Byline birthday sale! [Archive]

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Nutter

Jul 10, 2009, 10:05 AM

I’m running a sale to celebrate Byline’s first birthday on the App Store. Byline is $1.99 until tomorrow night — a 60% reduction — and the first forty people to forward their iTunes receipts to birthday@phantomfish.com (mailto:birthday@phantomfish.com) will receive a promo code allowing them to gift a free second copy to a friend. (Redeemable within four weeks from the US App Store only.)

So, grab it if you haven’t already!

Information and Video Tour (http://phantomfish.com/byline.html)

App Store Link (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284946773&mt=8)

dchoe

Jul 10, 2009, 12:39 PM

ugh, i just bought this the other day

jessica.

Jul 10, 2009, 12:42 PM

In the wake of the Gazette ********* and the developer's poor customer service (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=722024) Byline is the clear winner!

MaxPower49

Jul 10, 2009, 01:52 PM

ugh, i just bought this the other day

i hate it when that happens. this is a great app though and well worth $5.

Nutter

Jul 10, 2009, 02:03 PM

Sorry about that, I hope you feel it was worth the money anyway. There are some nice improvements coming in a (free) update, so you will get your money's worth in the long run.

sparkomatic

Jul 10, 2009, 02:03 PM

Oh man, I bought it last week. Oh well. It's well worth the money. I've been enjoying the app and highly recommend it!

NewGenAdam

Jul 10, 2009, 07:58 PM

I use Google Reader and I could ask for nothing more.

It fulfills the hole left by Google's persistent principle of SOLELY web-based stuff, and nothing local, which is annoying.

Marky

Jul 10, 2009, 09:03 PM

Downloaded earlier this evening and I like Byline a lot :)

will now be my default reader

CADer

Jul 10, 2009, 09:04 PM

Was about to buy this yesterday but now I think I will take the plunge!

OneMike

Jul 10, 2009, 10:15 PM

this app looks cool but I recently came to the conclusion the google reader in browser is my fav.

braddick

Jul 10, 2009, 10:31 PM

this app looks cool but I recently came to the conclusion the google reader in browser is my fav.
I agree and based on the opinions of this thread, just downloaded it.

Merlosso

Jul 10, 2009, 11:18 PM

Byline is my favorite iPhone app. I use it several times a day, everyday. I rarely visit the web version of Google Reader anymore; I much prefer Byline.

Any chance of Byline adding Push Notifications? I don't want the pop-up messages. I just want the badge to update with unread count without having to open and sync the app.

Rat-Boy

Jul 11, 2009, 12:11 AM

Is Offline Reading the only advantage of the App over just using the Google site on Safari?

ntrigue

Jul 11, 2009, 12:36 AM

I bought Byline for $9.99 a long while ago. It's been my favorite RSS App by a large margin. Aside from the comical journey to designing an attractive icon I have been 100% satisfied.

If you think of the umpteen Apps purchased that you used for only a few hours you can justify paying for this frequently updated and beautiful App. Byline has served me well for almost a year.

Please allow users to vote for potential icons on your blog!

Marky

Jul 11, 2009, 04:57 AM

Given the last poster's comments, let me just say that only a very very limited few apps get onto my iPhone where i don't like the icon.

I was attracted to Byline by the current design of your icon - do not change it please.

Ok i know that function is meant to be more important than design and looks and you could call me shallow for posting the above but......................... I really really like the current icon design and it's precisely that that drew me to your app.

Sad I know but thats me :)

Nutter

Jul 11, 2009, 06:15 AM

Is Offline Reading the only advantage of the App over just using the Google site on Safari?

It’s one of the main advantages, but not the only: a native app means a native interface, which is easier to use, avoids the generic browser controls present in the web interface, and is much faster than browsing between web pages. Byline also has some functionality not present in the web interface, such as a function to create a note from any web page you browse to. (That page will then be cached — including images — for offline browsing.)

Of course, if you’re totally happy with the web interface then you don’t necessarily need Byline.

Aside from the comical journey to designing an attractive icon I have been 100% satisfied.

Yeah, sorry about that. Don’t you like the new icon? I have no plans to change it again!

Any chance of Byline adding Push Notifications?

I’m afraid it’s unlikely, for reasons explained here (http://thewaffler.org/post/131782579/pushing-it). It might be feasible to offer this feature as a subscription service (say, for 99¢ a month), but it would still be extremely difficult to implement, so I don’t see it happening soon.

Thanks for the support, guys! Byline is now #2 in Japan. :D

Merlosso

Jul 11, 2009, 09:34 AM

I’m afraid it’s unlikely, for reasons explained here (http://thewaffler.org/post/131782579/pushing-it). It might be feasible to offer this feature as a subscription service (say, for 99¢ a month), but it would still be extremely difficult to implement, so I don’t see it happening soon.

Thanks for the explanation; that makes perfect sense. It does seem like a lot of work for very little benefit.

Thanks for the awesome app and thanks for the continued support.

braddick

Jul 11, 2009, 11:13 AM

So far, I'm loving it.
It allows me to delete a couple of other, lesser reading apps off my iPhone.

"Number two in Japan. . ."

What is number one?

jessica.

Jul 11, 2009, 11:16 AM

So far, I'm loving it.
It allows me to delete a couple of other, lesser reading apps off my iPhone.

"Number two in Japan. . ."

What is number one?
I am.

Nutter

Jul 11, 2009, 12:55 PM

What is number one?

Apart from Jessica (?), an app called FastFinga (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=320090110&mt=8), which is not even in the top 100 in the US App Store. Looks interesting.

dthmtlgod

Jul 11, 2009, 01:55 PM

Are there plans to have a "mark all read" function added?

bigrobb

Jul 11, 2009, 02:35 PM

i was almost gonna buy gazette i read the other thread about that and saw byline and bought it yesterday instead and i love it.

diesel

Jul 11, 2009, 02:53 PM

nutter, i decided to buy your program and i'm a bit confused.

I only see one folder, "New Items" what the heck? how do i organize feeds into their own specific folders

also, i removed a feed in google reader but it still shows up in byline. how do i remove a feed in byline? delete and reinstall the app?

Merlosso

Jul 11, 2009, 03:22 PM

Are there plans to have a "mark all read" function added?

There already is. Scroll to the bottom and you can mark all as read and load more items.

nutter, i decided to buy your program and i'm a bit confused.

I only see one folder, "New Items" what the heck? how do i organize feeds into their own specific folders

also, i removed a feed in google reader but it still shows up in byline. how do i remove a feed in byline? delete and reinstall the app?

You need to log into Google Reader and create folders. Byline does not separate by feed, only by folder. I created indidual folders for some feeds and a few to group other feeds. Within the folders in Byline, you can sort by feed.

braddick

Jul 11, 2009, 04:45 PM

Apart from Jessica (?), an app called FastFinga (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=320090110&mt=8), which is not even in the top 100 in the US App Store. Looks interesting.

Wow. Very cool!

I'd love to read a website that lists the apps in the Japanese store.

diesel

Jul 11, 2009, 04:54 PM

There already is. Scroll to the bottom and you can mark all as read and load more items.

You need to log into Google Reader and create folders. Byline does not separate by feed, only by folder. I created indidual folders for some feeds and a few to group other feeds. Within the folders in Byline, you can sort by feed.

I'll ask again but how cone when I delete a feed in google the feed is still in byline. How do I delete a feed in byline?

Nutter

Jul 11, 2009, 06:13 PM

also, i removed a feed in google reader but it still shows up in byline. how do i remove a feed in byline?

Just sync Byline — it should change to reflect the current state of your Google Reader account.

I'd love to read a website that lists the apps in the Japanese store.

You can visit the Japanese store yourself! Bring up the iTunes Store, scroll to the bottom, and select the last option from the “My Store” popup menu.

caligurl

Jul 11, 2009, 07:19 PM

diesel

Jul 11, 2009, 08:02 PM

Just sync Byline — it should change to reflect the current state of your Google Reader account.

You can visit the Japanese store yourself! Bring up the iTunes Store, scroll to the bottom, and select the last option from the “My Store” popup menu.

I did sync but the feed is still showing up in byline when the feed is no longer in google reader

abijnk

Jul 11, 2009, 09:34 PM

Thanks for the heads up, really liking it so far.

ntrigue

Jul 11, 2009, 09:45 PM

I did sync but the feed is still showing up in byline when the feed is no longer in google reader

What feed is it? I've never encountered this at any time.

mackmgg

Jul 11, 2009, 11:19 PM

Is Offline Reading the only advantage of the App over just using the Google site on Safari?

Nope, google reader is starting to use HTML5 databases for offline viewing! I can go to google.com, gmail.com and google calendar without having wifi on my ipod touch!

Merlosso

Jul 12, 2009, 12:17 AM

Flowbee

Jul 12, 2009, 12:42 AM

I really like Google Reader's web interface for iPhone, and have used happily for months. That said, I've totally switched to Byline now. It solves my main gripe about Reader on iPhone Safari... That is, when you click on an article link, Safari opens a new page. When you close that page and go back to Reader, Safari often refreshes the Reader page (adding new articles and losing your place).

In Byline, you open web pages within the app, and can easily navigate back to your article list and pick up where you left off.

Thanks for a great app.

PS - I bought it long before it went on sale. Totally worth it.

jecapaga

Jul 12, 2009, 02:07 AM

Thanks for the sale. I purchased..looking forward to checking it out.

Nutter

Jul 12, 2009, 04:15 AM

Nope, google reader is starting to use HTML5 databases for offline viewing! I can go to google.com, gmail.com and google calendar without having wifi on my ipod touch!

That’s cool, but if and when they add this to Google Reader I doubt it will cache images and linked web pages as well as feed text.

I did sync but the feed is still showing up in byline when the feed is no longer in google reader

This shouldn’t be possible — Byline doesn’t keep track of your individual subscriptions, it asks Google Reader for the newest items in each of your folders. Are you sure you’ve unsubscribed the feed successfully in Google Reader? If so, please send screenshots illustrating the problem to the email address provided here (http://phantomfish.com/bylinehelp.html) and I’ll look into the problem.

Fedorov

Jul 12, 2009, 11:04 AM

NEWBIE ALERT!!!! (translation: be nice, please! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/212.gif)

can someone give me the "idiot's guide" to why i need this? what it's used for (i mean i get reading news... but why can't i just read the news on say... safari?)

i like the sound of the developer taking care of his customers and i'd like to take advantage of the sale... but only if it's something i'd use (i'm soooo overwhelmed with apps! that's all i've done since the 19th is download a TON of apps!!!!)

Even if you do not or have never used Google Reader, you can save yourself an awful LOT of time every day by subscribing to the RSS feeds on all the websites that you like to read daily.

Basically, log into Google Reader, start adding the RSS feeds of all your favourite websites, you can even create Folders to organize things nicely so I have a folder called "Gadgets" where I have the RSS feeds for Engadget.com Gizmodo.com and GearDiary.com etc....

Once you've got all your favourite feeds in Google Reader do yourself an massive favour and BUY ByLine, enter your Google login information into ByLine and your pretty much done!

As many times a day as you wish, launch ByLine and it will show you ALL new items that have appeared on your favourite websites since you last looked :)

What people don't realize, the beauty of using RSS feeds, how long would it take me in Safari or even in Firefox on my PC to visit the FULL Engadget.com, Gizmodo.com and GearDiary.com websites and scroll down each one to see what has appeared since my last visit there.

Using a product like Byline (or Google Reader, but ByLine makes it even easier), you QUICKLY see just the Title+summary of each new entry on all your favourite websites and if it interests you then touch it to read more of that entry. I recommend anybody to try switching to an RSS reader like ByLine and saving yourself from manually visiting 20 websites each day to just having a nice summary of what is new since your last visit.
You have to try this to really appreciate the amount of time you save every day.

Buy the product and save yourself a lot of time - oh, and I'm not associated with ByLine at all, just been a long time customer :)

caligurl

Jul 12, 2009, 01:33 PM

awwwwwwwwwww... after reading the threads in response to why have it.... i went to the app store to buy it and it's off sale :( poo!

Fedorov

Jul 12, 2009, 05:56 PM

I bought it FULL price a long time ago, worth the price for the time it will save you if you use it properly.

Marcus263

Jul 13, 2009, 10:42 AM

My friend has it on his machine, I was playing about with it, but curious - It says automatic sync - what are the sync intervals? For instance I have it running on my desk, docked, and I leave the app open, after waiting 5 minutes I don't see new items but have to manually update.. What am I doing wrong?

klane

Jul 13, 2009, 11:18 AM

I'm really bent I missed the sale... Hope there is another in the near future. I'd like to size this up against reader.

ntrigue

Jul 16, 2009, 01:12 PM

Yeah, sorry about that. Don’t you like the new icon? I have no plans to change it again!

It's a beautiful design. I'd appreciate it in so many other venues. But a border around the icon? Place Byline in the dock and it 'looks' smaller than the adjacent icons because the silver border camouflages. Place it on the homescreen and it appears 85% the size of other icons.

I suggest you make your homescreen all Apple Apps then place Byline anywhere and you'll see what I'm talking about. It's inconsistent with the iPhone UI. I really think your App is amazing, I just don't require a bright silver border to remind me (one of the only bordered icons in the store). I wish you'd just kept it simple from day one with Gazette-like icon (black/gray - gray/blue). And yes, I hate the Things icon.

Best regards.

Marcus263

Jul 20, 2009, 08:51 AM

It keeps crashing.

I have over 15 Feeds, I like to read while I commute to work and during updates or refresh it keeps crashing. Anyone else have this problem?

apporacle

Jul 20, 2009, 09:06 AM

It's a beautiful design. I'd appreciate it in so many other venues. But a border around the icon? Place Byline in the dock and it 'looks' smaller than the adjacent icons because the silver border camouflages. Place it on the homescreen and it appears 85% the size of other icons.

I suggest you make your homescreen all Apple Apps then place Byline anywhere and you'll see what I'm talking about. It's inconsistent with the iPhone UI. I really think your App is amazing, I just don't require a bright silver border to remind me (one of the only bordered icons in the store). I wish you'd just kept it simple from day one with Gazette-like icon (black/gray - gray/blue). And yes, I hate the Things icon.

Best regards.

Sorry but I got to say I disagree 10000000% with what you say, and I find it odd that when you don´t like icons like the one of Things and Byline, they are gorgeous very well designed icons. Both look great on the iPhone