NewsGator has announced today that they have launched a new product called AdBurner. AdBurner is a program that provides a turnkey advertising based solution for premium publishers, which helps them to optimise ad revenues around key web 2.0 technologies with no incremental effort.
AdBurner is aimed at optimizing the CPM for, and process of, inserting and managing advertising into NewsGator’s publisher products suite, including services as diverse as widgets, related content, and iPhone applications. The initiative is built around best of breed advertising partners Technorati, Admeld, Gigya, Medialets, and Tremor Media.
This is a very interesting moving from NewsGator and Im very keen to test the product for them. Currently, the new product doesnt seem available via their website, so would be great to hear from the NewsGator team.
Google Reader has for a long time been my RSS reader of choice. The design has been simple, easy to use, lots of customisation options, ability to group and more.
Last week Google released a new version of Google Reader and I thought I would take a little time and review it for everyone.
(old)
(new)
Key changes include collapsible navigation, updated look and feel, friends get promoted and more bundle feeds.
Friends get promoted
Shared items have grown up and gotten their own section in the navigation pane. You can collapse this entire section and use the title to see everything your friends have shared, or leave it open to track friends with shared items. (Don’t forget that you can add new friends in “Sharing settings“.)
More bundled feeds!
Previously Google has some default bundles that you could subscribe too, in a variety of areas. Previously this was very limited and there were only about 10 areas. Now they have added huge amounts of bundle feeds for pretty much every major niche. If you go to “Browse for stuff” then you can see bundles.
Collapsible Navigation
Each section of the navigation pane now has its own options menu and minimize/maximize controls. You can collapse each major section of navigation down to one line and focus on only the things you choose to use.
Updated look and feel
The look and feel has changed a lot in this new version of Google Reader. I personally would have liked it if there was an option to return to the old version or at least have a variety of versions. The new version is very neutral, with white and a very light blue being the main colours. However, I find post a lot harder to read in this new version. Recently Gmail received a variety of themes in which users could choose from, I really hope this isn’t too long in coming to Google Reader.
Overall
Overall the changes to Google Reader were needed, except in the case of changing the colour scheme. I think the colour scheme changes are definitely a step backwards, but this can be changed when hopefully they release a themes range to choose from.
NewsGator Technologies, the company behind some of the biggest name RSS feeder applications out today has taken a big step by releasing all of its consumer products for free. The applications include NewsGator Inbox, FeedDemon, and NetNewsWire. Mobile software that is now free includes NewsGator Go for Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, iPhone, and others. NewsGator also frees NewsGator Online, the Web-based RSS feed.
Since NewsGator did go free they have seen some steady improvements in their traffic and users. That being the case im not too sure where their business model stands, if they are offering some services at a price or if they take a percentage of advertising revenues within certain products.
However, if you are looking for some world class products for free, then head over to NewsGator.
ReadBurner is a unique service that shows and analyses what stories people are sharing. The stories currently seem to really be focused on Technology, but the service seems be growing and now integrates nicely with Google Reader, Netvibes and Newsgator. Thus, im guessing the service will increase to include more services, but then also move into different categories.
Readburner is getting used more and more because news consumption is still increading and RSS readers and start pages have made it easier to consume even more information. Readburner aggregated the most frequently shared content from these services to provide an overall feel of what everyone is talking about.
Readburner is a unique way to view the most popular stories from around the net and im looking forward to seeing how it improves.
