Google Reader Leaps Ahead
A few months ago, I wrote about the iPhone optimized version of Google Reader and how pleasantly surprised I was with its features and interface on my S60 browser, compared to the ordinary mobile-optimized version. I have been using it ever since, and although I was still quite impressed with it, I faced two annoying problems. The first one is that the number of unread items was quite messed up: it would give me 512 unread items in a folder, but when opened, I’d only find 94 for example, and sometimes it did the opposite. The second one is that there was no possibility to mark all items as read in a certain folder, I had to go through each item individually, open it and close it for it to be marked as read.
Well, I’m glad to say that Google has now finally solved these matters. Google Reader now works like a charm and here are the improvements that have been implemented ever since I wrote about it the first time:
- No more issue between the shown number of unread items and the real number: everything is accurate, like on the desktop.
- “Mark all items as read” option has been removed from the main page and added to each folder and to each subscription individually.
- Staring items is now easier, with the star sign visible next to each one, click it and it turns yellow.
- Sharing items offers now more options, with the ability to share, share with a note and email.
- The settings have also improved with the ability to set any folder as your home page.
- There’s now an “Add a subscription” link on the home page that allows you to type in any RSS feed address, to search for feeds by entering keywords or to subscribe to feed bundles offered by Google.
Here are a few screenshots of the new features taken on my N82.
Mark all as read and staring items (left) and Add subscription (right)
Subscription search or bundle (left) and results for “Symbian-Guru” search (right)
Options for sharing (left) and Setting the start page (right)
There’s no doubt about it for me now, Google Reader has almost 90% of the usual desktop version’s features, and 100% of the features that I use. Did you ever try the iPhone optimized version of Google Reader on your S60 handset? What do you think of it? What other features do you miss from the desktop versions?
There’s only one thing coming from Google I would hold my breath for: Gmail application for S60.
It’s the thing I need the most on my phone (my gmail mailbox) and for the moment I’m using Profimail ’cause Java SUCKS.
Google Reader for iPhone on S60 browser ? Nice, but I don’t care much.
Wake me when Gmail for S60 is out…
Why exactly does Java suck…? Sure, it takes a few more seconds to load, but other than that I don’t know of any other significant disadvantages? By being Java, doesn’t it also mean that other phones, S40 or non-smartphones get to utilize a very useful application and so it’s better for everyone?
Glad to hear of the improvements to Google Reader, I think it’s been brilliant :)
Wake me when google realise that opera browser exists and that the way google reader appears in it, should be updated. More phones have opera on and in use than s60 counting opera.sis and opera mini.
I use Opera Mini all the time and this latest update has fixed nothing. I’ll try it again using the slow native 6120 browser but since the last update it was unusable. (added by Mobile using Mippin)
I have a few problems with Google reader for iPhone on my N73. First of all changing settings does not seem to have any effect. I want to change the settings for startpage and the reformation of pages to the mobile browser but it does not work. When I go back after having changed, they are just the same as always. Furthermore I can only read my feeds from my startpage. If I try to go back and pick feeds from a different folder an error occurs: “ups – an error occured, try again in a few seconds”?? Have anyone else tried that? I’m thinking it may be because of the limited amount of RAM in my N73.
Furthermore the old simple mobile reader does not work either. I can get to the first page with the folder list just fine, but as soon as I choose a folder I get an 404 error??
Besides that I use it quite often, I just have to read my feeds by using the startup list of all the feeds. A little annoying but it works ond looks great :-)
Hm, I had never tried out Google Reader on Opera, because I usually don’t use Opera.
But this version is made and optimized for the iPhone, that’s why it doesn’t look good on Opera. S60’s web browser being based on Webkit, the same as the iPhone’s Safari, is able to render the page correctly. That’s why I think it’s kinda pushy to ask Google to improve the page for Opera. There’s always the other mobile optimized version of Google Reader (m.reader.com)
For the “oups an error occured”, try clicking on Refresh on the top right of the page. I do get this message sometimes, but it’s most of the time solved by clicking refresh. I don’t know about the other issues, as I never faced them.