Google Reader widget brings RSS to the desktop

Users of Google's Desktop software have a new first party widget to play with. This one lets you use most of Google Reader's features without having to fire up your browser. It puts Google Reader's source list in your sidebar where you can peruse feeds you're subscribed to and read individual stories in a small pop-up window that slides out across your screen.

The widget works both in Google Desktop's dock and "popped out" on its own. Between the two, I prefer it off the dock since you can see more of the feeds and stories at once without having to change the height and width of your sidebar; something that can affect the look and feel of other widgets.

One major drawback is that it can't yet properly display HTML-formatted feeds, meaning some of your feeds will be left unreadable with images and page formatting stripped out. However, just like in Google Reader proper, you can simply click on the headline to hop to it on its original site.

I also found performance on this widget to be a tad sluggish. It doesn't provide the instant feedback you get in the browser. For instance, clicking on my source list of feeds and seeing them appear took about two or three seconds. The same goes for any time you drill down to see any feed's list of stories.

Early flaws aside, there is a serious convenience factor here. You can keep an eye on your feeds no matter what you're doing, and read entire articles without the need to launch another app or be signed in with a specific Google account back in the browser.

The Google Reader Google Desktop widget lets you read your RSS feeds in widget form.

(Credit: CNET)

[MadLyb]

Your title implies that this a new thing, while other desktop widget systems have offered full featured RSS widgets for literally years.

Yet when Google does it, it is news?

What will be tomorrow's article? Google brings us wallpapers? C'mon.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

Well yes by golly this widget is a new thing (for Google at least). Sorry I can't offer you the complete history and competitive background on everything I write.

[sbose64]

the comment brought peels of laughter,brilliant comment indeed! yes,when biggies sneeze,it becomes news! microsofts some pathetic products become headlines!

[winladen]

How is it different from other RSS viewers like FeedDemon ,etc?

[todd3617]

I like Google Reader (actually, that's how I found this story) and I think this is a cool app.

[caicedo20031]

Good widget.
http://www.thesharefree.com/

[JustinOwen]

Great Article! Really helpful!
By the way, take a look at this site: http://www.vismomedia.com and get paid for hosting cool videos in your blogs.

[Freedomstarfox]

I use Google Reader all the time and this is a great widget.

How come theres a minimum size to it? Like I don't like having my sidebar so large but if I shrink it, unlike other widgets, this widget gets cut off.

Otherwise, very useful.