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.

Spokeo is a social network and rss feed reader/aggregator. It allows you, the user to keep track of all your friends in whatever social network they’re from – Myspace, Friendster, LiveJournal, Twitter and also read your favorite blogs’ RSS feeds. You can also keep track of your friends newly uploaded videos or photos in YouTube, Picturetrail, Photobucket, Flickr, etc. You can do all of these from your own Spokeo page and buddy list. It even notifies you when your friend posts a new blog article or photo. How cool is that?

Joining Spokeo is easy. No registration is required. Just provide a valid email address and password and you’re all set.

Screenshot:

You may ask, “Why do I need Spokeo?” Simple. Because keeping track of friends’ updates and RSS feeds has never been this easy and convenient. You don’t have to go through each site and login just to check for updates. Once you see an update in Spokeo, then its up to you whether you want to go and check it out.

Try Spokeo now!