Google Reader takes over Oct11 '06
I have finally ditched Feedlounge, and started using Google Reader. Already I am noticing a much more stable performance, and oh - I almost forgot - it's free! (As opposed to Feedlounge.)
What I like about Google Reader
Unread feed counts
The first thing I noticed about Google Reader is it's intelligent use of unread feed counts. Rather than displaying an enormous amount of unread feeds, Google Reader limits the display to 100+. This is much more intuitive.
For example, why do I need to know that there are 8,461 unread feeds in my "news" category? Besides being completely overwhelming, showing that number does absolutely nothing for me. It just makes me feel that I am really behind on reading my feeds; or that I am using my time poorly; or that I just don't belong in this world.
All I need to know is that there are 100+. This way, if I miss a few days of "feed reading" (vacation, etc.) - when I check my feeds a few days after, I don't see 14,510 unread feeds, which just makes me want to crawl in a cave of unproductivity.
Shared items
Google Reader has a feature called "Shared Items," which is a cool idea. For each feed that comes into Reader, I have the option to "mark as shared," which promotes that feed item to a separate blog-type web site. Every Google Reader user has their own custom shared-items page.
Here is my shared-items page.
I like the shared-items page, because when I see a feed that I went to reference later, I can simply click on the "shared icon," and immediately it's brought over:
To remove the shared item from my shared-page, all I have to do is unclick that link, and it's gone!
Just getting started
Google Reader is just getting started. I imagine there will be lots of great new features added, over time.
Categories: Google 
, RSS , Software
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is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago.
Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.
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