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Introducing the Computing Unplugged RSS feeds (continued)
Browser-based newsreaders
Browser-based newsreaders are different from Web-based newsreaders in that you're reading the news within an extension of the browser's own interface, and your newsreading data is stored locally, not on a Web-based service. Browser-based newsreaders often have a more application-centric user interface, rather than one constructed mostly as a Web page.
Internet Explorer 6 does not yet have native RSS-reading capabilities, but IE7 is expected to add these capabilities. In the meantime, you can download plug-ins that'll do the job for you.
- Pluck: The Pluck RSS Reader embeds itself into either Internet Explorer or Firefox. It's free.
- Wizz RSS News Reader:This is a free Firefox extension. What can we say? We love the name.
- Fizzle: Another free extension for Firefox. It's still in the early stages of development. More than anything, we recommend you visit the developer's home page at AndyFrank.com. Now, here's a dude secure in his masculinity!
- Sage: Yet another free extension for Firefox, this one has some promise.
Lotus Notes-based newsreaders
We were honestly surprised we didn't see newsreading capabilities native within Notes 7, although we're hearing we'll see more in next year's release. That said, here are a few Notes-based readers:
- Madicon Reader: Written by a German dude, he's very clear that this product has an English-language manual and menus.
- PAVONE NewsReader: This is a nicely featured newsreader you can access from within your Notes client.
Macintosh-based newsreaders
By far, the most well-known and best respected newsreader for the Mac is NetNewsWire, which was recently acquired by Newsgator. Apple's Safari browser also has limited newsreading capabilities, but has (for reasons known only to Apple), changed the little orange XML/RSS indicators to blue. That's Apple for ya!
- NetNewsWire: Built by Brent Simmons, this is reputed to be the best choice if you use a Mac. Brent's a heck of a programmer, so we don't doubt it. It's available for $24.95.
- Safari: Safari is Apple's browser, and it has it's own slightly Apple-funky RSS reader. But hey, if you're a Mac user and you paid to upgrade to Mac OS X Tiger, it's free. Our Mac experts tell us you'll most likely want to buy NetNewsWire anyway.
Over the next few months, we'll be covering RSS in detail. We'll be offering reviews of RSS readers, covering some of the technology behind RSS, and integrating it more completely into all the ZATZ offerings.
Go forth and read feeds!
Product information and resources
For more information on Madicon Reader, visit http://www.madicon.de/content/category/4/71/52.
For more information on PAVONE NewsReader, visit http://www.pavone.com/newsreader_en.
For more information on FeedDemon, visit http://www.bradsoft.com/feeddemon.
For more information on Radio Userland, visit http://radio.userland.com.
For more information on RssReader, visit http://www.rssreader.com.
For more information on Attensa for Outlook, visit http://www.attensa.com.
For more information on Newsgator, visit http://www.newsgator.com.
For more information on Bloglines, visit http://www.bloglines.com.
For more information on My Yahoo!, visit http://my.yahoo.com.
For more information on Google Reader, visit http://reader.google.com.
For more information on Firefox, visit http://www.mozilla.com/firefox.
For more information on Pluck, visit http://www.pluck.com/products/rss-reader.html.
For more information on Wizz RSS News Reader, visit http://www.wizzcomputers.com/WizzRss.php.
For more information on Fizzle, visit http://www.andyfrank.com/projects/fizzle.php.
For more information on Sage, visit http://sage.mozdev.org.
For more information on NetNewsWire, visit http://ranchero.com/netnewswire.
For more information on Safari, visit http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/safari.
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James Booth is Editor-at-Large at ZATZ Publishing. In addition to writing for Computing Unplugged and Connected Photographer, he's the author of Do-It-Yourself Wedding Photography. A self-taught photographer, James also dabbles in digital graphics and has learned to be a PC and handheld specialist through personal trial and error. James can be reached at jbooth@zatz.com.
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