Comments on: NewsFire, a Versatile RSS Reader

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By: NewsFire is Free | MacApper

NewsFire is Free | MacApper — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:33:27 +0000

[...] doesn’t take away space from the feeds with extra windows, and even has smart feeds. We have reviewed NewsFire in the past if you want a more detailed overview of the [...]

By: NetNewsWire: Now with more review! | MacApper

NetNewsWire: Now with more review! | MacApper — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:59:31 +0000

[...] have reviewed a few different RSS readers here at MacApper before, like NewsFire and Cyndicate, but the one that many people tout above all, is NetNewsWire. NetNewsWire v3.1 is a [...]

By: MacApper Staff Application Picks: 2007 Edition | MacApper

MacApper Staff Application Picks: 2007 Edition | MacApper — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:13:53 +0000

[...] Holmes NewsFire – The best RSS Reader? It’s really well designed and easy to [...]

By: iFeedPod: Feed Your iPod | MacApper

iFeedPod: Feed Your iPod | MacApper — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:00:52 +0000

[...] An RSS reader pulls all your news into one place and we’ve reviewed many here at MacApper (NewsFire, roundup, Feeder, and NetNewsWire). However, what if you don’t have time to read them while [...]

By: MacApper Podcast 3: NewsFire | MacApper

MacApper Podcast 3: NewsFire | MacApper — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:45:09 +0000

[...] can read Kiro’s NewsFire review or pick up your copy of NewsFire at NewsFireRSS.com for just $25. Tell them MacApper sent [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:53:54 +0000

I’ve used Newsfire for about 8 months and generally have found it acceptable. Two major annoyances are the lack of a built-in browser and tabs. I understand that the developer is pretty much a one-man shop, but I can’t remember the last time there’s been an update. He’s apparently focused on XTorrent and Inquisitor these days. Very disappointing.

Overall, I prefer NewsFire to NetNewsWire because the later just feels so much more bloated and version 3.0 still crashes too often to be used as my everyday browser.

By: (RDY)MacApper Podcast 3: NewsFire | MacApper

(RDY)MacApper Podcast 3: NewsFire | MacApper — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:27:59 +0000

[...] Kiro’s NewsFire Notes [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:34 +0000

NetNewsWire is completely overrated. I was anticipating the 3.0 release, but all it really added was screen clutter (do we really need a little thumbnail of the website in the bottom corner? — whats that for, anyway?). NewsFire’s interface is much better organized and responsive.

As for David Watanabe, he’s a software developer, not my neighbour. I own every one of his applications because they are each best-in-class. I could not imagine using Safari without Inquisitor, for example. I dont need to be able to have a drink with him and talk about sports, he just needs to make quality software, and he does.

By: Tyler Hawkins

Tyler Hawkins — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:02:03 +0000

@E.T. Cook
Thanks for all your feedback, you are right that many reviews on MacApper are pretty positive. Also though, Andreas is right in regards to the reason for such reviews. We are pretty casual in our writing assignments, we choose our own topics – so generally we write about software we like. There are some (justifiably) negative reviews though, I know because I truly disliked WebcamTweaker which I wrote about…

Anyways, we’re always working to improve so I hope you’ll continue to give us a chance.

By: E.T.Cook

E.T.Cook — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:40:39 +0000

@Andreas

Don’t be an apologist. Unless the review is genuine, I don’t want to read it. Not every app can be perfect, and I have yet to see even a neutral app review flow through macapper…everything is God’s gift to a Mac user.

Think about those individuals that based on this review, purchased the product…trusting MacApper to give trustworthy reviews…what do you say to that individual that feels they were deceived? Same thing…cut them some slack?

By: Andreas

Andreas — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 22:32:15 +0000

@E.T.Cook

I agree that every single product usually can’t be perfect. And in fact, I think if MacApper *did* get paid, more products would get the thumbs down. But if a review isn’t paid for, then why is it reviewed? Most likely because the author of the review has this in his mind “Oh I wonder what I can review today… hmm, let me see what piece of software I use that I really am happy with, and would like to tell others about”.

I think that any review on MacApper should be seen more as a recommendation than a review (if there is a difference). Then it will up to you and me to decide whether or not we agree with the recommendation.

I too was very happy with NewsFire for the first weeks, and even months. It took some time before the problems got to me, and I realized I was not the only customer who did not get any replies to the emails I sent.

I’m not sure if what I just said made any sense, but I think we should cut the guys some slack here

By: E.T.Cook

E.T.Cook — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 18:11:23 +0000

@Greg H

It isn’t just that. Every single one of your reviews is glowing…every product you have reviewed can’t be absolutely perfect. I just ask for a bit of journalistic integrity, that is all.

By: Greg H

Greg H — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:52:10 +0000

@E.T Cook Thank you for bringing that to our attention. In the future, we will try to do a little more research on each app as to bring you the most informed review.

By: E.T.Cook

E.T.Cook — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 22:10:30 +0000

Well, if that is the case, I am going to remove your subscription then. These reviews are disingenuous at best. Any amount of research would have brought to surface the support problems, as well as functional issues with the software, yet those were both glaring ommissions. In fact, I was giving macapper the benefit of the doubt by assuming they were paid for the review…at least then you would be paid…and not just inept at reviewing a product.

Be honest with your reviews, even if they are scathing…if you aren’t going to be…just quit.

By: Greg H

Greg H — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 22:04:22 +0000

@James and E.T Cook: All reviews are based on the authors experiences. No one was paid to do this review, just as all other reviews on MacApper are done for free. I myself have been using NewsFire for well over a year and have never had a problem with it.

By: Mac Heister

Mac Heister — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:31:42 +0000

The developer does have a reputation for being rude and arbitrary. I can’t attest to that though since he’s never actually replied to any support queries that I’ve made.

By: jack

jack — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:06:16 +0000

Any software from this developer should be avoided. There are plenty of alternatives.

By: Joe Goh

Joe Goh — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:17:25 +0000

I’ve also personally faced some problems with NewsFire, particularly with its poor recovery from errors when parsing RSS feeds. I’ve also emailed the author of NewsFire before on this, with no reply.

By: E.T.Cook

E.T.Cook — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:33:35 +0000

How much did you get paid for this review?

Try putting over 100 feeds in newsfire…watch it melt.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:14:54 +0000

NetNewsWire also has a major advantage in that it has syncing between multiple computers.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:09:17 +0000

Newsfire is a great app but I stopped using it after I had a bad experience trying to get support from the author. Development on it also seems to have been halted for the moment.

Please don’t take this as bad mouthing, cause that’s not what I’m trying to do. I just wanted to relate my experience.

By: Matt J

Matt J — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:39:55 +0000

NewsFire is just Vienna with some new paint.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:14:15 +0000

I can certainly agree that NewsFire is both good-looking as well as easy to use, but that’s about it. Calling it a versatile rss reader when switching from Safari is also pretty easy. You could have switched to anything and called it versatile in comparison.

I used NewsFire myself for a few months when I was new to RSS, but then I changed to NetNewsWire. NNW looks just as good, has the same feature set more or less, but there are two things that put them apart for me: NewsFire crashed a LOT for me in the end, NNW is solid as a rock. Also, NNW has a built-in browser (webkit) so you don’t need to open up articles or links in a separate browser.

Whichever you choose is up to you, but I say this: try both NewsFire and NetNewsWire for a week each, and I think I know which one you will pick in the end.

By: James

James — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:02:55 +0000

Wow. You really have sold your souls. Nothing but Delicious applications at Macapper for the moment. How much are they paying you?