RSS

My love for RSS began years ago when I discovered how effective it is for reading blog posts and articles. Using an RSS or Read-It-Later app creates a better reading experience, consolidating all your content in one location. Navigating multiple websites through bookmarks can be cumbersome, but RSS simplifies this process.

My preferred app is Reeder 5. For a long time, I relied on the Feedly app, which serves as my main RSS feed aggregator. By linking Feedly with Reeder 5, I elevate my reading experience significantly.

I have been a Feedly user for many years due to its user-friendly interface, reliability, and free service. There are paid tiers available for those who require additional features, but since my feed is under 100, the free version suits me perfectly.

Feedbin is another option for capturing RSS feeds. It offers a unique email address for newsletters, which are then aggregated in your RSS list. However, Feedbin lacks a free tier, and at $5 a month, it seems pricey for my three weekly newsletters.

I've recently started a 14-day trial with Feedbin and have found the transition from Feedly seamless. I have subscribed to newsletters like The Morning from The New York Times and The Six Colors Newsletter.

Reeder has been my favorite RSS app for years. It connects smoothly to both Feedly and Feedbin, presenting all my subscribed articles and blog posts. The app's organization and reading interface are exceptional.

Occasionally, Reeder struggles with video rendering, but clicking the article title to open it in a browser resolves this issue. I prefer using dark mode for a more comfortable reading experience with dark gray backgrounds and white text.

Reeder has several features worth mentioning. Its built-in Read-It-Later function is one I'll discuss shortly. Additionally, it offers Reader View and Bionic Reading. Reader View provides a clearer presentation of articles, eliminating extraneous details.

For example, a post that appears cluttered:

Transforms into a streamlined version:

This small change contributes to a more enjoyable reading experience. Bionic Reading is another unique feature, which emphasizes key parts of words to enhance focus.

In Reader, this mode highlights the initial segments of certain words, helping you read more efficiently. While I don't always use it, I find it beneficial more often than I anticipated.

That sums up Reeder. Other RSS readers, like Unread and NetNewsWire, are also well-regarded, but Reeder remains my top choice.

Read-It-Later

I often encounter articles I wish to read but lack the time. This is where Read-It-Later apps become indispensable. After discovering Instapaper years ago, I knew I would always need one. Currently, I utilize the Read-It-Later functionality offered by Reeder 5.

Since I already use Reeder for RSS, it makes sense to keep my saved articles there. Reeder has become my primary app for consuming online text, providing a consistent reading experience across all articles.

Instapaper and Pocket are both popular alternatives. While many enjoy Pocket, I found it overwhelming at times, preferring Instapaper until I switched to Reeder.

After recently opening Instapaper for the first time in months, I was disappointed to see it hadn’t changed much. While many features are available for free, the subscription of $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year feels excessive for what it provides. Features like sending to Kindle, full-text search, and text-to-speech are appealing, but I prefer the one-time cost of $5.99 for Reeder.

Books

As an enthusiastic Kindle reader, all my books are now Kindle editions, which I read on my iPad or Kindle Paperwhite. I previously owned an Oasis but sold it after acquiring the Mini.

I've recently opted to use my wife's old Paperwhite more than the Mini for personal reasons. Regardless of the device, I predominantly read Kindle books purchased from Amazon.

The primary reason I stick with Kindle is the growth of my library, making it practical to keep everything organized. I also love the Whispersync feature that allows pairing Kindle and Audible books. Usually, I can get the audiobook for under $8 more when purchasing the book, ensuring I finish it every time.

Reading on Apple devices is consistently enjoyable, excluding the Mac. The Kindle app may not be the most sophisticated, but it fulfills its purpose, providing a pleasant reading experience on my iPad Mini, iPad 8th Generation, or iPhone 13 Pro. Plus, you can read on any Kindle device.

This year, my goal is to read 24 books. Last year, I aimed for 20 but only completed 12. So far, I've finished four books this year, staying on track. Sometimes, committing to a book takes time, which is why reading on the iPad helps immerse me faster.

I like to download both book and audiobook versions in the Kindle app, playing the audiobook in the background while I read. The app highlights the text being read aloud, which helps maintain my focus and has previously assisted me in finishing books.

I do own some Apple Books, but I’m not fond of the Apple Books app on the iPad. It functions better on the iPhone, but the limited margin sizes and lack of customization options for the reading experience are disappointing. It feels like Apple hasn't updated the app in a long time, and I don’t look forward to using it.

Moreover, the advantages of buying Kindle books—such as Whispersync, Goodreads integration, and the ability to access the Kindle app on various devices—make it far superior to purchasing from Apple Books.

Other

Lastly, I want to mention a few additional apps where I do a considerable amount of reading. While one could argue that Twitter doesn't count as reading, it serves a similar purpose for me as Medium and Apple News, where I source much of my news. Often, I'll click through to read articles shared on Twitter.

Apple News is my second choice for staying informed. Since I subscribe to Apple News+ through Apple One, I often rely on it for accurate information. It’s not perfect, but I believe it can improve with frequent use and by marking valuable content.

The Medium app, available on both my iPad and iPhone, is another platform where I frequently consume content. As a writer on Medium, I appreciate the depth and quality of some posts. Over the past few years, the Medium app has evolved significantly and is generally user-friendly.

Overall, I primarily use Reeder 5 and the Kindle app for extended reading sessions. However, when I seek additional content, I turn to Medium rather than other social media apps like TikTok or Instagram. I also rely on Twitter and Apple News for the latest events.

The iPad has always been an excellent device for content consumption. With its high-resolution display, it’s easy to see why many prefer video content. However, I’ve always believed the iPad excels in reading.

Every time I sit down to read on my iPad, I’m reminded of Steve Jobs' keynote unveiling the original iPad, where he effortlessly scrolled through The New York Times website. That sentiment holds true today, especially with the vast array of apps available in the App Store.

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