NetNewsWire is a news aggregator for Mac OS X and iOS, and was one of the first desktop RSS readers on any platform.

History[link]

NetNewsWire was developed by Brent and Sheila Simmons for their company Ranchero Software. It was introduced on July 12, 2002, with NetNewsWire Lite, a free version missing some advanced features of the (then commercial) version,^[1] introduced some weeks later. Version 1.0 was released on February 11, 2003, and version 2.0 was released in May 2005. At that time it included custom feed views, custom downloading and opening of podcasts, synchronization of feeds and feed status between computers, Bloglines support, and a built-in tabbed browser.

In October 2005, NewsGator bought Ranchero and NetNewsWire, bringing their NewsGator Online RSS synchronization service to OS X.^[2] Brent Simmons was hired by NewsGator to continue developing the software.^[3]

NetNewsWire 3.0 was released on June 5, 2007.^[4] The version added Spotlight indexing of news items, integration with iCal, iPhoto, Address Book, and VoodooPad, Growl support, a new user interface, performance enhancements, and more.

The application was originally shareware, but became free with the release of NetNewsWire 3.1 on January 10, 2008. NetNewsWire Lite was discontinued at the same time. NetNewsWire 3.2 moved to an advertisement-supported model, with an option to purchase the application to remove ads.

An iOS version of NetNewsWire with support for the iPhone, iPod Touch and later for the iPad was released on the first day of the App Store. It includes syncing of unread articles with the desktop version.

NetNewsWire Lite 4.0 was introduced on March 3, 2011 on the Mac App Store. While it misses several of the advanced features included in NetNewsWire 3.2, it includes a completely rewritten code base. In the future, this will be used in the iOS versions of the app and for NetNewsWire 4.0 which will be shareware again.^[5]

On June 3, 2011, the acquisition of NetNewsWire by Black Pixel was announced.^[6]

Reception[link]

NetNewsWire is well regarded by many users and reviewers. According to FeedBurner, NetNewsWire was the most popular desktop newsreader on all platforms in 2005.^[7] The software received a Macworld Editor's Choice Award in 2003^[8] and 2005^[9] and maintains a 4.8 out of five stars rating among reviewers at VersionTracker.^[10] Ars Technica calls NetNewsWire's built-in browser "hands-down the best of any Mac newsreader,"^[11] and Walter Mossberg, technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, says that NetNewsWire is his favorite for Mac OS X.^[12]

See also[link]

• List of feed aggregators
• Comparison of feed aggregators

References[link]

External links[link]

• NetNewsWire homepage