Reeder 2 Review

Easily one of my favorite apps, Reeder has found itself usurped by the shinier, younger, and all around brighter, Reeder 2. While many of the improvements might be in terms of its looks, easily fitting into the iOS 7 way of doing things, it's still restored its place as one of the best RSS readers out there. The only decision users have to make is whether it's worth paying $4.99 to get a pretty version.

For the uninitiated, Reeder 2 enables users to consolidate various ways in which they read internet-based content. They can combine services such as Feedly, Feed Wrangler, Fever, and Readability, as well as conventional RSS feeds, making it easy to browse through various subscriptions. In each case it's a breeze to set up.

Using the app to browse content is just as simple, with a series of swipes or taps of clearly explained buttons initiating everything that needs to be done. This time around there are more opportunities for swiping, such as the ability to swipe from the edge of the screen to go back and forwards within the app. It fits particularly well into the iOS 7 way of doing things.

Subtle design changes have been made elsewhere, too, such as the sharing panel unfolding more intuitively. It's possible to share via a huge variety of services, such as Evernote, Instapaper, Pocket, Facebook, Twitter, and many more. There's still no sign of a search function though; something that power users would have really appreciated.

That's perhaps the problem with Reeder 2. It is, essentially, extremely similar to its predecessor. Something that some users might find off-putting when it comes to paying out again. Much has been discussed about the issues that iOS developers are facing when it comes to their inability to offer paid upgrades but, understandably, it's far from ideal for consumers. It's a very individual decision and one that's tricky to be definitive with. Given the high quality of Reeder 2, however, I'd say it's worth that premium price, even for those who have already dipped into the app.