Anybody else using Google Currents?

=X= · 03-07-2012, 05:52 PM

A few months back google released a product called Currents.

I'm finding I really like the format more and more. I've never really been a fan of aggregate readers, but Currents seems to do a good job. The UI makes it feel like I'm reading a digital mag and the best part one doesn't have to be connected to the net to read.

I've not heard much talk here about the reader I'm wondering if other folks are using it. Right now the app is only available for Android and iOS platforms.

The Terminator · 03-07-2012, 06:05 PM

Looks nice, but I don't think it's available in Canada.

anamardoll · 03-07-2012, 06:18 PM

I haven't heard of it before. How is it different from Google Reader?

Eskarina · 03-07-2012, 06:28 PM

I used currents and loved it however, I found it took far too long to refresh my news sources. I've tried many news aggregation apps (googlereader, greader, taptu etc...) but my favorite by far is Pulse which I use constantly throughout the day.

It truly is a fantastic app.

tubemonkey · 03-07-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

A few months back google released a product called Currents.

Tried it and didn't like it. Pulse is much better in my opinion.

tubemonkey · 03-07-2012, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskarina

...but my favorite by far is Pulse which I use constantly throughout the day.

It truly is a fantastic app.

totally agree.

CazMar · 03-07-2012, 07:37 PM

I had a look but apparently it is not suited for my Galaxy Nexus smartphone (which is odd as it runs a very up to date version of Android). There are a lot of news sources out there so it is going to face plenty of competition.
We get about 7 dedicated news channels on cable plus other news programs. I have a subscription to "The Australian", a high quality Australian newspaper and that also gives me content from "The Wall Street Journal" so that is probably enough general news. Other magazines like Science Daily I get on my ereader. I don't think I would want any more news!

RainingLemur · 03-07-2012, 07:40 PM

I used it sparingly. It was simple and I liked that. Pulse was fine, too. But, if I had to pick one, I would probably go with Currents.

Can't really go wrong with either, though.

=X= · 03-07-2012, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I haven't heard of it before. How is it different from Google Reader?

In one aspect they are the same they are aggrigators apps. However how they differ is how content is provided and displayed.

gReader allows you to select almost any RSS feed or blog and it converts it for you. However my experience is it was only a few lines and you needed to click on view all to read an article.

gCurrent the content providers must opt in to support Currents and I don't belive you can pick any source. However reading is very much like an eMagazine. It has TOC, you swipe to page next. But one of the things I like most about it is all the content is downloaded you don't need a WIFI connection to read the article. (Well this is mostly true there are some mags that don't download the whole article.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskarina

I used currents and loved it however, I found it took far too long to refresh my news sources. I've tried many news aggregation apps (googlereader, greader, taptu etc...) but my favorite by far is Pulse which I use constantly throughout the day.

It truly is a fantastic app.

You can change the frequency, by default the sync time is 6hrs.

Plus is nice I use it myself, but I see it more like a direct compeditor to gReader.

=X=

AndrewH · 03-07-2012, 08:52 PM

I'd like to try it, but I don't have an Android device.

Why does everything have to be an app these days? What's wrong with the "plain old" web?

Eskarina · 03-07-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

You can change the frequency, by default the sync time is 6hrs.

Plus is nice I use it myself, but I see it more like a direct compeditor to gReader.

=X=

I have Pulse set to refresh every 6 hours and every time I open the app. It also refreshes on demand either an entire category or specific feeds. That's what I meant by Currents taking too long to refresh. Also I found Currents to be a little buggy in that it kept showing pictures from news stories that were several days old on its home screen.

However, you may be right that Pulse is more of a direct competitor for gReader than Currents - it all depends on the kind of reading you're doing. I held onto Currents for a while hoping that the bugs may be ironed out with a new update but after a while, I went ahead and deleted it.

Eskarina · 03-07-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

totally agree.

Oh yeah. It's also available on Apple's platform. I've downloaded Pulse onto four of my friend's iPads so far and all four claim to use it daily.

I can't believe it's a free app.

Skydog · 03-07-2012, 10:03 PM

I use Currents occasionally on my Xoom, but still prefer Pulse which I have installed on three devices.

03-07-2012, 05:52 PM	#1
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Anybody else using Google Currents? A few months back google released a product called Currents. I'm finding I really like the format more and more. I've never really been a fan of aggregate readers, but Currents seems to do a good job. The UI makes it feel like I'm reading a digital mag and the best part one doesn't have to be connected to the net to read. I've not heard much talk here about the reader I'm wondering if other folks are using it. Right now the app is only available for Android and iOS platforms.

03-07-2012, 06:28 PM	#4
Eskarina Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 62782 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: NOOKColor (sdCM7), Kindle 4	I used currents and loved it however, I found it took far too long to refresh my news sources. I've tried many news aggregation apps (googlereader, greader, taptu etc...) but my favorite by far is Pulse which I use constantly throughout the day. It truly is a fantastic app. Last edited by Eskarina; 03-07-2012 at 06:31 PM.

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03-07-2012, 06:05 PM	#2
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Looks nice, but I don't think it's available in Canada.

03-07-2012, 06:18 PM	#3
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I haven't heard of it before. How is it different from Google Reader?

03-07-2012, 07:37 PM	#7
CazMar Book Geek Posts: 596 Karma: 1499085 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Asus MemPad 7" tablet, Nexus 5, Asus 10" tablet	I had a look but apparently it is not suited for my Galaxy Nexus smartphone (which is odd as it runs a very up to date version of Android). There are a lot of news sources out there so it is going to face plenty of competition. We get about 7 dedicated news channels on cable plus other news programs. I have a subscription to "The Australian", a high quality Australian newspaper and that also gives me content from "The Wall Street Journal" so that is probably enough general news. Other magazines like Science Daily I get on my ereader. I don't think I would want any more news!

03-07-2012, 07:40 PM	#8
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I used it sparingly. It was simple and I liked that. Pulse was fine, too. But, if I had to pick one, I would probably go with Currents. Can't really go wrong with either, though.

03-07-2012, 08:52 PM	#10
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	I'd like to try it, but I don't have an Android device. Why does everything have to be an app these days? What's wrong with the "plain old" web?

03-07-2012, 10:03 PM	#13
Skydog Wizard Posts: 2,244 Karma: 7400001 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Circling Earth @ Mach .83 Device: Elipsa 2E, Sage, Forma, Libra 2, Clara 2E, Kindle Oasis3, Voyage	I use Currents occasionally on my Xoom, but still prefer Pulse which I have installed on three devices.