Filed under: Software
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Look said 7:00PM on 7-30-2009
BS. the big change is the Advertising (at the bottom widow)!!!
“But we know, because people have told us, that they’d be willing to pay to remove the ads. We haven’t set that up yet, but we will.”
1. Go Free.
2. Kill the rss.app maeket.
3. Update your app every 2 years!!!
4. Charge $$$ again.
Brent Simmons - You are such a loser!
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FightTheFuture said 9:24AM on 7-31-2009
perhaps tuaw can update their post with a new screenshot showing the ad pane.
i haven't downloaded yet since my PowerBookG4 is on Tiger and NNW 3.2b is Leopard only.
SeB_or_Sam said 10:20AM on 7-31-2009
Calm down. I hate the Ads too, but he said on the beta page that will be able to pay to get rid of the ads; I don't see why that's so unreasonable. He's done a lot of work making an excellent RSS reader, and he's just finished making it sync with google reader, which required a lot of work; just look at his Twitter account (@brentsdevdiary) and you'll see. I asked him on Twitter why he would put ads in NetNewsWire, and this was his response: http://twitter.com/brentsdevdiary/status/2937067147
Jiji said 7:16PM on 7-30-2009
Upgrading to the new version and the advertisements drove me nuts. If it were completely static then that is one thing but with it refreshing all the time it becomes very distracting. I have already switched to Vienna [open source] and it looks like I will not be going back.
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Look said 7:18PM on 7-30-2009
Btw - I paid for NNW! So why do i need to see adds???
@Jiji moving to Vienna also.
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Kev orng said 7:30PM on 7-30-2009
I don't think you're supposed to see the ads as a paid user, I'd call it a launch glitch. The new paid version isn't actually out yet... I think... so maybe you'll be getting that ad-free upgrade when it comes.
I don't know one way or the other, but if the ads are the only reason you're switching, I'd wait it out a week or two.
Of course, if you have other reasons, then do what you will. I'm waiting a couple weeks before i upgrade NNW, so who knows, I might be following you to Vienna as well.
Look said 7:34PM on 7-30-2009
@ Kev I paid for NNW 2 years ago. He can't pingpong us around..Paid, Free, Ads, Paid..
johnmc said 7:20PM on 7-30-2009
Vienna is awesome. If only there was a way to sync it to an iPhone client.
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Kev orng said 7:25PM on 7-30-2009
I don't mind the ads, I am a master at ignoring ads, as long as they don't pop up and block the page.
As for the reader, it's my understanding that, for the next week or two at least, the new desktop app already doesn't sync with the Newsgator service, and the new iPhone app isn't out yet.
So if you really appreciate the syncing between desktop and iPod/iPhone, and you don't want that feature interrupted for the next week or so, then don't jump on the update until all the pieces are in place.
At least that's my understanding, I could be totally wrong.
On the upside, without the syncing you'll be less likely to sit in the bathroom reading news feeds until your legs fall asleep, that's probably a good thing!
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Me said 7:25PM on 7-30-2009
I already paid for NNW! Now I have to see these annoying ads?
What a mess. The move to Newsgator has come full circle into one big disaster.
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Ivan Storck said 7:28PM on 7-30-2009
I really miss the clippings folders feature. It was the easiest way to make your own custom feeds of cool items.
And yes, I'm pretty sure I had paid for it and seeing ads again is annoying.
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Rich said 7:28PM on 7-30-2009
This NNW beta does sync with Google Reader, but it totally hosed my subscriptions - I'm now having to rebuild the whole thing.
Yes, it's a beta. But not a stable one. Beware.
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Barkin said 8:48PM on 7-30-2009
Hosed me to. The beta doesn't support folders.
Thankfully, I did an export of my subscriptions before I updated. So I have that to fall back on.
Michael said 12:38AM on 7-31-2009
Apparently the beta doesn't suppport nested folders. I find this annoying, too.
Look said 7:29PM on 7-30-2009
NNW updated = you lose features, gain ads, and get a better icon...nice.
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Mike said 7:33PM on 7-30-2009
I don't see the ads, since I keep the subscriptions list hidden anyway. However in the couple hours I've had it, I've noticed an odd glitch with NNW 3.2, in that Growl will tell me there are new items (and confirmed in Google Reader), but they don't show up when I try refreshing subscriptions, I have to quit and reload the app.
I'll try out Vienna, but lack of syncing support is a turnoff.
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Me said 7:33PM on 7-30-2009
Best Tweet about this so far:
An email that opens "You spoke, we listened" should not also describe how I'm about to be forced even deeper into the Googleplex. #newsgator
http://twitter.com/shelly/status/2937432308
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hansning said 8:15PM on 7-30-2009
while i understand that this is a cutback in the right direction, i'm gonna miss the newsgator online site. It wasn't cluttered, was easy to read and beautiful (let's just admit google isn't the prettiest when it comes to design). My sole iPhone rss reader was Newsgator Mobile webpage, which besides notifications, was perfectly usable. Didn't like the dedicated app at all.
If they really do go with ads, I'll be truly dissapointed. However, if NNW could sync with G, then I'll be we'll see others starting too.
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Levi Figueira said 10:28PM on 7-30-2009
Try helvetireader.com for a cleaner Google Reader experience... Oh, and try running it on Fluid.app! ;)
Joey said 10:03AM on 7-31-2009
Yeah I understand Google wants to keep things simple but their web apps are just plain ugly. I use http://my.Yahoo.com now as my surrogate newsreader. Beautiful interface and it works wonderfully.