Google Testing Online RSS Reader

By Nate Mook | Published October 7, 2005, 2:41 PM

Google took the covers off a Web based RSS reader at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco Friday. The tool, appropriately dubbed Google Reader, serves as an aggregator for Web feeds and is designed much like the company's Gmail service with Starred favorites and keyboard shortcuts.

"We often get asked how anyone's supposed to keep up with the firehose of stuff launched from the web's spigot, so we're offering Reader as a way to help," explained Google software engineer Chris Wetherell. "Like the Personalized Homepage, it's a part of Google's ongoing effort to bring together personalized web content to make information more relevant to users."

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

Like all Google apps, it's awful. Faster than I thought it would be, but definitely a clunker to work with.

Score: 0

|

I think google should just release a browser. Then they could scrap the toolbar and this rss reader and just put it into the browser. They could also make a proper gui interface to their gmail if they so desire.
I'll stick with opera for RSS, thanks.

Score: 0

|

ok can sum1 intelligent translate this article into a form that a neanderthal like me will understand?
btw. im jesus and any1 who does it will be lucky for their whole life

Score: 0

|

Seems good... but as of now its very slow and is generating many errors... I would stick on with FeedFeeds ( http://www.feedfeeds.com )

Score: 0

|

Its getting there slowly but surely.

As already said its more alpha than beta for me.

Score: 0

|

Slow? On broadband or dialup?

Seems fast to me on broadband, but I'm addicted to Bloglines for now.

Score: 0

|

It's been darn slow for me, and I'm using a University's 5Mbit connection, so I don't think the bottleneck is on the client's side.

Anyway, it's in Google Labs for a reason. I'm sure dedicated servers are not a priority right now.

Score: 0

|

Yes, it is slow for me today.

As others have said, I get Loading... for quite a while.

Score: 0

|

It got slashdotted.

Should be quicker now.

Needs scroll-wheel support, otherwise, it's pretty nifty. Blogging tools and GMail integration are a definate plus!

Score: 0

|

so so slow.
buggy (labs-i know i know)
wouldnt import any of my bloglines exported opml files

euw

go bloglines!

Score: 0

|

I can tell why this is still in the lab. IT'S SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW and very basic. Maybe with some time Google Reader will turn into a useful newsreader. It's not there yet!

Score: 0

|

"Still"....rofl. Some people.

Score: 0

|

Not exactly innovative...but ok.

Score: 0

|

Yeah... services like this have been around forever, but hopefully this slightly different approach will turn out well.

Score: 0

|

Go Google!! You are the BEST!!!

Score: 0

|

Knees hurt?

Score: -1

|

I bet yours do.

Score: 0

|

Either that or the behind...

Score: 0

|

Google Chrome 4: Yes, it's fast, but is it usable?

As Betanews readers have responded to our stories about Chrome's JavaScript superiority...Does that mean we'd actually use this browser? Well...

Video: Netflix on PlayStation 3

Netflix has come to the PlayStation 3 via Blu-ray and BD-Live.

Verizon Wireless launches new Android, Chocolate, and ruggedized phones

The lower-priced Eris joins the Droid, while the Chocolate gets a touchscreen and more music playback.

Early sales figures for Windows 7 nicely high, but do we know why?

Fans of triple-digit surges in figures quoted by Betanews will love this one, as it appears Microsoft rediscovered how to pull off a software launch.

Myka announces its latest Linux-based 'net top box'

Myka's ION brings Boxee, XMBC, and much more to HDTVs.

What hath Mac wrought? A remembrance after a quarter-century

The reason there's a Macintosh today is not because of some brilliant flash of engineering genius, but because Apple had the audacity to learn from its mistakes.

Early build of Moblin 2.1 improves connectivity, but not device support

The Linux Foundation's Atom-centric OS yesterday received a major overhaul with the project release of Moblin 2.1 for netbooks and nettops.

The iPhone's China syndrome: Sales of 5,000 and climbing

There's actually a country where Apple's device is not a godsend, where sales can be measured in the dozens.

New European counterpart to FCC will ensure 'a more neutral net'

Late Thursday night, the ruling telecom administrators of the EU's member nations signed away their final authority to a new entity overseen by the EC.

Sophos study suggests Windows 7 UAC's default setting is self-defeating

Without any anti-virus installed, a Sophos test showed, User Account Control was only capable of thwarting just one malware package out of ten samples chosen.

Indiscreet tweet trips awareness of Web SSL vulnerability

A group of high-level security engineers had been making progress on thwarting a low-level threat to the Web, until somebody blurted it all out on Twitter.