Jan 10
Are desktop RSS readers dead?
RSS feeds are the butter of the web 2.0 bread. The rss feed market is by nature a subset of the web but it’s getting bigger each day by the development of new ways to distribute content and media directly to the consumers.
I think it’s safe to say that half of the blogs and podcasts in existence today are consumed entirely via a RSS agreggator. And it’s now common for institutional websites to have some kind of blog too.
The initial wave of RSS clients was based on desktop apps. It took a couple of years for the next logical step, which was web based RSS aggregators.
For the latter part of the last decade our lifestyles have been changing to adapt to the mobile world. And web based rss aggregators fit perfectly in this new reality.
Bloglines was a major player in this revolutionary market until Google deployed it’s all mighty Google Reader and set web based rss reading as the new standard.
Apparently everybody forgot all about desktop based rss readers. At least until now when out of the blue Newsgator reminds us that desktop RSS readers are still alive, by releasing most of their product line for free.
This seems a desperate attempt at desperate times. And i really doubt that this move will dictate the return of desktop readers.
By the way do you still use a desktop based RSS reader? Why?
4 Comments so far
Leave a comment
I’ve converted myself to google reader! In my workplace they apply major restriction on nternet use, but I can use google, so I’ve been using it at work and at home just to mantain my rss reading in sync, without repeating reading tasks.
It took me a while to start using RSS feeds. It was your advice on Google Reader that finally started me up on the RSS trend. And it’s great.
As for the desktop, I hope it will disappear. I want network appliances and my “life” in the web. I want to go to a vending machine, buy a standard computer and be right on track with my “desktop”. No more spending hours or days setting up the system. I want my Google Desktop, if you will. Anytime, anywhere. I’m all for portable applications and looking forward for the Android mobile phones, because they will access our “GoogleSphere”. I’m looking forward Google storage and MB wireless broadband everywhere. And while it doesn’t have to be all Google, they seem to be the ones closer to that goal.
I don’t care about Vista, Linux, MacOS or any other OS “per se”. I just want an OS that stays out of my way.
Sorry. Got a little carried way.
Ouch, I think I may be in the minority here. I’m really excited to hear about Newsgator releasing their product line for free.. going to run right over after I submit this post!
Ironically the reasons for me to want a desktop-based reader is that I am VERY mobile. Unfortunetly wi-fi and wireless broadband coverage isn’t 100% in the United States.
I like to play streaming content in my car during my 1-hour commute as well as listen to podcasts. Mobile broadband cuts out in tunnels and crossing some geographical boundries and while driving it’s just too dangerous to fiddle with a streaming player. Currently I use Microsoft Outlook combined with a Microsoft Exchange account to bring in all my rich-content audio and video feeds into my laptop.
I’m not a big fan of any particular operating system, I grew up on DOS, worked for Apple a number of years to grow a fond appreciation for Macs and now I’m learning to tolerate Vista. I’d be happy with a generic “hardware brick” that simply handles all network content wirelessly with “always available” access to my content.
Problem with desktop based readers is that unless your desktop provides method to sync what you’ve seen and what you haven’t, its pretty hard to follow same RSS feeds from home and work.
At the sametime, desktop based RSS feed readers might still have their place in corporate environment, because people usually have only one computer that they use on daily basis and most of the information is hidden into intranet, so Google Reader for example can’t access those feeds.