RSS News Readers

You can read this newsletter in RSS format. Doing so is easy, convenient and avoids the problems of e-mail spam filters. RSS is a “marriage” of the World Wide Web and e-mail: new articles arrive automatically in your RSS newsreader in a manner similar to e-mail, yet are never impeded by spam filters. Even better, there is never any problem with “spam” messages.

For an explanation of RSS technology, look at Dick Eastman’s article on RSS Explained. 

You will need to use an RSS news reader, sometimes called a “news aggregator.” Some e-mail programs can do double duty as RSS newsreaders as well. Here is a list of many of the favorites. Please note that many of them are available free of charge.

Windows PC and Laptops

NOTE: You won’t learn all the features of Awasu in five minutes! There is a learning curve. However, if you want the RSS reader that “does it all,” take a look at Awasu. It is available in three versions: FREE, $29.00 and $59.00.

  • Newzcrawler (Windows – $24.95)
  • RSSOWL (Windows, Macintosh and Linux – free)
  • Bottom Feeder (Windows, Linux, Macintosh – free)
  • AmphetaDesk (Windows, Linux, Macintosh – free)
  • NewsMonster (Windows, Linux, Macintosh – two versions: free and $29.95)
  • Thunderbird the popular e-mail program for Windows, Macintosh and Linux – free
  • Firefox a very popular web browser for Windows, Macintosh and Linuxthat is much better than Internet Explorer:  free
  • Wizz RSS News Reader – A great RSS plug-in for the Firefox web browser on Windows, Macintosh or Linux – free
  • Opera a popular web browser for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and other platforms -  free

Macintosh Desktop and Laptops

  • NetNewsWire (Macintosh – 2 versions: free and $24.95) 
  • NewsMac (Macintosh – 2 versions: free and $24.95)
  • RSSOWL (Windows, Macintosh and Linux – free)
  • RSSOWL (Windows, Macintosh and Linux – free)
  • Bottom Feeder (Windows, Linux, Macintosh – free)
  • AmphetaDesk (Windows, Linux, Macintosh – free)
  • NewsMonster (Windows, Linux, Macintosh – two versions: free and $29.95)
  • Thunderbird the popular e-mail program for Windows, Macintosh and Linux – free
  • Firefox a very popular web browser for Windows, Macintosh and Linuxthat is much better than Internet Explorer:  free
  • Wizz RSS News Reader – A great RSS plug-in for the Firefox web browser on Windows, Macintosh or Linux – free
  • Opera a popular web browser for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and other platforms -  free

HandHeld Computers

You can also install a newsreader on your handheld computer, and read our newsfeed anywhere you go, even if you are not online. Here are some newsreaders for handheld computers:

  • Hand/RSS (for Palm OS computers – $14.95)
  • NewsBreak (probably the best RSS newsreader for PocketPC handhelds – $19.95 with a free 30-day trial version also available).
  • PocketRSS (for Mobile Windows and Pocket PC – $5.95)

SmartPhone

You can even read this newsletter and other RSS newsfeeds on your cellular phone! You must be using one of the “SmartPhones” that uses Windows Mobile,. 

NewsBreak (probably the best RSS newsreader for Mobile Windows SmartPhones – $19.95 with a free 30-day trial version also available).

iPod

That’s right, you can read this newsletter and other RSS feeds on your iPod! You will need Mac OSX 10.4, Tiger, or now OSX 10.3.9 Panther and also an iPod, iPod mini, or iPod Nano with Notes facility plus the free program iFeedPod. 

Web Based Newsreaders

If you’d rather not install any new software on your computer, you can also read RSS newsfeeds by using any of a number of free web site: 

Google GMail

Anyone with a gmail.com address can read RSS newsfeeds as a normal e-mail message. Google refers to this as “Web Clips.” Details may be found here.