Put Google Reader on Steroids

June 2nd, 2007 | Technology,Softwares & Computers

Access your RSS feeds offline, read email + feeds in one place, getting your reader on D & G outfits, adding some nifty add-ons… this article is all about get more out of our beloved Google Reader.

I must tell this that 100% of the information that’s going to feature here is courtesy of Lifehacker. Maybe you can tell this post is sponsored by Lifehacker. Just on a side note, if there was only I would read, then it would be Lifehacker!

It’s time to get ‘high’. So let’s get started and take our Google on next level…

1. Google Gears - Access your Google Reader feeds Offline

How about viewing your feeds offline? You’ve that dreaded 100+ indication in your G Reader. So much to read but so little time. Wished you access the feed offline? That’s exactly what Google Gears does!

Launched yesterday in Beta version, despite some issues (see below) it has become the darling of the masses. Here’s a short review:

After downloading and installing a small .exe file, you see a small button on navigation bar (which has your email ID, settings, log out links) of Google Reader after restarting. Downloading Feeds Just click it for go offline. It downloads the feeds for your viewing pleasure offline. Again you can go to online mode (it synchronizes back) when you’re connected. As simple as that, no geeky settings to bother you.

Bugs and issues
Being a beta release, there’s bound to be some issues being the first version. Here’s some quick issues that I noticed:

1. You can’t mark all items as read in offline mode. It remembers the items you’ve actually read, and syncs that information back when you go online again, but you can’t mark everything as read while offline. It will result with an error:
Mark all as read error

2. Images doesn’t load in offline mode. The images are downloaded but are not loaded. We need to click the grey area (see the image below) to make it proper.

3. Our office net is not perfect. So I’m keep seeing this error (see below) sometimes. What I do is click on ‘cancel’ and stay offline. This is not the problem, but unless or otherwise I really go to offline, this should not ‘think’ that I’m offline.
Connection Errors

Even with all the minor issues with Google gears, it’s a cool feature. I travel a lot and I don’t have net access in my apartment. In offline mode, G Reader is blazing fast. This little tool makes my life easy! Maybe Gmail, Google Doc might join in the bandwagon soon. Holy smokes!

Google Gears | Lifehacker Coverage

2. Google Reader Theme

I’ve already posted about this here: Google Reader - Dressed to Kill. What we have a nifty cool Mac OS X theme with a help of a firefox extension and come code. Check out the other post for more info and installing the theme.

Google Reader Mac OS Theme

3. Google Reader Firefox Addon - More features!

With a help of a Firefox extension called Better GReader, we’re customising and tweaking Google Reader like maximizing the viewing area, skipping Google’s default subscribe mechanism, and adding keyboard shortcuts.

Better G Reader Firefox Extension

Be adviced that you can’t use the previous theme in case you want to use this optimised screen in this add on. Maybe they’ll fix it in the next update.

Download Better GReader | Better GReader Firefox extension @ Lifehacker

By the way, these people have released Firefox Addons for Gmail and Flickr. Check out Better Gmail and Better Flickr.

4. Access Email & Feeds in Gmail

With Firefox and Greasemonkey script, you can access Google Reader subscriptions in Gmail using the Gmail + Reader Integrator user script.

Gmail + Google Reader in one place!

The feeds are organised in the left hand side navigation bar of Gmail and has the categories that your Google reader has. In the right hand side, one part is the email one and the another for for feeds. How cool is that?

Gmail + Reader Integrator | Lifehacker Coverage

5. Tips,Tweaks and Hacks to manage your Feeds like a Pro

Do you know that you can control G Reader with keyboard shortcuts, add tags to your feeds, add a search button and have some cool extra functionality with some Greasemonkey scripts?

Hack Attack: Getting good with Google Reader - A guide to getting the best of out G Reader. Learn more about tagging, navigating around with shortcuts, labeling feeds and posts. Plus a round up of the best available G Reader add ons.

Here is Some Method That is Helping RSS Freaks to Save Time Reading Feeds - I wrote this article some time back which helps you increase productivity and mange your feeds efficiently.

Click here for all the goodness of Lifehacker on Google Reader.

This article further establishes Google Reader as the best online Feed reader in the pla-NET.