Continuing my discussion about newsreaders (sorry anyone who isn't the slightest bit web-bovvered), I was really pleased to see Google launch a fantastic new interface for Google Reader last night in the wee small hours. To prep you for this, I need to explain that last week after Rojo messed around with it's interface I decided to try out a new feedreader just to compare features and have been running them parallel for a few days.

There were some immediate problems with Google, and I emailed them with my suggestions as it asks you to, and then I got a lovely automated reply where it says post it in the forums, which I was about to do when I realised everyone else posted exactly the same problems, so decided it wasn't really necessary. I wish they had linked straight to the forums rather than to their email address though. Seems like an unrequired step.

Anyway, as I said, the interface, although AJAXy, was a little lacking. The new incarnation however is very nice. Support for placing feeds in (multiple) folders (better than the old labels system), mark all feeds as read options, a really easy subscription management system, and tabs between expanded and list view. The real meat comes in the innovations however. As you scroll down in the new, even more AJAXy pane, it automatically marks feeds that pass as read (this is an optional feature). They have also added a bookmarket for adding new feeds (this was missing before I think) but then another bookmarklet which you can repeatedly click to cycle to all your new news items at their full locations, without going anywhere near Reader. Fantastic idea.

The only wish I have right now is that they would allow you to set the feeder home as being the 'all feeds' page rather than the new Google Reader homepage, although it is interesting content from the developers blog. Also I would like to be able to hide the subscription pane, but this is minor.

I have already deleted the Rojo links from my toolbar and presently forgotten all about it... What was I talking about? No, can't remember.

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