Byline – Review
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Phantom Fish
Version #: 2.0.2
Date Released: 2008-07-11
Developer:
Price: 4.99
User Rating:
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I almost completely gave up on following my feeds due to it being so complicated to access Google Reader from my iPhone. Granted it wasn’t THAT complicated, but I am pretty lazy and I knew there had to be something to make it simpler. Lucky me I came across Byline and it was everything I is everything I was looking for in one easy to use, simple application.
When you first open Byline you will obviously have to sync it to Google Reader, but once you’ve done that it will begin to sync and pull up any folders you have and also your New Items. Open any of the folders you wish to view a new feed in and the feeds display the same way emails in your inbox do. Clicking on a feed will open up a portion of it giving you a taste of the full thing, if you wish to read more you can simply click read more at the bottom of the feed and it will open the page it is posted on. Couldn’t be any simpler right? Right! While you have a feed open it gives you the option to open it in Safari, email the link to someone, star the item, or even write out a note.
Like every other App Byline has it’s share of issues, but unfortunately these issues aren’t really fixable thanks to Apple. The main issue with Byline is the fact that it can’t push new feeds and update you the same way as if you had a new email or text message. There is nothing that can be done about this, so even though it is a downfall, it’s not one that hurts Byline’s usefulness. The only other issue I have had out of Byline is it has it’s moments when it tends to be a bit slow if there are a lot of feeds to pull out of Google Reader. I am pretty sure the Developer is working to resolve this issue so hopefully the next update this will work better.
QUICK TAKE
Value: High
Would I Buy Again: Definetly!
Learning Curve: None-Very Easy
Who is it For: Anyone who is sick of dealing with Google Reader on their iPhone, or anyone who has a lot of feeds they subscribe to and an easy way to keep up with them.
My Likes: It clean and simple, which is just the way I like my applications. No flashy logos, no weird art, nothing. Application does exactly what it says it will, and does it perfectly!
My Dislikes: Has slow moments, which is being addressed by developer.
Final Statement: Byline is a perfect application for anyone who subscribes to a multiple amount of feeds. Makes keeping up with things simple and easy directly from you phone. My personal advice? Buy it, it’s easily worth it in just the time it will save you loading feeds vs. Google Reader from your phone.
Rating: 4 ½ stars
