NewsStand, the best feed reader for iPhone « Giovanni Piller Cottrer, only when he want's to..

NewsStand, the best feed reader for iPhone

posted in touchable things. Tag: app store, feed reader, newsstand, not free
4 Comments. 18th Jan.

Many people claims this as the best RSS reader for the iPhone. Well, maybe it is but not for me.

Here is why:

launching the app means a wait of 7 seconds just to see something useful

33 seconds of download for 20 subscriptions only (with the max number of connections enabled and over Wifi)
no sync with an online service (like NetNewsWire does), or a desktop application
the landscape view, besides its beauty, it's totally unuseful. It displays every single feed you're subscribed, while it would be more logical to show only the updated ones.
images in posts are not resized to fit the screen
interface icons not sexy as they should be
post to delicious not using the internal browser (this means you'll exit the app)
I wish there were more sorting options.
Now you have to search for every feed which has new items (or use the unread meta-folder, that mix up every updated subscription).
maybe it's a bit complex to use for a not experienced user, otherwise, why there should be a HELP button in the main screen?

A great feed reader, and more generally an iPhone app, shouldn't even know what "Help" means!

BUT..

don't get me wrong, there are also PROS!

For example, NewsStand's icon fits great in my springboard.

That's why I still keep it! :) :)

Newsstand costs 4€ and it's aviable on the App Store.

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About

Giovanni Piller Cottrer

mostly known with his nickname "gigasoft", is a 20+ years old student based in Italy.
Giovanni is an explorer of technology, an eternal dreamer and a lover of all things beautiful.
Currently is a Mac and GNU/Linux user.

1
Alessandro Balsamo

Nice review! From your screenshots I can tell you bought the Pennies application I talked you about… do you like it?

2
Giovanni Piller Cottrer

@Alessandro Balsamo
Pennies is really great, in fact I use it for almost every expense :)
Unfortunately there’s a stupid bug with the daily expenses management, but I hope it will be fixed soon (I’ve already notified the developers).

3
Paul Armstrong

Thanks for the (unintentional) plug for my site in the first image of the RSS reader!

Have you used NetNewsWire? It’s free as a desktop and iPhone app and syncs with the NewsGator service. I have been using it for years to keep myself synced up between home and work, and now on my iPhone.

4
Giovanni Piller Cottrer

Hi Paul!

Yes, I’ve tried NetNewsWire and found the Mac version awesome, as well as the confortable web interface.

Unfortunately the iPhone app isn’t as great as I hoped for.
I mean, sync is good, but the interface should be rethought and many problems get “fixed”.

For example, I’m not able to reopen an already read item or feed, or even add folders and subscriptions.

I know that these things are maybe not necessary as long as you’re able to manage everything from your Mac but, since I’m still a student, I have to spent most part of the day away from home (without the macbook)..
and I love to read old and flagged articles! :)

Thanks for the suggestion however, I promise I’ll check this app again in case of major updates :)

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