Since the announcement of the closure of Google Reader which will be effective July 1, services that intend to succeed Google is growing. Feed Wrangler was in the ground work for several months, but the announcement precipitated its output and this new service is now available for all users. Feed Wrangler does not intend to replace the Google service by functions and exactly similar presentation. This newcomer wants quick, simple and powerful at the time, but especially profitable in the long term. This is why it offers its service for a nominal fee to use; yes you have to pay $ 18.99 per year. This is obviously much more than Reader, but it is similar like Feedbin and other another similar services in many ways, is open for several months.
This principle of paid subscription will not allow the designer to get as many users as if the service was free, of course, but also some guarantee of continuity for subscribers.
Feed Wrangler could not be sold at the first opportunity, at least if the meeting successful enough to actually be profitable. Feed Wrangler Launched before the originally scheduled date, Feed Wrangler is not quite complete, but it is already has the necessary minimum. By subscribing, we obtain access to its feed from a web interface or a proposed free iOS app. Software for OS X is currently in preparation, and a dedicated customer iOS specifically podcasts, a welcome originality. During the next month, a comprehensive API will also enable all developers to integrate the service into their applications. It is assumed that the popular Reeder integrate the service into a future update.
In the meantime, it will do with the web interface on a Mac and the least we can say is that the interface is minimalist.
David Smith highlights the simplicity of the service and said he wanted to focus on flows and articles, but it prevents Feed Wrangler is a little sad in its current version. Feed Wrangler is simple and even a little sad, but it is also fast. Consideration of its simplicity, the web site that remains to this day the only way to access the stream from a computer is very fast to load and display items. If the interface is stripped, you can directly read the articles in full flow, without having to open the original site. For truncated flow, an icon displays the original article, without surprise.
By default, Feed Wrangler offers users three views fairly standard: all flows, unread items and those you have selected (favorites). These three views are traditional, but the service was the most amazing choice not to propose any folder. Still sort flow prerequisite if you want to manage more than one can handle, but the method is quite different from what we usually see.
Feed Wrangler indeed proposes to create "Smart Streams" intelligent flow literally translate this function. It is actually smart folders as often found in the OS X software, but can also be used to display all the items from some streams, such as Google Reader folders. When you create a smart stream, you can first apply a filter on all articles to read: in this case, we will show only items that contain the word "iPad".
Alternatively, create a file stream. In this case, disable the filter search, leaving the "Apply search filter vacuum", then uncheck "Stream should include all feeds?" and finally select, or, flows to integrate the file in the list that appears below. With this function, Feed Wrangler offers much more flexibility than many RSS readers or competing services, but it is also less immediate and more complex to set up a single file. Contrary to Google Reader for example, you cannot display a list of flows and drag / drop a folder. Feed Wrangler offers a good view with all your cash, but it does not involve a rapid stream smart. If we can understand this choice - after all, it does not really record is - it complicates the daily management of its cash.
This is all the more painful that the service can import your feeds from Google's service, but it does not preserve your files in the process. It will recreate them manually after import, which is quite long and unpleasant, but David Smith told us that he would manage the files correctly when importing in a future version.
About filters, Feed Wrangler also knows some automatically mark items as read. If an item contains a word defined in the settings, it will be marked as read and will not appear in your records if you are chosen to show only unread items, or view "Unread". This is a radical method to eliminate the overflow of information and a great idea. Since it is to discuss the benefits of service integration with Instapaper or Pocket is a great idea. On each item, the service displays a button that automatically sends the link to a reading services delayed depending on your settings.
Pending the API will allow any developer to integrate the service; you can access its cash with an iPhone or iPad using the app Feed Wrangler. This application focuses mainly proposed by the service functions, including the addition of flow and the creation and modification of Smart Streams. Its interface is also stripped in the browser, even if the author has added a touch of color. It is still quite simple and offering many functions that RSS reader like Reeder.
This app is universal and it is also simple on an iPhone than on an iPad. In both cases, we appreciate how "Wrangle" that can manage the list of items very quickly tap the left adds a section to read service deferred a tap to the right and mark as read button mark all as read. A good idea for a touch interface, but may also be found on the website.
It is simple and fast, like the rest, but Feed Wrangler deserves to be enriched with some very useful features and less rustic interface. Fortunately, the output of the API should correct this. In passing, we appreciate however the 1Password button that activates the manager password when connecting to their account and allow you to use a password automatically generated and too complex to remember.
To conclude, Feed Wrangler is an interesting service to more than one. Paying it ensures its sustainability. Generally, it lacks a bit too many features to recommend this service and no API is inconvenient for the moment. The website is fast, yes, but it is a little too simple and suffers from weaknesses on certain points: impossible, for example, know the number of elements to read in each folder. Feed Wrangler is however to monitor closely and looking for an alternative to Google Reader is a good option, provided you agree to pay a little of course.
