Author Topic: RSSOwl Alternative? (Read 20982 times)

Tuxman · « **on:** November 29, 2010, 03:13 PM »

During the past few years I have tested quite a lot of RSS reader software. Online RSS readers are ridiculous, I use RSS because I don't want to visit a website for everything.

Currently I am stuck to RSSOwl for one simple reason:
I am stuck to subfolders.

I have quite many RSS feeds (> 100) in my list, and I sorted them into subfolders just because I had the chance to do so. Now RSSOwl is not really resource-friendly (Java...), so I wonder if there is a decent alternative with subfolders support.

FeedDemon does not.

hpearce · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2010, 03:52 PM »

I just use google reader .... one interface on the web for sharing on all machines ... no installs needed

Tuxman · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2010, 04:04 PM »

Google will never know what I like to read.

And it doesn't support subfolders.

app103 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2010, 04:34 PM »

Have you tried Newzie? It has a few different view styles you can toggle between, designed for getting through your feeds faster. It does subfolders and is quite good at handling a large number of feeds (I have around 300).

And if you want to fuss with it and install it, it can use gecko instead of IE's engine for it's browser.

Tuxman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2010, 04:45 PM »

Hmm, not bad, app103. :-)
Looks like it works. I'll give it a try. (Funny UI, though.)

Target · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2010, 05:04 PM »

I hate threads like this cos I just HAVE to go and try the alternatives (damnit!!)

GreatNews is another

Tuxman · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2010, 05:22 PM »

It's not about "alternative feed readers" but about "alternative feed readers with subfolders support", so my initial question requires experience with feed readers, not just "list me some RSS readers please".

GreatNews fails to import some of my feeds, "unknown format", WTF?

Oh, and it does not support subfolders, so: Bye, GreatNews.

Target · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2010, 05:39 PM »

Oh, and it does not support subfolders, so: Bye, GreatNews.
-Tuxman (November 29, 2010, 05:22 PM)

no problem (and just what exactly do you mean by folder support?)

Tuxman · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2010, 05:46 PM »

Subfolders. I can put my feeds into folders, even Google Reader is said to support that, but I want folders inside these folders.

40hz · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2010, 05:48 PM »

I've used a few feedreaders (GreatNews, Feedreader, RSSbandit) and flirted with several more. In the end, I keep coming back to using Firefox with the Sage add-on. While Sage doesn't have all the bells & whistles some newsreaders come with, I can't say I miss them all that much. (And it does do folders.)

In the end, I gave up on wanting one tool to do it all. For me, the ideal newsreading/web research/archiving setup is the following combo:

Firefox + Sage + ReadItLater + Canaware NetNotes + CintaNotes

There's a few other items in my "keeping up" toolkit, but the above five handle the "web part. "

Tuxman · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2010, 05:55 PM »

(And it does do folders.)
-40hz (November 29, 2010, 05:48 PM)

Folders vs. subfolders?

I had NewsFox before I decided to use separate feed readers. My Firefox is fat enough.

Never tried Sage though. Yet.

40hz · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2010, 06:08 PM »

My Firefox is fat enough.
-Tuxman (November 29, 2010, 05:55 PM)

Agree 100%

But I'll make an exception for Sage. It's one add-on I actually use on a regular basis.

Target · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2010, 08:04 PM »

Subfolders. I can put my feeds into folders, even Google Reader is said to support that, but I want folders inside these folders.
-Tuxman (November 29, 2010, 05:46 PM)

aha... that's way more folders than I want to deal with

40hz · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2010, 05:14 AM »

(And it does do folders.)
-40hz (November 29, 2010, 05:48 PM)
Folders vs. subfolders?
-Tuxman (November 29, 2010, 05:55 PM)

Sorry I missed your question.

Yes, Sage does subfolders.

Tuxman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2010, 08:49 AM »

Ah, good to know. Might be another try.

40hz · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2010, 10:41 AM »

^ If you have a big feed list, do a lot with RSS, and you do decide to go with Firefox/Sage, I suggest you set it up under a different profile. That way you can use it like a standalone reader without further bloating up your day-to-day Firefox setup.

Also might consider syncing your list with GoogleReader (*choke*) for when you're not @home and don't have your own PC with you.

Tuxman · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2010, 11:24 AM »

Ha, Google Reader. Never.

The major advantage of Sage is that it has direct access to Firefox, so a separate profile would probably discard that.

steeladept · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2010, 03:23 AM »

Also might consider syncing your list with GoogleReader (*choke*) for when you're not @home and don't have your own PC with you.

-40hz (December 01, 2010, 10:41 AM)

I thought that was what FirefoxPortable was for. Load the extension into FP and off you go....

InstantFundas · « **Reply #18 on:** December 04, 2010, 03:39 AM »

Strange. Nobody mentioned FeedDemon, arguably the best feed reader available. And it sync with Google reader too. (use v4.0 beta)

40hz · « **Reply #19 on:** December 04, 2010, 04:04 AM »

Strange. Nobody mentioned FeedDemon, arguably the best feed reader available. And it sync with Google reader too. (use v4.0 beta)
-InstantFundas (December 04, 2010, 03:39 AM)

Does it still put ads in the lower left?

InstantFundas · « **Reply #20 on:** December 04, 2010, 04:22 AM »

Does it still put ads in the lower left?
-40hz (December 04, 2010, 04:04 AM)

Yes it does, but the ad is unobtrusive. Are you really not using the software for such a trivial matter?

Tuxman · « **Reply #21 on:** December 04, 2010, 06:02 AM »

FeedDemon 4 is available in a non-ads version. Anyway, I asked Nick to add subfolders support, he denied because of Google Reader compatibility.

Stupid Google.

40hz · « **Reply #22 on:** December 04, 2010, 06:59 AM »

Does it still put ads in the lower left?
-40hz (December 04, 2010, 04:04 AM)

Yes it does, but the ad is unobtrusive. Are you really not using the software for such a trivial matter?
-InstantFundas (December 04, 2010, 04:22 AM)

Simply asking a question, if that's ok by you.