As a geek, it's kind of embarrassing to admit that I was ever resistant to using an RSS reader, based on the fact that I liked the way many of my blogs look in their original forms. So many sites put a lot of thought into their design, but I slowly came around to putting some of the blogs I read into Google Reader. Of course, I slowly became dependent on it and finally added all my blogs I love, even if I had to miss the pretty site design I delight in seeing when I open up their pages.
So I rejoiced when I found that Lifehacker had created Better GReader for use with Google Reader. A Firefox add-on, it features an addition of keyboard shortcuts, skipping of Google Reader's default subscriber, and — my absolute favorite thing — when you click a post's title, instead of opening up a new tab, the item is displayed in Reader just the way it normally appears! Hey, I'm easy to please.
To learn how to post your favorite downloads to the Download of the Day group, read more
I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.
- First of all, join the Download of the Day group
- Click "Create and Share!" on the left hand side
- Choose "Blog"
- Give your photo a Title
- Leave the category as "general"
- Change the channel to "technology and gadgets"
- Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Download of the Day")
- Click on the "Add Image" link below the "body" box
- A popup window will happen - click on "Browse" to find your image on your computer
- Once you have the image chosen, click "Submit"
- The popup will show you your image, choose size: "normal" - if you want, you can give it a title (which will show up as a caption)
- Click "Insert" and the popup will go away
- Your "body" box will now have some text in it. Leave it as is. If you want to add some text before the picture telling me why you love the download, do it before the code that has appeared.
- Click Submit
So join the Download of the Day group and share information about all your favorite downloads! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!
Robert Clergerie
Herve Leger
Birkenstock
Cool.
1hmmm. I may check this out! It takes me a lot of time to check every blog I'm interested in daily, but I'm signed up on so many sites with 50 gajillion passwords that I don't want to sign up with RSS feed place. And if it keeps the look of the blog, that's perfect.
2nice
3i still don't use rss.
i guess.... it takes more time for me to visit everywhere, and i like wasting time
I actually prefer Google Reader to this Better GReader - I like the fact that you can only see the essential stuff. The Sugar network's layout is nice, but it's cluttered and takes too long to load for me. If I didn't have Google Reader, I honestly wouldn't keep up with you guys as much.
4I've been a Lifehacker fan for years -- longer than I have been following the Sugar network. I've been using the Better GReader Firefox extension since its initial release. I love using the Preview feature that GeekSugar mentioned to view full webpages within an IFRAME inside Google Reader. I don't use it all the time, but do use it for feeds that do not feature entire articles. I use the Preview option to post comments on Sugar articles rather than loading the pages in separate tabs or browser windows.
The Firefox extension is a compilation of several Greasemonkey (another extension) scripts created by several authors. Customizable settings can be activated or deactivated. The extension even offers options to theme/skin GReader.
Lifehacker also creates other Firefox extensions (and computer applications) that might also interest you. I highly recommend Better Gmail (for old Gmail), Better Gmail 2 (for new Gmail), Better Flickr, and Better YouTube.
You can access these extensions on Lifehacker or at Firefox Add-ons, although updates tend to be posted on Lifehacker before they are submitted to Firefox Add-ons.
http://lifehacker.com/tag/lifehacker-code/
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/user/60582
5yeah, I would be concerned about slower loading. My Google Reader is slow enough sometimes. I prefer to just click through to the sites where layout/design are important elements, and get the text for the rest.
6I'm a little skeptical too, because all of the graphics and the Sugar Network ads tend to slow me down. I prefer to read the Sugar posts in Google Reader now.
If you can choose when and for what feeds to use it for, I'll definitely try it out though! It would be nice to have something that will show the entire post for those feeds that only post a line or two. (I usually just end up unsubscribing to those!)
7I still have to start using RSS, guess now might be a good time.
After reading some comments, I'll start with Google Reader though - as much as I like the design, the annoying ads drive me insane, and I don't find the page configuration (all in length of the page, and posts not very wide) not very comfortable to use, so I'd be happy to have something that suits me better.
8Have you tried Newsfire? It's free now.
9I just had to uninstall this app for firefox..it's very inconsistent and it wasn't worth slowing down my firefox
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