For those who use Google Reader as their main RSS reader/aggregator, the default interface can sometimes be too cluttered with all the colors, social features and buttons. If you’re not using most of the features and if you want a clean and minimal Google Reader interface, then you should check out Helvetireader. Helvetireader is a user script designed and created by Jon & Leigh Hicks of Hicksdesign.

Helvetireader is a hosted user stylesheet for Google Reader served via a user-script. It aims to make the interface a clean, minimal experience where you’re not assaulted by an array of colours, social features and buttons (using Shortcuts instead). It’s designed for people who just read the latest entries in expanded view without all the other gubbins.

Google Reader default interface

Google Reader with Helvetireader

(the brown scroll bars are from my Ubuntu theme)

In order to use/install Helvetireader on Google Reader, you’ll need a web browser that supports userscripts – Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari and Opera. If you have or are using any of these web browsers, all you need to do next is install the user script provided in the Helvetireader website.

For Mozilla Firefox users, you’ll need Greasemonkey. If you don’t have it yet, install Greasemonkey then restart Firefox then install the Helvetireader userscript. For Google Chrome users, the userscript installs as an extension. For Safari, Omniweb or any Webkit browser, you’ll need Greasekit to be installed. For Opera users, all you have to do is download Helvetireader and add the user script to your user javascript folder.

Helvetireader is an unfinished and ongoing project so expect some changes and maybe new features/options to be added to it. Btw, the Helvetireader user script is ideal for using with Fluid.app or Mozilla Prism to create a standalone application.

In case you might not like Helvetireader, I recommend you also try Feedly – a Firefox addon that creates a magazine-like startpage/homepage on Firefox that works with Google Reader, Twitter, Frienfeed, Delicious and YouTube.

Anyone here tried or are currently using Helvetireader on Google Reader? What do you like or dislike about Helvetireader? If you can add some features or options, what would it be? Please share your thoughts.

Although I do a lot of reading online, I don’t really use Google Reader or any other RSS aggregator that much. I prefer to visit the site myself and read the articles directly from that website or blog. I think its more of a habit than of a preference. Anyways, this “habit” of mine has recently changed after I came across a neat Mozilla Firefox addon/plugin called Feedly. This is quite a lengthy post/review but I’m sure you won’t mind especially after you find out how cool Feedly is.

Feedly is a Firefox addon that creates a magazine-like startpage/homepage on Firefox. It creates a fast and stylish way to read and share the content of your favorite sites and services. It also provides seamless integration with Google Reader, Twitter, Frienfeed, Delicious and YouTube.

To install Feedly, first of all you need to have the Mozilla Firefox browser installed on your computer. If you already have it, then you can proceed with installing Feedly. You can get it from the official Firefox Add-ons repository. After you install it, you’ll have to restart Firefox.

Once Firefox loads back up, you will see 2 new icons added to it. (1) Feedly start page and (2) Add source. The Feedly start page icon provides the user a quick and easy access to Feedly. The Add Source icon is for when you want to subscribe or add a certain website or blog to Feedly.

If you subscribe to a website or blog using the Add Source icon, Feedly will create a new subscription and then you can assign it to an existing category or create a new category and assign it there. After that, you just have to hit the Subscribe button and Feedly will automatically add it.

You can choose the type of layout for your Feedly start page from 4 different layouts – Cover, Digest, Latest and Favorites. Personally, I like the Cover layout the most.

Cover

Digest

Latest

One neat feature of Feedly is the “preview” feature that loads the blog article within Feedly, which is good for readers because you won’t have to leave Feedly just to read the full article. This is useful especially of the blog uses the <-more-> option. Although like any blog author, I do appreciate when readers also visit my blog once in a while and join in the discussion. *hint* *hint*

To organize your feeds/subscriptions, just click on the Organize Sources link found on top of your Feedly page which will bring you to the Dashboard.

If you want to move a certain feed to a different category, all you need to do is click, hold and drag a feed name and Feedly will open a box that contains all the existing categories. Just drop the feed in any category and it will be automatically moved there. If you want to move that feed to a new category, drop it on the Create New Category box.

Aside from that, you can also perform other actions like marking a feed as a favorite by clicking on the star icon, unsubscribe by clicking on the unsubscribe icon, editing a category or subscription name by doing a SHIFT+click on the category/subscription name to rename it. Performing a right click on a feed or subscription also lets you perform several actions like “mark all as read”, “mark as favorite”, “open in website directly”, “edit subscription” and “unsubscribe”.

Another cool Feedly feature is the minibar that rests on the lower right corner of the browser. The minibar can be enabled/disabled and can be configured to show up only on websites you subscribed to or on any rss enabled website.

The Feedly minibar lets you share or save the article on Feedly/Google Reader or share it on Twitter. Btw, if you provide your Twitter and FriendFeed username, you will be able to view the latest activity from both sites right on Feedly.

That’s practically all the features that Feedly has to offer. There are other minute details but I’ll leave that for you guys to find out yourselves. I strongly recommend Feedly to anyone who likes reading RSS feeds and especially to those who follow a lot of blogs and websites. Feedly not only makes your Firefox homepage look nice but it also provides an easy to use and organize interface for Google Reader.

Because I hadn’t used Google Reader in a long time, I had a lot of clearing up and organizing to do but I don’t mind because now that I have Feedly, everything is made easier and even fun.

Anyone else using or have tried Feedly? What are the things you like/dislike about it? What other features would like to see added to it? Please share your thoughts.