A Look at Google Gears Working with Google Reader

Yesterday, at Search Engine Land I wrote the story on Google Gears just from the press release, so I didn't have time to play with it before hand. The Google blog mentioned it, and they told us about the new Google Gears Blog. But I wanted to show you how it works, and since Google Reader is one of the first web applications that utilize Google Gears, I will show you Google Gears with Google Reader in action.

Step 1: Download the Google Gears extension to your browser.
Step 2: Enable it, when it asks you to.
Step 3: Google to Google Reader and click the offline icon and agree.

Notice I have 6 items unread in the general news folder.

Step 4: Clicking on the green icon with download all your unread feeds into the Google Gears format. Google Gears will then download them, showing you this status display.

Step 5: When it is done downloading, you will see that green icon turned grey.

Step 6: Go offline by unplugging your internet or using this little trick.

Step 7: Browse your unread feeds offline.

Notice how I now have 3 unread items in the general news folder, so I read three items offline.

Step 8: Go back online.

Step 9: Sync back up with Google Reader by clicking the green icon.

A status display will come up quickly, like in step 4.

Step 10: Google Reader will load up again.

Step 11: Continue browsing online...

Notice it removed those 3 feeds I read in online mode.

With Google Gears, Google is trying to create a standard for working with online web applications in an offline mode. This can be applied to anything. Just see the Google Gears API Developer's Guide.

Source: seroundtable.com

Trick out Google Reader with Better GReader

Firefox only: Google Reader is one of the best web-based feed readers out there, but it could stand a few adjustments. Greasemonkey scripters have come up with a few Google Reader user scripts that make some welcome GReader tweaks like maximizing the viewing area, skipping Google's default subscribe mechanism, and adding keyboard shortcuts.

Today I've rolled up those three useful scripts into a single Firefox extension, called Better GReader.

Better GReader Firefox extension

Version: 0.1
Released: May 21, 2007
Creator: Gina Trapani, using scripts by various developers, compiled using Anthony Lieuallen's Greasemonkey Compiler
License: Better GReader licensed under the Mozilla Public License; all included scripts copyright their original authors.

What it does: Adds a menu of options you can enable within Google Reader. To view the enabled features and get more information on each, in Firefox's Add-ons dialog, click on Better GReader's Preferences dialog, as shown:

See a full run down of each extra feature below:

• Better GReader: Smart Subscribe
• Better GReader: Optimized Skin
• Better GReader: Quick Links

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Installation: Using Firefox, click the Better GReader download link above. A yellow bar will appear across the page that reads "Firefox prevented this site (lifehacker.com) from asking you to install software on your computer." Click the "Edit Options" button and allow lifehacker.com to ask you. Then, click on the link again. Press the Install button in the dialog box, and restart Firefox.

Usage: Once Better GReader is installed, log into Google Reader to see the enhancements. To turn a feature on or off, visit the extensions Preferences dialog and select or deselect the appropriate checkboxes. Refresh Reader to see the changes.

Credits: Better GReader is a compilation of work done by several Greasemonkey scripters, including Jasper de Vries and Mihai Parparita, Nathan and B. N. Beckwith. The scripts were compiled using Anthony Lieuallen's Greasemonkey Compiler. I modified the output of the compiler to include multiple scripts with the ability to enable and disable individual features.

Changelog:

• Version 0.1: Released.

Bug reports and feature requests: Got a favorite GReader Greasemonkey script you'd like included in Better GReader? A bug, a critique, a suggestion? Leave a comment here. Newcomers, here's how to get a comment login. — Gina Trapani