Ethel Lindley: Google Reader for Android updated to include widgets, more syncing

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Google Reader for Android updated to include widgets, more syncing

It's now been a couple of months since Google Reader hit Android, which didn't quite live up to expectations. Luckily, developers at Google seem to have been listening to the innumerable complaints, and the app received its first big update today, bringing with it a choice of widgets, more syncing, and more overall functionality.

The widgets are probably the first thing that users may be interested in, and they're not disappointing. There are two options available; one is a small, single-icon widget that simply displays the unread count for a particular feed or folder, and the other is a larger widget that acts as a news ticker for any feed or folder. Using multiples of either widget can make for an extremely informative homescreen, to be sure.

Looks-wise, it's still the same minimalist Reader, but it's now much more useful than it used to be. Hitting up the app settings is sure to put a smile on your face, because along with choosing to always use HTTPS, you can have the app synchronize your most-read feeds on an hourly basis for offline viewing, and you can also opt to have the app make use of multimedia plug-ins like Flash.

Gallery: Google Reader for Android - February 2011 Update