A fresh application named Current is transforming the traditional RSS reader concept, aiming to deliver a reading experience akin to immersing oneself in a flowing stream of news rather than viewing it as a task to complete. This innovative approach could make utilizing RSS feeds for news consumption more appealing, especially for those who do not engage with news for professional reasons or consider themselves information enthusiasts.
The creator of Current, Terry Godier, shared that he often felt a sense of guilt when returning to his feed reader after a hiatus. He realized this was due to the typical design of most readers, which resemble email inboxes, complete with unread counts and highlighted new items.
As Godier noted, "The unread count in email signifies something important: messages from real individuals awaiting your response. This count represents a social obligation." He expressed his thoughts in a blog post detailing his journey in developing Current, a side project he pursued during his leisure time.
"However, when we applied this same visual concept to RSS, we imported anxiety without a valid reason," he remarked.
For those unfamiliar, RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a format that allows users to access updated information from various websites in an organized manner. For example, new headlines and articles from favorite news outlets would show up as unread entries in the chosen RSS reader.
This format saw immense popularity in the early 2000s until the emergence of platforms like Twitter shifted users toward real-time information sharing. Consequently, many abandoned Google Reader in favor of Twitter's concise posts. Although Google Reader eventually shut down, RSS itself remains a vital tool for content syndication.
Current proposes a unique RSS experience, presenting feeds not as lists to be processed but as a flowing river. "You're not just watching content drift past like a screensaver; it's a river where content arrives, stays for a while, and then fades away," Godier explains.
Content ages differently within this river: breaking news shines brightly for three hours, daily articles linger for about 18 hours, while essays remain visible for three days. As users scroll, they keep pace with new and intriguing content without the pressure of marking items as read.
Upon setting up Current, users can select one of five speeds for content sources: Breaking, News, Article, Essay, or Tutorial. Unlike traditional readers, there's no need to manually mark items as read; users can simply swipe cards away or utilize a release button after finishing an article, returning them to the river.
Current also boasts several features that cater to RSS aficionados, such as fetching full article texts even from truncated feeds and allowing users to mute sources temporarily. The app intelligently adapts to users' reading habits, suggesting adjustments based on their interactions with content.
Additionally, Current introduces a feature called Voices, enabling users to follow individual writers, thus distinguishing personal blogs or newsletters from larger publications. Godier, who has developed a specification to add author context to RSS feeds, emphasizes the importance of recognizing the voices behind the news.
In summary, Current utilizes thoughtful design elements to create a less stressful reading experience, appealing to even the most avid news consumers. Available for a one-time purchase of $9.99 on Apple's App Store, Current includes iCloud Sync and OPML import, with no in-app purchases or subscriptions required.
