I have an addiction with my RSS feeds. I generally go over different sites for technology news, blogging sites, political news and lots of others. I am using Google Reader to browse my RSS feeds and I think most of you too. But if you are bored by the Google Reader you might be interested to try out Google Reader Play. It’s Google Reader team latest offering that aims to take the Google Reader interface into a new level. Something innovative and you may called it as a visual reading tool for feeds.
I think the easiest way to describe Google Reader Play is to compare it with a slide show which mostly emphasizes pics in the post. According to Google Reader official blog, it is described as
“items are presented one at a time, and each item is big and full-screen. After you’ve read an item, just click the next arrow to move to the next one, or click any item on the filmstrip below to fast-forward. Of course, you can click the title or image of any item to go to the original version. And since so much of the good stuff online is visual, we automatically enlarge images and auto-play videos full-screen.”
And best of all, it’s not a new application or some feed reader, but an interface that runs on top of Google Reader. The actions that you take with the items in Google Reader will respond same as in Google Reader Play.
Let us see how it is rolling to the users. Today morning, when I opened my Google Reader account, I found Google Reader Play notification on top of the Google Reader window. 
So, I thought let’s give it a try. I clicked on “Give it a try” and a new window opens up showing what all you can do in Google Reader Play.
The most important thing you can browse Google Reader Play without signing it to watch the most recommended news items of the day. They are generally taken from various site all over the world and you’ll never know what to be displayed next. Might be you end up with something really interesting.
To make it even more interesting, Google Reader Play can be personalized if you login through your Google Reader account. In this way, it will allow you like items which helps Google to show future items that may interest you. You can also “Star” the items to read them later and share some interesting stuff to your friends and followers.
Let’s see the looks of Google Reader Play
You can see Google Reader Play is certainly looks pretty and for me infact it’s the beautiful and stylish feature ever offered in Google Reader. It’s really have a nicer looking and totally different way to browse items.
Features of Google Reader Play
Though Play don’t have a large amount of features in it. Some few features are there which are surely useful to enhance the browsing expreciene in Google Reader Play.
Hide the Thumbnail Viewer : This button will help you to hide the Thumbnail viewer and increase your viewing area.
Switch to Magic/Original Layout : By clicking this button, it will help you to change the layouts. One is standard tab viewing layout and another one as you seen above with image and Read More option under it.
Stream Settings : This feature will help you to personalize your contents in Google Reader Play. It means it will allow you to choose which items you want to see in your Reader. Also you can choose categories like Arts, Business, Entertainment, Technology etc. and Google will recommend popular stuff from all around the globe.
Start Slideshow : Click this button, sit back and enjoy reading the items with a cup of coffee. Google Reader Play will automatically change the items. Useful for viewing photos.
Click “Star” button to read some items later while Smiley”like” button helps you to like particular content and will help Google to show the items interests you in the future and the “Feed” like button help you to share a content with your followers or friends.
Verdict
Google team already cleared that Google Reader Play is an experiment, and not aimed at replacing the Google Reader. As we all know that both Readers are about finding interesting stuff on the internet and reading, so Google Reader Play is only a way to provide different view to Google Reader.
It’s developed to provide fun and easy way to browse interesting stuff in the internet to the users. For me, Google Reader Play will probably be something I end up using when I get bored with standard feed reading.
So now it’s your turn to tell us what do you think about the new Google Reader Play? Do you like this new way to read your items or still find Google Reader is best?
Nice article Yogesh , you have explained Google reader play quite amazingly. Thanks for this post.
Thanks for the heads up Suhasini. It’s my pleasure to share my findings with my readers.
Thanks for the description! I haven’t been able to get it up and running on my computer.
Perhaps I use Google Reader differently than most? I follow over two dozen of my friends. Theirs is the first list I read through, and I normally read each of their items. Afterwards, I will add comments if I feel like starting or adding to a discussion. If something is particularly interesting, I will share it out myself. The second list I read through is the “Comment View.” I enjoy talking through the articles with my friends. And when I have time I will delve into my own feeds to which I subscribe (which are just a handful: The Guardian (UK), Chicago Breaking News, Zap2it – From Inside the Box). But more likely than not, I will simply hit “Mark all as read” on my own feeds.
As for my own contributions: I freely use the “Note in Reader” bookmark on my browser. Just recently, I have been in the habit of using Readability (http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/) to cleanly and wholy include the text articles I share.
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your comments with us. I had already used lots of feed readers but always find Google Reader to check my unread feeds. This is best Feed reader till know and adding play also give Reader a classic looks.
Well but I will surely try Readability now.
Thanks a lot buddy for sharing this article. Trying it out now
.-= Rahul Jadhav´s last blog ..Declutter Your Desktop With Fences =-.
Cool man, I am sure you will like it
I haven’t had time to check out “Google Play” yet but after reading this I am going to right away!
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..3 principles to deal with conflict =-.
Thanks for the comment Kevin and do share your views with us after using Google Reader Play.
Thanks for sharing this…
I use google reader. Will try this.
reached your blog first time. Nice blog…
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Welcome to Savedelete and thanks for dropping by comment. Would love to see you more often here in the future
Good One, I am sure Stumble Upon is saying Oh My God…
.-= Aditya Kane´s last blog ..The cheapest Netbooks in India: A comparison =-.
Lolz, I am thinking same dude.
I think that this is definitely an excellent player for your RSS feeds. I have a lot of subscriptions myself and I’m glad they found a really compatible program to organize it.
Agreed with you Michelle, organizing feeds with killer looks. Thats what I can say simply
I’m not sure whether it gives recommendations based on the feeds in your Google Reader. If it does, then it’s doing it wrong. I only stayed on it a few minutes, during which time I was shown a succession of inappropriate and pointless content. It’s like Stumbleupon but even worse.
.-= MissMontenaro´s last blog ..Bevelled Rounded Corners … mmmm =-.
Google Reader Play working like a charm for me till know. I am also getting the unread feeds in Play which was left unread in Google Reader. And yes, due to its early stages, I agree that it sometimes show some improper content but you have choose the categories in “Stream Settings”. I hope it will solve your problem to some level.
The unread feeds from Google Reader … ah that explains it a bit. But, having said that, they were left unread for a reason. But I’ll give it another go with more specific stream settings. Thanks for the tip.
.-= MissMontenaro´s last blog ..Bevelled Rounded Corners … mmmm =-.
Its my pleasure. Yes, I am agreed with you after reading them in Play it still remains unread in Reader. Might be a starting bug and I am sure Google will fix it quickly
Not aware of it till now, giving it a try and will revert back to this post
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Yes excellent new service..
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The unread feeds from Google Reader … ah that explains it a bit. But, having said that, they were left unread for a reason. But I’ll give it another go with more specific stream settings. Thanks for the tip.
Nice read. I think I should again switch back to Google reader.
.-= Mad geek @beingPC´s last blog ..The inside tour of big companies offices =-.
Surely a great post and a great deal of knowledge shared..
Thanks a ton !!!
I still prefer Google Reader than Google Reader Play…
I have been using Google Reader for a long time and I love the format of the new Google Reader Play, but I have enough feeds in my reading list as it is. I would love it 100 times more if, instead of (or in addition to) simply recommending feeds to me, it had the ability to scroll through the feeds I have already subscribed to.
Cool post yogesh, Thanks for sharing it.
Salaaaaam … i am going to translate this post to put it on my own blog. Thanks dear
Wonderfull post can i Transfer to my Own Blog
Google Reader Play working like a charm for me till know.I am also getting the unread feeds in Play which was left unread in Google Reader.I have a lot of subscriptions myself and I’m glad they found a really compatible program to organize it.
Its a great improvement on the gReader search script that now uses Google Gears.I used Net Vibes for a while, but found the combo of Feedly and Google Reader to simply be easier to use. Plus when I switch computers, I only have to sign into Google once for everything.
I found so many interesting in your blog especially its discussion. keep up the good work.
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RSS Feed is the important for subscribes to user in our site it’s increase to our site popularity.
Very interesting article. Thank you.