Feed Wrangler - a modern, sustainable RSS reader

http://www.feedwrangler.net/welcome.html

by mike • 13 years ago

33 25 13 years ago

Looks great, but the service I’ll switch to from GReader must have an export feature. There’s no mention of one on the site, even though it’s obviously written for GReader users, who have realized by now that whenever you sign up for a service, you have to first look for the emergency exit.

cledet• 13 years ago

It's on the welcome page. Under on the bullet point "Seamless".

Samuel_Michon2• 13 years ago

Nope, that only mentions importing from GReader. I’m talking about exporting from Feed Wrangler.

- I want a backup so that I still have my data if FeedWrangler crashes.

- I want a backup so that I can pack up and leave if FeedWranglet leaks my password or other user data

- I want a backup so that I can switch to a different service in case FeedWrangler goes bankrupt or is acquired.

mike3• 13 years ago

I guess that export will be possible as part of the API once that is available.

bwlng• 13 years ago

You can export your feeds as OPML from your Feed Wrangler account under Manage Feeds. The sales site could use more information or some sort of video walkthrough, but I've liked the service so far.

weisser• 13 years ago

I don't see anything about a trial period on the site. This sounds really promising but I'm hesitant to spend money without seeing it in action.

mike3• 13 years ago

David (the author) has stated on Twitter that there is currently no trial, but you can request an instant refund if not happy in the first 14 days https://twitter.com/_DavidSmith/status/329238071717535746

frio• 13 years ago

I can't see any screenshots, link to a demo, etc. Asking for $18 up front with no indication of quality is a bit rough.

mike3• 13 years ago

Some screenshots of the web site and the app in the review here http://www.macstories.net/reviews/feed-wrangler-a-new-rss-re...

stugs• 13 years ago

I keep mousing over these features for screenshots or a demo video...

jalada2• 13 years ago

I'm definitely going to give this a try, because filtering sounds like an interesting concept, and I might find some inspiration...

For those still seeking new RSS reading experiences (and because I think HN tends to be OK with self-promotion in comments) I'd like to suggest my product - http://www.rivered.io. It's a bit different - focusing on a clean 'river of news' rather than inbox style or categorising. To directly answer some of the questions around FeedWrangler:

- it has an OPML export feature. - it has a free 30 day trial, and you can at least see what it looks like without dropping your card details. - there's a screenshot.

I still think there's a lot of innovation to be done around RSS feeds...

quanticle• 13 years ago

Echoing the comments of others, I'd really like to see a trial. One of the things that appealed to me about Newsblur (and eventually got me to upgrade to a paid account) is that I could try it out and see if it supported my workflow before I committed cash to it.

druiid• 13 years ago

I'm still looking for a good replacement Windows app. I currently use FeedDemon, which uses Google. I haven't heard/seen anything about similar applications that use any of these new services out there.

Livven• 13 years ago

I'm working on a Windows desktop app that currently syncs with NewsBlur, though I'm investigating alternatives since I'm not really satisfied with their API. It's built with WPF for a clean and modern design. If you're interested to test it let me know.

ScottWhigham2• 13 years ago

Nick said in March that he's going to come out with a final version of FeedDemon that does not use Google in any way. I still use FeedDemon and will until it just won't work anymore. I like the way it works and loathe (a) learning a new web site/service, and then (b) having it inevitably change/cancel.

perishabledave• 13 years ago

Just to share another alternative: http://feedbin.me/ It has support for Silvio Rizzi's Reeder already, or rather Reeder has support for it. Looks promising, though I haven't tried it out.

jalada2• 13 years ago

+1 for Feedbin. Simple UI, works well, Reeder integration is a good bonus, though the mobile web-app isn't too shabby.

dllthomas2• 13 years ago

Android support?

supercoder2• 13 years ago

Is this the new 'First!' in comments on Apps ?

dllthomas2• 13 years ago

No, this is "I might be interested in your product. Is there support for my device in the foreseeable future? The page didn't seem to specify."

xpose2000• 13 years ago

This is one of the worst first impressions for a service that I can recall. . .

My theory is that you started this app when Google Reader was discontinued. You then hastily put together whatever you could as fast as you could. Perhaps outsourced on elance or a similar website. Then slapped on a yearly price of 18.99 a year to capitalize on a hectic time.

I'm generally pretty nice with my comments on here, but this is ridiculous.

gphreak• 13 years ago

The author, David Smith, is not an unknown force in the iOS development community and usually releases products that feel like he cared for them and sustains them with regular updates.

He talked about FeedWrangler on his Podcast, Developing Perspective, and while I can't verify his claims that he already had started the project he really seems to be a very nice guy and a competent developer.

The reviews seem to back this up. Also, he will offer a refund in case you are not happy with the result.

supercoder2• 13 years ago

What about this makes it inherently 'sustainable'.

Sure, the pricing model makes it easy to see where the money is coming from, but that doesnt immediately make it sustainable.

There's still a critical mass of people that are needed to make the service first pay for itself, and then profitable, and then profitable enough for this guy to maintain it for the next X years.

If it makes 'ok' money and he gets bored of it and shuts it down in a year, that's not sustainable to me, and I can't see evidence otherwise why this might not happen.

ScottWhigham2• 13 years ago

When I think about the target market for an RSS reader at any price point, I think that "technical" is the first descriptive word. Someone has to know a bit about "tech" to even know to use RSS, for example. When you put a "$19 per year" price tag on it, you really are polarizing your market to be "only those who are completely addicted to RSS". Which is fine - nothing wrong with niche marketing/products. But let's talk about those potential users...

The average RSS "user" doesn't spend $19 per year on an RSS reader. Most used Google Reader or another free version. Some, like me, spent $30 on FeedDemon (one time cost). I would put myself in the "addicted to RSS" group for sure.

Your hard core, addicted RSS people in 2013 have spent 5+ years, I bet, using RSS. So when someone who is an RSS junkie looks at the price point, they think, "I've used Google Reader for ten years and it's been free. I'm looking for a replacement that will hopefully last at least five years, maybe ten. This service is $19 per year - that's almost $100 over the next five years..." If you are charging someone $100 for the service, then you'd better "bring it". This page/site just doesn't do that, and it doesn't do it so spectacularly that it calls into question the entire product. Sorry but I think this needed a few more weeks to really get it together before launching it.

* Oh sure, there are always some who don't take such a long term view - "I'll just try it for a year." If that's your approach to marketing, cool. You'll miss out on the really smart and technical users, I think, but that may be best actually. It's fairly logical to think "Things that appeal to the really hardcore users" and "Things that appeal to the mass market" are quite different.

Amarandei• 13 years ago

You want $20 for a product this ugly and with no demo? No freaking way.

Feed Wrangler - a modern, sustainable RSS reader

Related Stories