac OSX Snow Leopard" stylesheet installed: http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/53810

This, along with Byline for the iPhone is awesome and I'll have a hard-time justifying switching back to NNW ever!

July 31 2009 at 3:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
N I T E

I love the interface of the current NNW. The new beta version is too 'new' for me. I dislike Google Reader. Vienna doesn't sync with iPhone. Why the heck can't everything be smoooooooooth? ;)

July 31 2009 at 12:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Levi Figueira

In other news, for those wanting to switch out of NNW, you should give NewsFire a look! It's pretty good too, and an iPhone app will be coming soon!

July 31 2009 at 10:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Margaret

Sad. I don't want to be forced to give Google any more dollars, nor any more information about me (same difference), nor set up yet another damn account. So NNW is history.

I'd like these features:

-no Googleplex requirement
-sync btw Mac and iPhone
-folders to organize feeds
-clipping/flag system that is reliable

but I haven't found anything yet that'll do it.

Maybe this is the tipping point for me. I spend a lot of time reading blogs, so perhaps this means I should just give up the firehose of information.

July 31 2009 at 10:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Margaret's comment
Levi Figueira

Since when are you "forced to give Google any more dollars"? :o

As to your requests, here's my take:

1. "no Googleplex requirement"
Even though I have no reason to agree or even understand your point, I doubt it will happen! I'd like it to sync with http://feedafever.com though... (which I own)

2. "sync btw Mac and iPhone"
iPhone version is coming soon, and until then, Google Reader has a *beautiful* iPhone interface... !?!?!?

3. "folders to organize feeds"
I've had folders in both NNW and Google Reader for as long as I remember... !?!?!?

4. "clipping/flag system that is reliable"
Clippings was not a very good system. Google Reader's Shared Items is much more powerful (with notes/comments, for "public clipping"), and it has a separate "Starred" items (for private clipping). Starred and Shared are coming later, according to Brent's tweets (he's been apparently working on it).

Again, this is a BETA! I'm sorry for those who lost their Google Reader subscription list, but he does warn about it in the README (which no one ever reads). Plus, you should backup your valuable stuff once in a while (including Google Mail, Reader, Contacts, Calendar, etc...), because even though the likelihood of Google losing your stuff is very small, we, as humans, screw up at times! If it's important: BACK IT UP!!

July 31 2009 at 12:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PWG

Ollicle Reflex: autosizing images to fit the pane. Just the best idea ever.

July 31 2009 at 9:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rdsh

There is a relatively easy way to kill the adverts in the new NetNewsWire. Having said that, I like the look of Vienna and think I'll be switching to that shortly.

July 31 2009 at 6:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GD

Whining = complaining and not doing something about it. The ads suck and this is a nasty case of bait and switch. I am not whining. I am stating a complaint, deleting NNW from my machine and moving (back) to Vienna.

July 31 2009 at 5:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to GD's comment
Levi Figueira

whine |(h)wīn|
noun
• a complaining tone of voice.
• a feeble or petulant complaint.

Not sure where you got your definition of "whining"...

July 31 2009 at 10:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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