I enter 2009 still a big fan of Google Reader and wish Microsoft would come up with something to compete. I agree with Eileen that it’s still the best tool for the job and until there is something from our stable to compete it’ll continue as my way to whizz through hundreds of feeds and uses smart keys to flag and log posts of interest (on that note, you can see my shared items on Twitter or their own page if interested – sort of my bookshelf of good stuff on the web).
My wish for 2009 – the Writer team get cut loose to follow up their stunning product with something that can take on Google Reader. I also hear that Google may be releasing an API for Reader soon which opens it up for some of the tweaks I want like searching for a word and marking all posts on that topic as read (e.g. when everyone writes about Le Web shenanigans and I can’t be bothered with all the noise)
Bonus Link: if you do use Google Reader, check out helvetireader.com for a great interface tweak. Sadly doesn’t work with IE so I use Firefox for this.
I might disagree with you on the goodness of Google Reader and suggest that you take a serious look at FeedDemon.
I do agree however that the Writer team would be an interesting choice to code an RSS feed reader - very interesting indeed
Well to take it one more step away from anything Microsoft if you run Reader in it's own Chrome app it's fast, clean and taking it offline is easy.
You can also use helvetireader with Safari using the GreaseKit extension if that is your weapon of choice.
I have to say i've asked myself many a time why there is no MSFT RSS (web-based) reader. Sure there is a sharepoint stuff, but nothing really for the Windows Live family.
And, may be i am different, but with google reader, i find myself spending loads more time useing google stuff - and then as it's all integrated - gmail too - and not Windows Live Hotmail .. then less home, profile etc..etc.. Microsoft are potentially being sucked out by the competition.
It's startling that the Live team have not produced their own version web based RSS reader - after all it is not a complex product. Perhaps they are waiting until they can arrive with a bang and some new wizzy features? Meanwhile everyone else get's on with using Google products...