Headline: A Small Yet Strong RSS Reader
At this moment there are many RSS readers for Mac. Most of them are even free, but none of them are quite like Headline. Headline is the first application from Doseido Software.
Headline is different from other RSS readers because of it’s size. It has a small window that looks much like the iChat buddy list. For each feed entry the status is represented by a dot: green if it’s new, yellow if it’s from the week, or white if it’s older (there will be no dot if it has already been read). These look just like the iChat icons and help you easily find new feeds. The number of new items also appears as a badge in the dock icon. One other useful feature to find new feeds is just to hit the spacebar; this will switch to the next new feed. There is still an issue with this, though; it only goes to the newest feed below the selected feed. If you have any new ones above it you need to scroll up and select that feed.
On top of the Headline window you can change the filter and search for an entry. There are a few different filters to select. You can filter by date or choose to view only unread or favorite entries. One thing missing from Headline, though, is the ability to sort your feeds into categories. This option is in many other RSS readers and is a very useful feature.
The bottom of the window includes a button to switch to view your RSS feeds instead of entries. It also includes some other tools and functions. To open the content button you can click an icon or you can just double-click a feed. There is also a button to open the media window and one to mark as a favorite. When you mark an entry as a favorite the read icon is replaced with a heart. Finally there are a few buttons to share the entry; you can send it as an email or share it in IM. Currently iChat is the only supported IM application. A couple of things that Headline is missing, though, include a way to view one website at a time and the ability to sort feeds into different categories.
When you double-click a feed the content window appears. This is where you can read the full entry. You can also leave this window open as you browse your feeds and it will show you the currently selected feed. The feed window appears as a HUD style display. On the bottom of the feed window are two buttons: “Open in Browser” and “Close Preview”.
Adding new feeds to Headline is very easy. Just click the feed button in the bottom left and the entries will switch to show you a list of feeds. Here you can click the plus and minus buttons to add and delete feeds. You can not rename feeds or just view the entries from one feed. If you already use an RSS reader you can easily import your feeds from different applications or an OPML file. Headline uses core animation to add some cool effects. There is a slight fade effect when you switch between feeds and entries. There is also a pop in effect when you open the preview window. Headline even supports growl.
Headline is a very innovative RSS reader. The minimal UI is great to leave on the side of your screen. It is still missing a few features but hopefully in the coming months more features will be added. Headline costs $19.95 and a demo is available at Doseido Software.
This would work great with FriendFeed if they added an option to post messages.
Just my personal opinion here, but any RSS reader that doesn’t support connectivity with Google Reader = instant fail. I (along with many others I’m sure) rely on Google Reader since it delivers “RSS anywhere.” From work, from home, my stuff is always in sync.
I wouldn’t want to use an RSS client that couldn’t sync with Google Reader. Just doesn’t make any sense to me, especially since at work I’m on Windows and at home I’m on Mac.
Hi All,
We plan to integrate and expand Headline with Google and Newsgator sync on the next major update with many other features.
Indeed, connectivity with Google reader would be an excellent feature.
I like this app and the concept, and I don’t personally care about newsgator or google reader sync. But paying $20 for an RSS reader just seems like paying for a browser to me. It’s such a basic thing that you can get for free…
I have to agree with both CaptJack and satoshi. While I can appreciate any developer trying to make some scratch with a product they’ve worked hard on and brought to market, the RSS (and browser) market is just too darn full of pretty good free products. It’s going to be a difficult up-hill battle for any reader that isn’t free. I won’t even bother with a demo, because in the end, NNW and Google Readers are free. And in this market, that’s about 90% of the decision right there.
hey… It’s true that this app needs improvements and it’s true that need fixes as well… but let me tell you all that we think this app need it’s useless when you cant find it on any other rss app out there. so stop wining and help this developer buyingthis unique app and the next version will be cheaper for u and better.
Your argument is weak, albert.. not to mention I can barely understand what you’re trying to say.
The point remains that there are several free RSS apps:
* the one built into Mail
* the one built into Firefox
* the one built into Safari
* NetNewsWire
Any newcomers that are going to be charging $$ better have a strong argument as to why we should pay money. Like some killer feature set that nobody else offers.
CaptSaltyJack said it all with the “one built into firefox”.
And firefox is free.
I am sure this is a great app, but I just spent a small fortune on my imac so there is no way I am buying software that I can do the same thing with something else for free.
I think a few of you have hit the nail on the head. Software that is not free must have a “point of difference” to its competitors. I know the UI is certainly a bit different, but it’s going to need a few more ‘bells and whistles’ to get things moving.
Having said that, I do note that these guys are also develop for the iPhone and maybe we’ll see some integration/sync between their Mac App and a native iPhone App………maybe……..who knows.
Either way, good luck to them and I’m especially a happy camper as it was part of the MacHeist Giving Tree promotion so a big thumbs up and thanks to the developer for participating in it.
Cheers and a happy Xmas / new year to all!
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