Readability - Get rid of the clutter so you can read!

[Deozaan]

I just discovered Readability, a bookmarklet that makes it easier to read content that is normally surrounded in clutter.

I'll be honest: I haven't used it yet and I don't have time to look into it and make a decent write up about it, but I thought the good folks here would find it interesting.

Here's a video for a quick introduction: http://vimeo.com/3445774

It has been mentioned here on DC before: Lower The Lights? Easier To Read Websites?

EDIT: ljbirns let us know that it's available as a Firefox extension.

[Eóin]

Wow, just tried this on ScienceBlogs. The results are astounding

Thanks for the link cause I'd missed it first time around.

[skwire]

Agreed.  Very slick.

[rpruyn]

I love Readability. Been using it for a while now, and they keep adding new goodness with every version. It's also very customizable (see screenshot).
http://tinypic.com/r/2lnepzp/4

[tomrule]

For those using chrome there is this extention: iReader

[jaden]

Readability is fantastic.  If you're using Firefox you can give the bookmarklet a keyword (I set mine to "read"), then type the keyword in the address bar when you're on the page you want to clean up.  I often combine forces with Zap Images for ultra-clean reading.

Summary: Ctrl-L, type keyword for bookmarklet and hit enter.

[Perry Mowbray]

I've been using Readability to create a "Print Friendly" version of webpages that I'll print out and send to my ancient and non-web enabled Father 

[tomos]

It's very much worth it's own thread

If you're using Firefox you can give the bookmarklet a keyword (I set mine to "read"), then type the keyword in the address bar when you're on the page you want to clean up.
[...] Summary: Ctrl-L, type keyword for bookmarklet and hit enter.

-jaden (August 25, 2010, 02:19 PM)

~
I cant seem to get that to work here - where exactly do you type the keyword? Does it go before/after/replace the address? I presume the quotes arent part of the keyword? (I did do a quick search and most related info is re searching..). Thanks...

[app103]

It's very much worth it's own thread

If you're using Firefox you can give the bookmarklet a keyword (I set mine to "read"), then type the keyword in the address bar when you're on the page you want to clean up.
[...] Summary: Ctrl-L, type keyword for bookmarklet and hit enter.

-jaden (August 25, 2010, 02:19 PM)

~
I cant seem to get that to work here - where exactly do you type the keyword? Does it go before/after/replace the address? I presume the quotes arent part of the keyword? (I did do a quick search and most related info is re searching..). Thanks...

-tomos (August 26, 2010, 04:22 AM)

Assign the keyword to the bookmarklet, first.

Right click the bookmarklet and select properties. Then put the keyword you want to use in the correct box, as shown here:



Once you have done that, replace whatever is in the addressbar with your keyword and hit enter.

[tomos]

thanks App -
that's how I did it, but it's not working here
e.g. this is what I get

Spoiler

javascript:(function(){readStyle='style-newspaper';readSize='size-large';readMargin='margin-wide';_readability_script=document.createElement('SCRIPT');_readability_script.type='text/javascript';_readability_script.src='http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/js/readability.js?x='+(Math.random());document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(_readability_script);_readability_css=document.createElement('LINK');_readability_css.rel='stylesheet';_readability_css.href='http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/css/readability.css';_readability_css.type='text/css';_readability_css.media='screen';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(_readability_css);_readability_print_css=document.createElement('LINK');_readability_print_css.rel='stylesheet';_readability_print_css.href='http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/css/readability-print.css';_readability_print_css.media='print';_readability_print_css.type='text/css';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(_readability_print_css);})();

Ahhh, I know what the problem might be - I have it set that a new tab opens when I use the addressbar of the current tab (maybe a TabMixPlus option, cant remember offhand). That would screw up the java script I reckon (like the way you cant open java scripts in a new tab).

I'll stick with the bookmarklet (actually I've added it to my homepage - that way I can use the homepage icon & dont need another toolbar open)

[jaden]

tomos, I replace the URL with the keyword, without quotes, but it sounds like the open a new tab option from Tab Mix Plus is interfering with that process in your case.

[ljbirns]

I've been using it for about 6-8 weeks.  It's great .  I e-mail  articles to friends ( and ememies )directly from the " readability page "
From the readability website   http://lab.arc90.com...riments/readability/    just drag the       READABILITY   to your tool bar ( i use Firefox ) and you are set.

A really great and useful application.  AND  customer service is terrific too !   I had a slight problem ( couldn't e-mail from readability ) I contacted the company  ARC 90 and they answered almost immediately and my problem was solved

[f0dder]

Looks kinda nice; I wish they'd implement it as a firefox extensions instead of a bookmarklet, though, since it takes "forever" to activate here (forever defined as several seconds - which is really too slow when it should happen instantly).

[ljbirns]

You mean like this      https://addons.mozil...firefox/addon/46442/

[f0dder]

You mean like this      https://addons.mozil...firefox/addon/46442/

-ljbirns (August 26, 2010, 01:21 PM)

Now, I just wish reverting to original page was quicker instead of doing a full reload - me, satisifed? NEVER! (thanks a lot for the link, hadn't though they'd do both bookmarklet and ff addon... activating readability is definitely a LOT faster now!)

[ljbirns]

On my machine it both goes to readability and  reverts back in less than a second.  Now I am retired so I have plenty of time.......
I actually uninstalled the add on because I thought it was too slow

[Carol Haynes]

Brilliant idea (I installed the addon but actually I really like the marklet)

[app103]

Ahhh, I know what the problem might be - I have it set that a new tab opens when I use the addressbar of the current tab (maybe a TabMixPlus option, cant remember offhand). That would screw up the java script I reckon (like the way you cant open java scripts in a new tab).

I'll stick with the bookmarklet (actually I've added it to my homepage - that way I can use the homepage icon & dont need another toolbar open)

-tomos (August 26, 2010, 05:38 AM)

I have mine configured the same way, except I am using Tabkit.

You may still be able to use it with a keyword from the addressbar. Try using alt+enter to make it work in the current tab instead of using just enter, which causes it to open in a new tab. (or just click the little green arrow on the far right of the addressbar after typing in the keyword, instead of hitting enter)

This is far better than a dedicated button, since a button can only do a single thing, while you can use keywords for all of your frequently used bookmarks, without cluttering up your toolbars.

[tomos]

Ahhh, I know what the problem might be - I have it set that a new tab opens when I use the addressbar of the current tab (maybe a TabMixPlus option, cant remember offhand). That would screw up the java script I reckon (like the way you cant open java scripts in a new tab).

I'll stick with the bookmarklet (actually I've added it to my homepage - that way I can use the homepage icon & dont need another toolbar open)

-tomos (August 26, 2010, 05:38 AM)

I have mine configured the same way, except I am using Tabkit.

You may still be able to use it with a keyword from the addressbar. Try using alt+enter to make it work in the current tab instead of using just enter, which causes it to open in a new tab. (or just click the little green arrow on the far right of the addressbar after typing in the keyword, instead of hitting enter)

This is far better than a dedicated button, since a button can only do a single thing, while you can use keywords for all of your frequently used bookmarks, without cluttering up your toolbars.

-app103 (August 27, 2010, 12:13 AM)

Yes! that works! thanks app

[Curt]

You mean like this      https://addons.mozil...firefox/addon/46442/

-ljbirns (August 26, 2010, 01:21 PM)

-thank you! 

[justice]

I find the similar function in Safari produces an easier to read page than the Readability extension so if you haven't tried it give that a go too, really good for instruction articles on adpacked sites. I have it installed just for this.

[Curt]

ATTENTION, all Readability users! Readability does not like Wikipedia's info boxes. Not only does it not display the box, it doesn't even grab the text inside the box!

This box simply became nothing!:




 

http://en.wikipedia....ki/AFI%27s_10_Top_10

Edited:
Yes, I am aware Wikipedia has a printable version, but that also has to be remembered by every other user of Readability.

[f0dder]

A big problem with readability, which the FireFox Add-on (as opposed to the bookmarklet) doesn't solve: you need JavaScript enabled

[artkaye]

Readability is great. I have been using it for more than a year now.

Big thanks to the author. God bless him.

[Curt]

I am getting really tired of Readability. Their advert on a print-to-pdf last-page has grown to the double size, and it takes $5 PER MONTH (!!!) to subscribe but they won't tell in advance if a subscription will remove this huge advert.
   

Real Life size: