Get the Most out of Google Reader
January 7th, 2007
If you keep a web based feed reader, chances are you use Google Reader to monitor your favorite websites. Google’s feed reader is by far the best one available (web based), and continues to improve.
If you find that you use Google Reader, Mitchelaneous offers his Google Reader Guide, and a follow up guide with additional tips, which offer some tips to get the most out of your web-based feed reader.
If you’re a Del.icio.us user, you may also want to check out memeRocket’s attempt to allow you to use Del.icio.us’ tagging within Google Reader.
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Kyle,
Maybe you can help me here… I have been banging my head against a wall for a few weeks. I am tired of using Gmail. I want to start using a regular pop email account from my domain. I know that I can simply use Outlook Express, Thunderbird, or Eudora. But I also use Google Reader for my feeds. I don’t really like Google Reader for the fact that it is web based. There is nothing wrong with Google Reader… the program itself is awesome. But I really want to give desktop aps a try again.
Is there an awesome email client that you can use to check pop email as well as maintain a very nice and organized RSS feed subscription (Kind of an “All in One” package). I really have a difficult time staying organized with email and then the problem gets worse when I am now trying to read the articles from all the writers I like to follow.
Is there anything out there for me? What do you suggest?
Garry,
Hopefully I can be of assistance, but first, I want to make sure I understand what your asking. You are looking for an E-mail client that is also a feed reader that works from your desktop?
If so, your best bet is probably Attensa for Outlook which is built into Outlook (if you already have Outlook). It also features a “River of News” style feeds, where it puts your favorite ones on top, based off which ones you’ve visited in the past.
I believe Thunderbird has a built in feed reader, or it supports many Extensions, including many that are for Firefox. You can probably add a feed reader extension to Thunderbird if you go that route. The new Thunderbird coming out of beta soon is awesome, and I would use it full time if I didn’t already have Outlook 2003.
I believe Thunderbird supports POP3, so you can have your GMail dump into it.
I use GreatNews for my feeds and have had nothing but success so far. It also supports Bloglines integration, so you can read from Bloglines, then it will sync up and mark anything as read (so you could read them at work, then come home and sync them so you don’t re-read your feeds).
You may want to check out my Guide to Feeds and Feed Readers which I posted earlier today from my old website for some other ideas.
Hope this helps!
Garry:
I would also recommend Thunderbird if you’re looking for a program with loads of flexibility. You can read feeds (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_RSS_Basics) and, like Kyle said, you can POP3 your gmail.
Kyle,
Thanks for the info back to me. I really appreciate it. During this day, I spent quite a bit of time experimenting with different programs…
I can’t seem to get out of “Old School” mode… I like the simplicity of Outlook Express, and really enjoy the “Old School” style of saving RSS Feeds just like I do favorites in IE using IE7.
I did download and test out Thunderbird, which I think was really cool. In your opinion, how does TB compare to the Windows Live: Mail (Beta)? Are they head to head? I was considering downloading and trying that as well…
You guys all ready to go with the baby? BTW, is this your first? Also is it a boy or girl? Any names picked out? Are you getting anxious? lol!!
Mitch,
Sorry about that… I didn’t see your comment, thanks for the advise and I will be sure to check out that reference.
Thank you!
Garry
Garry,
To be honest, I haven’t tried Windows Live Mail yet (how irresponsible of me!), so I couldn’t give you a comparison. I’ve heard its similar to Outlook/Thunderbird, with its web-based version similar to the new Yahoo! Mail beta.
If you give it a try, please share your thoughts here (or a post on one of your sites!) to let me know.
Its on my “to-do” list, behind several other things that require time I don’t have.
My son will probably arrive on the 16th (scheduled birth), unless something happens before then. He will probably be named Justin (subject to whether or not he looks like a Justin). I have a 3 and a half year old son already named Joshua.
I am getting very anxious, as I’m not looking forward to going through the birth process again, and neither is my wife. Everything should be ready though, and we’ll be glad to have him once he’s here.
Garry, in my opinion Thunderbird blows Windows Live Mail out of the water. I love it.
A few recommendations.
Use IMAP not POP if you have a choice. IMAP syncs your email over all computers so you can use webmail or a different client if you have to and not have everything out of whack with your important emails sitting on your computer and you nowhere near it.
Also, get Lightning if you want a simple calendar, task, and event manager, and get the Provider for Google Thunderbird extension. This will sync your Thunderbird Lightning with GCal so, again, you have access to it on the road if and when necessary. I strongly prefer a desktop app too.
Get Plaxo — and the Plaxo for Thunderbird toolbar. Plaxo does an AWESOME job syncing with Thunderbird contacts… really sweet… even online it’s a joy to use for address book contacts.
Plaxo also has a calendar that doesn’t yet sync with Thunderbird. However, if you use the Provider add-on mentioned above, Provider syncs with GCal and you can get Plaxo to sync with GCal.
Read Getting Things Done. It’s nothing to do with email, but it will help you manage inputs of any and all types so you feel less overwhelmed and are *OKAY* with not having everything done now because at least you know what needs doing and what will come up in your system eventually when it needs to.
Back-up your Thunderbird and/or Firefox profiles. (I store them in My Documents and just back this up, but either way — it doesn’t really matter because you can’t back these up with the programs open, so in any case, it’s a separate step.)
One of the very cool things about Thunderbird and Firefox is all their files are stored in a profile folder. So you can move them from computer to computer easily without reconfiguring everything or retool quickly after a data disaster.
Speaking of which, you can get a half gig (obviously choose bigger) thumb drive for $15 and get Thunderbird with extensions including Lightning and Provider, Firefox, and other programs in a portable format (Google “Portable Apps, Thunderbird”). Now you can use your “desktop” client in even more places — as you and I like to.
I’d recommend other things if you’re interested. Leave me a comment on my Productivity, Growth and Sales Blog if you want some details on the Thunderbird, email, and feed management configuration I’ve working efficiently.