Desktop RSS Reader RSS Xpress
Windows users have lots of choices when choosing applications and software programs for certain tasks.
This is especially true for popular tasks like reading RSS news, email or messaging.
A selection of fine online and offline computer programs are available that can be used to view RSS feeds. Some of the most popular include Google Reader, a web browser like Firefox that is capable of displaying RSS feeds or desktop rss readers like FeedDemon.
RSS Xpress is another desktop rss reader that does not come with the functionality of the latest version of FeedDemon but provides users with an optimized interface that looks like those of desktop email clients.
Users can import their feed lists from other applications right into the RSS reader which is available as a portable version as well.
The feeds are displayed in the left sidebar of the application. They can be grouped in folders or listed as single feeds.
The top pane of the main window contains the feed titles of the currently selected feed or group while the lower pane the article. Some feeds are not displayed fully which is rather strange considering that they are displayed with their full text in other feed readers. It comes with filtering and notification options but stays pretty basic otherwise.
The main benefits of RSS Xpress are that it is available as a portable software program and that it is easy to use without all the advanced features offered by other feed readers. It does however require the Microsoft .net Framework 2.0 which is included in Windows Vista and later and should be installed on most Windows XP systems as well. Users who like advanced features might want to take a look at the latest FeedDemon beta version or Google Reader.
Update: RSS Xpress has been updated frequently ever since the first version of the program has been reviewed here on Ghacks. The last version dates back to July 2011 (as of March 2012).
Update 2: RSS Xpress is no longer available. The website returns a 404 not found error both on the product page and the homepage. I suggest you take a look at the two services listed above, or newer alternatives such as RSSOwl (requires Java), QuiteRSS or my current favorite Great News.
I use Google Reader which works for me.
I have tried many RSS readers over the years, including both web and desktop based variations.
The one piece of functionality that I have never found but would really like to see would be the ability to DISABLE a feed. There are times when I just get tired of a feed or the feed is generating too much material to read. When this happens, my only option is to delete the feed. I’d rather set it to disabled status and therefore keep it available for perhaps sometime in the future without having to resubscribe or even remember what the feed name was.
Jojo it is actually possible to disable a feed in FeedDemon so that it will not be updated for the time being.
@Martin
I have screenshots (yeah, I am fast learner). :)
Clearly photoshopped, I mean Gimped, I mean Paint.netted.. Well, you know what I mean..
And link is? :)
It’s there and it was there all the time, I swear!