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Black Pixel to Revive 'NetNewsWire' With Cross-Device Syncing

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With Google's move to shut down its popular RSS service Google Reader, users and developers have been considering alternatives to keep on top of the latest news updates from their favorite sources.

NetNewsWire has long been one of the most popular RSS readers for Apple users, having a long-standing presence on the Mac before expanding to the iPhone and iPad, but development on the software had stagnated in recent years. Hope for a revival of NetNewsWire came in mid-2011 when the project was acquired by Black Pixel, but there has been relatively little news since that time.

netnewswire_mac
Black Pixel's Daniel Pasco now shares word that the firm is indeed moving forward with plans to revive NetNewsWire, having already completely rewritten the iOS apps and now moving forward with plans for syncing across Mac, iPhone, and iPad apps now that Google Reader is no longer an option.

As far as sync is concerned, we knew we would likely need an alternative to Google Reader as early as last year. At the time, the option that seemed to make the most sense was to embrace iCloud and Core Data as the new sync solution of choice. We spent a considerable amount of time on this effort, but iCloud and Core Data syncing had issues that we simply could not resolve.

iCloud hasn't worked out for us and Google's announcement solidified and accelerated our plans. We love NetNewsWire and its users and we are working hard to provide an update on par with the quality of work you've seen from us in Kaleidoscope 2.

Pasco has not committed to a timeline for relaunch of NetNewsWire, but will continue to provide updates as development proceeds.

Top Rated Comments

chrfr Avatar
chrfr
176 months ago
That makes no sense to me. Sync with what? Vienna is an RSS reader that uses OPML.
I view my Google Reader account on a variety of devices, both Mac and iOS, using 3rd party clients. If each one has its own database of feeds, I'm seeing a lot of redundant feeds every time I open my RSS reader on each device. That's what Google Reader's syncing does for me.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
Darvon Olestra
176 months ago
That's fine, but it won't sync without Google Reader.
That makes no sense to me. Sync with what? Vienna is an RSS reader that uses OPML.

Google Reader syncing is an option in Vienna, not a requirement. To put it another way, Google Reader's existence is not required. Vienna is not merely a front-end for Google Reader.

You just import your subscriptions (from Google Takeout or any other OPML source). Goodbye Google Reader.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fruitpunch.ben Avatar
fruitpunch.ben
176 months ago
I use Reeder, and according to their twitter the Google Reader shutdown won't affect them. But how does that work? Don't they use Reader as their backend (hence the name?!).
Anyway if they're speaking the truth, I'll just keep using Reeder, which I love anyway
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bankshot Avatar
bankshot
176 months ago
Heh. I read this article in NetNewsWire. Works well enough for me as is, not sure what I'd want to see in a new version. Maybe the ability to play embedded videos right in the reader. I don't read RSS feeds on the go - once or twice a day at home is plenty - so sync doesn't really interest me. Can't think of anything else.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rhett7660 Avatar
rhett7660
176 months ago
This is great news!!! Glad to this. I have not used there software but having someone come in and possibly provide the service is great news
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
StarDal
176 months ago
Good news there's an alternative in the works.. and since I already use NetNewsWire, even better.

I wonder what's wrong with using iCloud as I have a number of apps that sync via iCloud without any issues.. that at least I've seen.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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