May 30, 2009

Ever since the birth of Twitter (and the various Twitter Apps like Twitterific, Tweetie and Twittelator), I have had a falling out with reading news via Google Reader, due to the fact that I could only share items with my fellow gReader geeks (and not my Twitterholic buddies).
While hooking up my Google Reader account with Friendfeed helped solve this issue, I always loathed the “RSS delay” which resulted in 10 tweets posted at once, instead of tweeting whenever I discovered an interesting link.
Thanks to an iPhone app by Ebisu Soft called RSS Flash G, I can easily share interesting links directly with the twitterverse, as well as my Google cultic friends on gReader.
While RSS Flash G does have a limited free version available, you might want check out this review of the Good, the Bad and the Buggy before deciding to part ways with 299 pennies. read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Software, RSS Readers
March 19, 2009

If there ever was a Google Reader app that allowed you to view your entire feeds offline, BoltReader would be it.
Created by what appears to be a small nimble team (note: they did not respond to my inquiries), BoltReader seems to be the first Google Reader iPhone app that allows you to view both text and images offline, without having to rely upon a third party service like Instapaper.
Users may also fall in love with BoltReader’s user interface, which seems to blend the traditional folder view with the “river of news” layout. read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Software, RSS Readers
March 18, 2009

Of all of the iPhone apps that I have purchased, beta tested, or inherited from Apple, iNews is probably the first bug free app that I have encountered.
Created by Gudang Data Informatika (from Indonesia), iNews is yet another gReader app that follows the “keep it simple” mentality, sporting bare bone features such as starring articles, landscape mode and emailing your favorite posts to your friends.
Even though the app was not as powerful as Byline (or even the mighty Feeds app), iNews did have a few features that I did enjoy. read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Software, RSS Feeds
March 15, 2009

Created by the Acceletron Corporation, Readello could best be described as a “mellow gReader app” whose simple layout will cater to users unfamiliar with RSS readers in general (at least on their iPhone/iPod Touch).
Although it may not be as advanced as Byline, Doppler or Feeds, Readello does offer some of the basic functionality for Google Reader (such as starring, natural folder view, etc.).
Costing only a $1 (note: it use to be $4), Readello offers users an inexpensive way to view their Google Reader feeds without breaking the bank. read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Software, RSS Readers
March 12, 2009

If there was any iPhone app out there with the potential of dethroning Byline as the gReader champion, it would have to be Feeds.
Developed by Prime31 Web Design, Feeds introduces a number of features absent from the competion, including one feature missing from the mighty Google Reader web app itself (which will be detailed below).
Although its name may sound generic (at least compared to names like Gazette, Byline and Doppler), the Feeds app is far from bland and may end revolutionizing not only the gReader apps, but other RSS apps as well. read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Software, RSS Readers
March 9, 2009

If one were to strip most of the eye candy away from Byline, they would probably end up with an app like Gazette.
Developed by Matt Rajca, Gazette offers users a distraction free layout that focuses on keeping things simple for the Google Reader addict.
Being relatively priced at $2, some users may wonder whether it would be better to invest their spare change in Gazette rather than spend the extra cash on Byline (which currently costs $5).
So instead of purchasing both apps (and making Steve Jobs richer) here is a brief review of how Gazette stacks up against Byline (with an excel spreadsheet link below comparing Gazette against not only Byline but the gReader web app and Doppler as well). read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Software, RSS Readers
March 3, 2009

Important Note: This review is based upon Doppler 1.4.4.17, which has yet to receive Steve Jobs blessing. The current (approved) version is 1.4.1.
After appearing on the scene last year, the Doppler iPhone app has continued to refine itself over time, implementing features that may end up being duplicated by the competition.
Created by DopplerRadio, this iPhone app sports not only the basics (such as landscape mode, counter icon tag, the ability to star/favorite articles, etc.) but also a few extra items that I found lacking in some of its larger rivals. read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, RSS Feeds
March 2, 2009
Update (3/9): Please read the last two paragraphs below for an update about these reviews.

Many, many moons ago in a blog post not so far away their were only handful of iPhone apps for Google Reader.
While most apps took the import only route, only two apps (Byline and Doppler) embraced bidirectional syncing, freeing gReader fans everywhere from dependence on the Google Reader web app. read more
Tags: Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Software
December 17, 2008

It looks as if Byline (a popular iPhone app for Google Reader) and BlogPress (the unofficial iPhone app for Blogger) are teaming up for the holidays by offering users the chance to download one of their respective apps for free after purchasing the other application on iTunes. read more
Tags: Blog Software, Google Reader, iPhone, Mobile Blogging
December 5, 2008
Whoa there, nelly! What did you do to my Google Reader? From a fairly sane look and feel, to this white mishmash of boxes? That can’t be good, can it?
That was, at least, my initial reaction to the new Google Reader design. After having played with it for a while, I find I like the collapsable boxes and although the design is a bit pale, the actual feed listings, especially in list view, is better than before. Check it out for yourself, or just read the Google Reader Blog roundup.
Tags: Google Reader, rss