I’m off to see the Google Reader team later today (among others, I have another day packed with interviews, will head over to Salesforce.com’s big shindig in SF in the afternoon).
I might be boring, but Google Reader’s team has a sense of humor. Maybe I should make a “how boring is Scoble meter?”
Well, on one side of the meter would be Dare Obasanjo’s blog today about meeting Bill Gates. Next would come Shelley Powers’ writings about JavaScript and her photography (which rocks). Heading down the graph would be something like Doc Searls, which I find exciting, but is decidedly less exciting than meeting with Bill Gates, although today we learn that Doc listens to (or tries to, at least) Howard Stern.
Anyway, since I’m on this boring narcissistic kick, might as well talk about Pier 38. That’s where the cool kids hang out now. I was there today and saw Om. Niall. Irina. Eddie. Toni. Among others.
That’s where True Ventures is (the venture capital firm that funded Automattic, the company that hosts my blog).
Actually Eddie and Irina were over there for a meeting. Someone came over “oh, so WordPress hosts your blog for free and now you want free office space too?”
Guilty as charged.
Anyway, back to Google Reader. I am growing more and more enamored of it. What would you want to see the Reader team do? What would you like me to ask them?
Me? I want a bigger reader window, especially for when I just scroll through the latest items in a “read the river” fashion. I also want to resize the various panes. I can’t see the ends of some blog names, for instance, which also blocks how many items that particular blog has.
I also would like to see Google Reader join the Attention Trust (they were one of the RSS reader teams in attendance last week at the Attention Trust luncheon, by the way. Dan Farber has the details on that).
All our attention data are belong to us.
What?
You know that these tools know what blogs we’re really reading, right? Clicking on. Emailing around. Voting on (or, in Google Reader parlance “starring”).
That’s attention data. Why don’t we have access to it? Or, at least know what is being collected?
I guess we’ll find out when the government starts asking for logs.
Hey, you’re not allowed to read boring blogs! Only those cool government approved blogs.
You think you don’t live in China? Give it a few years.
Scobleizer 
I am also becoming enamoured with GoogleReader. A feature I would like have is to be able to click directly to the article from the home page. At the moment you can only click through to feeds for that particular blog and then select the article.
PS Your blog is not boring!
LikeLike
I am also becoming enamoured with GoogleReader. A feature I would like have is to be able to click directly to the article from the home page. At the moment you can only click through to feeds for that particular blog and then select the article.
PS Your blog is not boring!
LikeLike
I’ve been using and LOVING Google Reader for a long time now. Been trying to introduce most of my not-too-techie friends to news feeds and blogs using this as a tool.
But, my favourite part of Google Reader? The Mobile version. This way I can read your “boring” posts on my phone.
By the way, I kinda rely on your boringness to keep me updated on TechMeme. They have WAY to many posts for me to read, so I like your updates on the best of the best.
Your articles are great. I hate to say it but a lot of the time, you’re the middle man to a lot of the other great articles/stories out on the Net.
LikeLike
I’ve been using and LOVING Google Reader for a long time now. Been trying to introduce most of my not-too-techie friends to news feeds and blogs using this as a tool.
But, my favourite part of Google Reader? The Mobile version. This way I can read your “boring” posts on my phone.
By the way, I kinda rely on your boringness to keep me updated on TechMeme. They have WAY to many posts for me to read, so I like your updates on the best of the best.
Your articles are great. I hate to say it but a lot of the time, you’re the middle man to a lot of the other great articles/stories out on the Net.
LikeLike
I would like the Google team to take a bow, they have created a kick arse product. We haven’t seen that since GMail. If Google could repeat that kind of product focus with their other products they would be knocking many balls out of the park. I was a desktop feed reader fanboy until the rework of Google reader.
Also respect for the Reader team tipping the hat to 37 Signals.
P.S. Robert I think you got the coolest job in the world getting to meet all of these teams/companies.
Featuire request : being able to sync an offline reader with reader, that would be handy.
regards
Al
LikeLike
I would like the Google team to take a bow, they have created a kick arse product. We haven’t seen that since GMail. If Google could repeat that kind of product focus with their other products they would be knocking many balls out of the park. I was a desktop feed reader fanboy until the rework of Google reader.
Also respect for the Reader team tipping the hat to 37 Signals.
P.S. Robert I think you got the coolest job in the world getting to meet all of these teams/companies.
Featuire request : being able to sync an offline reader with reader, that would be handy.
regards
Al
LikeLike
I’d like to see the EXACT number of unread items, and not the “100+” stupid thing… 😉
LikeLike
I’d like to see the EXACT number of unread items, and not the “100+” stupid thing… 😉
LikeLike
Maybe a “mark all read” button on the main page instead of on the all items page? I noticed that the only option to mark all read is on the all items page. I would love to have that option also on the main page, for example in the left pane.
LikeLike
Maybe a “mark all read” button on the main page instead of on the all items page? I noticed that the only option to mark all read is on the all items page. I would love to have that option also on the main page, for example in the left pane.
LikeLike
I’d like you to tell them to bring the lens back 🙂 They just changed their UI about a week ago, and I preferred the old version, basically because I could keep the mouse in the same place and click once for each new article.
The Google Reader widget for the personalized home page rocks, by the way. (http://www.google.com/ig/directory?url=http://www.google.com/ig/modules/reader.xml&synd=ig) … because I keep Google as my homepage, it refreshes every time I start my browser.
LikeLike
I’d like you to tell them to bring the lens back 🙂 They just changed their UI about a week ago, and I preferred the old version, basically because I could keep the mouse in the same place and click once for each new article.
The Google Reader widget for the personalized home page rocks, by the way. (http://www.google.com/ig/directory?url=http://www.google.com/ig/modules/reader.xml&synd=ig) … because I keep Google as my homepage, it refreshes every time I start my browser.
LikeLike
With all technology, I am always interested to know if a product is accessible to the blind, even things video. Please ask everyone this question.
LikeLike
With all technology, I am always interested to know if a product is accessible to the blind, even things video. Please ask everyone this question.
LikeLike
I think the refresh rate for new feeds in GoogleReader is very slow. Bloglines does it way quicker. If they can do something about it, that’ll be great.
LikeLike
I think the refresh rate for new feeds in GoogleReader is very slow. Bloglines does it way quicker. If they can do something about it, that’ll be great.
LikeLike
Oh dear lord, Robert’s locked on the “boring” thing, and instead of perhaps not writing the same post over and over, he’s going to beat how boring he is into the ground, like some kind of demented hair shirt.
LikeLike
Oh dear lord, Robert’s locked on the “boring” thing, and instead of perhaps not writing the same post over and over, he’s going to beat how boring he is into the ground, like some kind of demented hair shirt.
LikeLike
Oh! Ask them if they feel like they have an unfair advantage because images in feeds from Blogger-hosted blogs show up in Google Reader, but not in Bloglines or other readers.
Tell them I’d be happy to talk with them about the problem.
LikeLike
Oh! Ask them if they feel like they have an unfair advantage because images in feeds from Blogger-hosted blogs show up in Google Reader, but not in Bloglines or other readers.
Tell them I’d be happy to talk with them about the problem.
LikeLike
Tell the Google Reader guys that if they supported secure (HTTP Basic Auth+SSL) feeds, people could subscribe to data from salesforce.com in Reader! (And beat Microsoft to the punch, since IE7 doesn’t support secure feeds either.)
See you at Dreamforce!
-Charlie
LikeLike
Tell the Google Reader guys that if they supported secure (HTTP Basic Auth+SSL) feeds, people could subscribe to data from salesforce.com in Reader! (And beat Microsoft to the punch, since IE7 doesn’t support secure feeds either.)
See you at Dreamforce!
-Charlie
LikeLike
i would like better subscription management from the viewer page – without going to “manage subscriptions”. Mainly, i want to move subscriptions to different folders. The “Feed Settings” button at the top of each feed is worthless – it only has “unsubscribe”. It should allow you to put the feed in a different folder.
Also, the Subscription and feed discovery process needs improvement. 1) using the “Subscribe” bookmarklet works good, but you should be able to apply folders and/or tags at the time of subscription, instead of subscribing to a feed and GReader placing it in the top level, them going to Manage Subscriptions, filter to the one you just added, then change folders.
2) Sometimes the subscribe bookmarklet doesn’t work. So then if there’s a direct link to the RSS I “copy link location”, and it happens to have the prefix “feed:”. When I paste that address in the “Add subscriptions” smart-box, it says it can’t find the feed, because, ironically, the address starts with “feed:”.
Need search – come one, that’s an easy one. I want to be able to search 1) all posts that I have read in the past in GReader, and 2) use blogsearch to search all other blogs i’m not subscribed to.
Finally, better disinction between folders and tags. I “get” the idea of tags in general, but not this implementation. I’m still confused when I go to “edit tags” in an individual post, and I start typing and it autodetects the names of my folders. So then I type the name of an existing folder, but the feed doesn’t move…. it just sits there. Now i have it tagged, but it’s not organized any better – what good is that?
LikeLike
i would like better subscription management from the viewer page – without going to “manage subscriptions”. Mainly, i want to move subscriptions to different folders. The “Feed Settings” button at the top of each feed is worthless – it only has “unsubscribe”. It should allow you to put the feed in a different folder.
Also, the Subscription and feed discovery process needs improvement. 1) using the “Subscribe” bookmarklet works good, but you should be able to apply folders and/or tags at the time of subscription, instead of subscribing to a feed and GReader placing it in the top level, them going to Manage Subscriptions, filter to the one you just added, then change folders.
2) Sometimes the subscribe bookmarklet doesn’t work. So then if there’s a direct link to the RSS I “copy link location”, and it happens to have the prefix “feed:”. When I paste that address in the “Add subscriptions” smart-box, it says it can’t find the feed, because, ironically, the address starts with “feed:”.
Need search – come one, that’s an easy one. I want to be able to search 1) all posts that I have read in the past in GReader, and 2) use blogsearch to search all other blogs i’m not subscribed to.
Finally, better disinction between folders and tags. I “get” the idea of tags in general, but not this implementation. I’m still confused when I go to “edit tags” in an individual post, and I start typing and it autodetects the names of my folders. So then I type the name of an existing folder, but the feed doesn’t move…. it just sits there. Now i have it tagged, but it’s not organized any better – what good is that?
LikeLike
I use ReBlog’s Refeed and am able to set a cron job on the server that refreshes by feed every hour (or any other interval I want that cron can handle). I know that I can go to my refeed a couple minutes after the top of the hour and I’ll have all my new items all ready for me to read. This is the one feature that is keeping me from using Reader.
LikeLike
I use ReBlog’s Refeed and am able to set a cron job on the server that refreshes by feed every hour (or any other interval I want that cron can handle). I know that I can go to my refeed a couple minutes after the top of the hour and I’ll have all my new items all ready for me to read. This is the one feature that is keeping me from using Reader.
LikeLike
I swicthed to google reader last week from bloglines.
I would like it to:
-Allow me to open a post in its on window, like gmail.
-Print post link
–
LikeLike
I swicthed to google reader last week from bloglines.
I would like it to:
-Allow me to open a post in its on window, like gmail.
-Print post link
–
LikeLike
I would love an attention module for netvibes. So if Google reader can suck an OPML feed, where is the Best place to mantain my OPML feed?
LikeLike
I would love an attention module for netvibes. So if Google reader can suck an OPML feed, where is the Best place to mantain my OPML feed?
LikeLike
…also today we learn that Doc uses Crest Gel toothpaste, or at least tries to…
Reader is just a Feeder in a crappy Gmailish/Google Calendar/Google Video interface, no thank you, sticking with SharpReader and other desktopy tools. It’s subscription management is a living nightmare. Gawd, does the Google UI give me hives…might be fine for a quickie search engine, but when going applicationish, start to have some real bite. This is one area where Microsoft will always win, Outlook + Feed Readers kills any Google me-too’s. And “useful keyboard shortcuts” like it’s vi or something, gawd. This is a perfect SHINING example of why Google had to buy YouTube, they are too damn cultically-elitist geeky for their own good. Piles and piles of Google Labs crap that no one much uses…
LikeLike
…also today we learn that Doc uses Crest Gel toothpaste, or at least tries to…
Reader is just a Feeder in a crappy Gmailish/Google Calendar/Google Video interface, no thank you, sticking with SharpReader and other desktopy tools. It’s subscription management is a living nightmare. Gawd, does the Google UI give me hives…might be fine for a quickie search engine, but when going applicationish, start to have some real bite. This is one area where Microsoft will always win, Outlook + Feed Readers kills any Google me-too’s. And “useful keyboard shortcuts” like it’s vi or something, gawd. This is a perfect SHINING example of why Google had to buy YouTube, they are too damn cultically-elitist geeky for their own good. Piles and piles of Google Labs crap that no one much uses…
LikeLike
one more thing – i see the new “u” keyboard shortcut to show/hide the left pane.
No functionality should be available via keyboard shortcut only!!! There should be some arrows or something (>) somewhere to indicate you can collapse the side bar. Also, the sidebar should be width-adjustable.
and while I don’t particularly agree with Christoper, ^^, on most points, the subscription management panel needs some major reworking.
LikeLike
one more thing – i see the new “u” keyboard shortcut to show/hide the left pane.
No functionality should be available via keyboard shortcut only!!! There should be some arrows or something (>) somewhere to indicate you can collapse the side bar. Also, the sidebar should be width-adjustable.
and while I don’t particularly agree with Christoper, ^^, on most points, the subscription management panel needs some major reworking.
LikeLike
That China comment at the end caught my attention. I’ve been on a “Man, I’m glad I’m free – even if I have to put up with idiots.” kick lately. The diverseness we are allowed to deal with makes for lots of non-boringness.
Although, I don’t think I’ll be voting on any Scoble Meter any time soon…
LikeLike
That China comment at the end caught my attention. I’ve been on a “Man, I’m glad I’m free – even if I have to put up with idiots.” kick lately. The diverseness we are allowed to deal with makes for lots of non-boringness.
Although, I don’t think I’ll be voting on any Scoble Meter any time soon…
LikeLike
Hey Robert, bring one of those biz cards to the Blog Business Summit, why dontcha? I wanna see.
Alternatively, you could just post a photo.
Can’t wait to see you guys!
LikeLike
Hey Robert, bring one of those biz cards to the Blog Business Summit, why dontcha? I wanna see.
Alternatively, you could just post a photo.
Can’t wait to see you guys!
LikeLike
Oh one more feature, Can you make it work with Opera, the version that comes with the Nokia 770 tablet (2006 OS) please rather than having to use the mobile view..
LikeLike
Oh one more feature, Can you make it work with Opera, the version that comes with the Nokia 770 tablet (2006 OS) please rather than having to use the mobile view..
LikeLike
The best thing I’ve found about GReader recently is that I can view Autoblog through a certain firewall that usually gets in the way.
I basically use this feature to look at the pictures of new vehicles just for some eye-candy during the day… but its nice.
LikeLike
The best thing I’ve found about GReader recently is that I can view Autoblog through a certain firewall that usually gets in the way.
I basically use this feature to look at the pictures of new vehicles just for some eye-candy during the day… but its nice.
LikeLike
– A search capability is something that I’ve come to expect naturally from google. It would be great if it has some advanced capabilities like searching starred items or based on tags.
– How about allowing me to attach a tag when adding a subscription. Or this option added in the “Feed settings…” dropdown.
– Opera support soon, please
LikeLike
– A search capability is something that I’ve come to expect naturally from google. It would be great if it has some advanced capabilities like searching starred items or based on tags.
– How about allowing me to attach a tag when adding a subscription. Or this option added in the “Feed settings…” dropdown.
– Opera support soon, please
LikeLike
I think newshutch.com has a much nicer UI. Google is stuck on their minimal graphics approach. UI=Ugly Interface.
Have them check out the movable boxes at netvibes.com. That’s a nice User Interface too.
LikeLike
I think newshutch.com has a much nicer UI. Google is stuck on their minimal graphics approach. UI=Ugly Interface.
Have them check out the movable boxes at netvibes.com. That’s a nice User Interface too.
LikeLike
Robert, thanks for referencing Dare’s blog; one of the best blog posts I’ve read in a long time.
LikeLike
Robert, thanks for referencing Dare’s blog; one of the best blog posts I’ve read in a long time.
LikeLike
Say hi to Mihai Parparita for me!
After I moaned about the Loading… bug, the Google Reader team quickly fixed it. I went back and gave it another look. There are still things missing like
* SEARCH!! I thought Google would have hit that first
* auto expiring feeds for when you only want to watch a comment feed for a week
* dinosaurs
* exact number of unread items. The 100+ thing doesnt work for me
* unread items vs total items – I want to know how busy that feed is
* GMail-like selection with CMD/CTRL and SHIFT
but the Reader is getting to a point where I would soon consider it. However, like Will’s comment, I know that at 25 after every hour my Monkeychow reader will be full of news from its sweep across all sites in my feed list. Google Reader is not yet that reliable.
LikeLike
Say hi to Mihai Parparita for me!
After I moaned about the Loading… bug, the Google Reader team quickly fixed it. I went back and gave it another look. There are still things missing like
* SEARCH!! I thought Google would have hit that first
* auto expiring feeds for when you only want to watch a comment feed for a week
* dinosaurs
* exact number of unread items. The 100+ thing doesnt work for me
* unread items vs total items – I want to know how busy that feed is
* GMail-like selection with CMD/CTRL and SHIFT
but the Reader is getting to a point where I would soon consider it. However, like Will’s comment, I know that at 25 after every hour my Monkeychow reader will be full of news from its sweep across all sites in my feed list. Google Reader is not yet that reliable.
LikeLike
make its something like bloglines mobile. only better.
LikeLike
make its something like bloglines mobile. only better.
LikeLike
@9 John, this is another indication of why Scoble is also a narcisist. He can’t stop talking about himself, or linking to people that talk about him, or drop names about cool people he’s hung out with, or blame outside issues for why he’s so busy. Say something about Scoble and he will talk about why you are wrong, or obsess about it in subsequent posts.
LikeLike
@9 John, this is another indication of why Scoble is also a narcisist. He can’t stop talking about himself, or linking to people that talk about him, or drop names about cool people he’s hung out with, or blame outside issues for why he’s so busy. Say something about Scoble and he will talk about why you are wrong, or obsess about it in subsequent posts.
LikeLike
I’m a boring narcissist. At least I can spell it.
Anyway, glad you guys are still talking about me. 😉
LikeLike
I’m a boring narcissist. At least I can spell it.
Anyway, glad you guys are still talking about me. 😉
LikeLike
Thank you for the very kind comment on my photographs. I must admit such is rare enough that I take extra delight when received.
(PS According to this discussion I’ve commented here, which means I’m not part of your community and thus have a shareholder stake in what you do on your weblog, with who, how, and in what way. We’re having a shareholder’s meeting on Friday. Christopher Coulter is chairman.
You’re welcome to attend or not. If not, we’ll dispatch a memo, telling you what you can write on next week.)
LikeLike
Thank you for the very kind comment on my photographs. I must admit such is rare enough that I take extra delight when received.
(PS According to this discussion I’ve commented here, which means I’m not part of your community and thus have a shareholder stake in what you do on your weblog, with who, how, and in what way. We’re having a shareholder’s meeting on Friday. Christopher Coulter is chairman.
You’re welcome to attend or not. If not, we’ll dispatch a memo, telling you what you can write on next week.)
LikeLike
Sorry, “…which means I’m _now_ part of your community…”
LikeLike
Sorry, “…which means I’m _now_ part of your community…”
LikeLike
Shelley: Heheh. I don’t even own my own domain. So, if porn all of a sudden appears here you might have to see the fine folks over at Automattic.
LikeLike
Shelley: Heheh. I don’t even own my own domain. So, if porn all of a sudden appears here you might have to see the fine folks over at Automattic.
LikeLike
Of course we talk about you Robert. When we need an example of why blogging is not some magic spell, but rather just another way to get more typewriters into the hands of more monkeys, with fewer chances of ever seeing Shakespeare, you’re a fantastic example.
LikeLike
Of course we talk about you Robert. When we need an example of why blogging is not some magic spell, but rather just another way to get more typewriters into the hands of more monkeys, with fewer chances of ever seeing Shakespeare, you’re a fantastic example.
LikeLike