Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Updates to the Google Reader app for Android

(Cross-posted from the Google Reader blog)

Today we’re excited to announce some updates to the official Google Reader app for Android. Over the last couple of months, we’ve added some of your most-requested features:

Unread count widget - choose any feed, label, person, or “all items” and get the unread count on your home screen. Clicking on the widget takes you to straight to that stream.

  • News ticker widget - if you prefer a bit more information, you can add a larger size widget that cycles through items on any stream you want in Reader. Clicking any headline will take you to the article, while clicking the folder will take you to that stream.


    • That is a lot of widgets

  • Mark previous as read - if you’ve used the mobile version of Reader before and missed this feature, it’s now back! As you scroll down your reading list, hit “Mark previous as read” at any time to only mark things above the screen as read.



    • In addition to these new features, we now have an official Russian translation as well.

    We hope you enjoy the update - give it a try! You can download the app in all countries from Android Market. The Google Reader app is available for devices running Android 1.6 or higher, with widget functionality available for devices on Android 2.2+. 

    Posted by Brian Shih, Product Manager
    at

    41 comments:

    1. Stellar DriftFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:46 PM

      Is it finally possible to move it to SD card? Its HUGE we don't all have 50 gigabyte memory on the phone you know.

      ReplyDelete
    2. UnknownFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:56 PM

      What about Google apps support? It should be your #1 priority!

      ReplyDelete
    3. AveryFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:03 PM

      Second the request on SD card -- but what would really be nice would to be able to increase the screen font. Not all of your users are are in their teens and twenties!

      ReplyDelete
    4. PatrickFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:12 PM

      For those requesting an SD card install ... widgets do not work with applications installed on the SD card. If the application is installed on the SD card, you loose the ability to install the widgets (they vanish from the list).

      ReplyDelete
    5. Kuci06February 16, 2011 at 3:14 PM

      widgets are for 2.2+ only?
      why does a widget exactly need 2.2? :(

      ReplyDelete
    6. UnknownFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:15 PM

      I would much rather have app2sd than widgets. At least give us the option...

      ReplyDelete
    7. nseibtFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:22 PM

      Awesome. Now can we improve the Facebook app?

      ReplyDelete
    8. Brian RuleFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:30 PM

      I'd like to see a full screen widget that is scrollable otherwise I love the update and keep up the great work!

      ReplyDelete
    9. FinTech tipFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:33 PM

      Please can we have an iPhone version? This app looks so useful.

      ReplyDelete
    10. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:45 PM

      Equally important, the app should allow you to use the SD card for data and cache storage, or allow you to set limits.

      When I tried Google Reader, it took up more than 10MB on my internal store for its data and cache. This is unacceptable on a Nexus One with very little internal space for apps.

      ReplyDelete
    11. UnknownFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:49 PM

      What about GAFD support?

      ReplyDelete
    12. UnknownFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:53 PM

      Some color customization perhaps?

      ReplyDelete
    13. b3lc3buFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:54 PM

      @Nathan Seibt ask facebook to improve their app,

      I love it from the very begining. All the other apps i try befor that connect to Google Reader were missing a lot of features or the Sync just didnt work.

      ReplyDelete
    14. poldieFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:12 PM

      nice, but how about offline support. I have a crappy, expensive, slow, unreliable 3g connection, but fast wifi at home. I'd like to load up before work then read during the day. When's this going to be possible?

      ReplyDelete
    15. Alan RobertsonFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:15 PM

      @Poldie - just get NewsRob instead if you want top notch offline support and syncing (the developer is very responsive to suggestions too, which is great!).

      ReplyDelete
    16. Alan RobertsonFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:16 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      ReplyDelete
    17. UnknownFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:17 PM

      +1 for moving to SD over widgets. My nexus one runs right at the storage limit.

      ReplyDelete
    18. Matt DemersFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:22 PM

      Has anyone had any trouble syncing Google Apps accounts with Google Reader? Anything that's non-Gmail that's synced to my phone doesn't seem to work.

      I made sure that "Google Reader" is checked under Sync options for the specific account, and that the account permissions are accepted when prompted by the app. However, when the app loads up, it says I have no subscriptions.

      Thoughts?

      ReplyDelete
    19. MichelFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:34 PM

      What is still missing is the ability to email a complete news article, not just a link to the article.

      ReplyDelete
    20. TomFebruary 16, 2011 at 6:14 PM

      "Mark previous as read" is great. Thanks.

      ReplyDelete
    21. ARWFebruary 16, 2011 at 6:39 PM

      App to SD far more important than widgets. N1 too limited in app storage space. Please add ASAP. Thanks in advance.

      ReplyDelete
    22. akittoFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:09 PM

      Does this app still over ride the default functionality of the volume buttons. I think this if it is still in is very bad practice. As bad as overriding the back button. Try it play some music while using the app.

      ReplyDelete
    23. RoamingFrenchyFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:27 PM

      Why do you need to access my contacts now ?

      ReplyDelete
    24. Ed CarterFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:43 PM

      Love the widget - has replaced my regular news ticker. On a very minor note - any chance we could choose colour? The black would match gingerbread better.

      ReplyDelete
    25. glistenFebruary 17, 2011 at 12:15 AM

      Great app I want a try thanks for the effort
      Dedicated Server India

      ReplyDelete
    26. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2011 at 12:18 AM

      I want 2.1 support for those widgets!

      ReplyDelete
    27. UnknownFebruary 17, 2011 at 12:49 AM

      Installing on the SD card over a widget vote from me

      ReplyDelete
    28. UnknownFebruary 17, 2011 at 2:35 AM

      We still can't adjust font size... One of the most requested feature.

      ReplyDelete
    29. isisblogFebruary 17, 2011 at 2:51 AM

      it is very good and fast.
      just one point.
      i would like to have a preference to render all sites (not only the native blogs) in mobile view. just as it looks when the reader opens in the browser. that's what I miss at all readers.

      ReplyDelete
    30. UnknownFebruary 17, 2011 at 4:06 AM

      I would also like to know why you need access to contacts for this update...

      ReplyDelete
    31. UnknownFebruary 17, 2011 at 6:30 AM

      I like to keep my internal storage at 40mb or more to keep it quickly responsive. As a result, most programs that are nice to have, especially those running in the background or requiring a widget. I've deleted. I still have well over a hundred incredibly useful programs installed, including several action games close to a 100mb in size. My phone is the first gen Motorola DROID with the FROYU upgrade.

      ReplyDelete
    32. Conio.hFebruary 17, 2011 at 6:36 AM

      awesome update app2sd would be cool. Also when you choose to minimize the top "home" section, why does "people you follow" and "explore" still show ?

      ReplyDelete
    33. UnknownFebruary 17, 2011 at 11:03 AM

      I think the Reade's widgets should at least match the quality of the "News and Weather" app's widgets : they should be able to display a short image next to the news titles and they would also fit better to Android's UI in black. Those two apps are from Google so I think you should be able to exchange some code...

      ReplyDelete
    34. ScottFebruary 17, 2011 at 1:35 PM

      GOOGLE APPS AUTH SUPPOOOORRRRTTTttt....

      ReplyDelete
    35. UnknownFebruary 17, 2011 at 5:05 PM

      Is there any way to turn off or hide the "Mark previous as read" button? It takes up too much room on smaller screens, and I prefer to use "Mark all as read".

      ReplyDelete
    36. jramskovFebruary 18, 2011 at 5:15 AM

      As others have mentioned: Why can't ANY of the Google apps be moved to the SD card?!

      ReplyDelete
    37. Sameer SaksenaFebruary 18, 2011 at 5:37 AM

      Oh please give a dark theme. It is much needed for night reading and also saves battery. If possible also consider giving the option of navigation through volume keys. This will save space on the display.

      ReplyDelete
    38. Pedro RosasFebruary 18, 2011 at 7:18 AM

      For some reason, google reader is consuming 50% of my battery! What a shame.. :/ It happened yesterday, it repeated today. I had to uninstall.

      ReplyDelete
    39. shiftFebruary 18, 2011 at 1:08 PM

      please let us adjust the font size! thanks

      ReplyDelete
    40. Urvashi SharmaFebruary 18, 2011 at 10:09 PM

      adroid latest theme on
      try this out
      http://free-ebooks10.blogspot.com/

      ReplyDelete
    41. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:35 AM

      When will support for Android Google Reader, Google APPS?

      ReplyDelete

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