Netnewswire 5 for IOS
adds sync with my preferred service Feedly to the mix. Like macos, NNW 5 for IOS comes with 16 popular local sources ready to read.
Also in the source list are a trio of “smart feeds,” essentially automatic filters for reading feeds published on the current day, all unread, or articles marked as favorites. Such options definitely help cut down on the noise factor with a volume of busy feeds, but they don’t go quite far enough. I’d love to be able to create our own custom smart feeds, for example.
Navigation is fluid and intuitive. With an article open, it’s easy to jump to the next by swiping left. There’s even a shortcut for jumping to the next unread article by tapping the downward triangle on the bottom toolbar. NNW 5 features a button at the top of the article list to filter out already read feeds, as well as a “mark all as read” option along the bottom, with a preference to confirm this action first should you want it.
Many options are available from the article list by holding your finger down until a contextual menu pops up, including handy shortcuts for copying feed or homepage
URLS. While reading articles, options are conveniently
PROS
• Free, intuitive RSS reader app for iphone, ipad.
• Excellent keyboard shortcuts, contextual menu support.
• Support for local feeds or Feedly, Feedbin sync.
CONS
• No custom smart feeds.
• No manual toggle switch for Dark Mode.
• Custom display options are limited.
PRICE
Free
COMPANY
Brent Simmons placed in a toolbar across the bottom to leave an article unread, mark favorites with a star, switch to an uncluttered “reader” view, or share using any service installed on your IOS device including Instapaper, a feature still missing on the Mac version.
BOTTOM LINE
Venerable RSS reader Net Newswire makes a triumphant return to IOS with a slick universal app that’s even better than it currently is on macos. ■