I first started using Nextgen Reader on a Surface RT a year ago and found it to be a great app for keeping up with a lot of RSS feeds. I particularly liked the 3-pane view that presented lots of information at once. As good as it was, it fell short in some areas that kept it from being an outstanding app. That's all changed with the recent upgrade to version 2.
See also: Windows tablets are PCs, and sometimes that's the problem
Nextgen Reader is designed to allow tracking a lot of RSS feeds to keep updated on current events. Users can build a news feed by selecting desired topics presented inside the app, or they can tie the app to the Feedly news service. The latter is where Nextgen Reader really shines, as it keeps the Feedly content synced, making it a cross-platform tool.
The new version 2.0 has some really nice features, the most important of which make it work better on Windows 8.1 tablets. These include complete support for the new snap view in Windows 8.1 that allow using windows of any size. Nextgen Reader now works well with multiple windows side-by-side as shown in the image below.
The app now handles portrait view much better, intelligently adjusting the 3-pane view to best use the narrow view. It has also been updated to work better on smaller 7 and 8-inch tablets with Windows 8.1.
The major updates in version 2 include:
- Large size live tiles
- Support for portrait mode and 7-8" screen devices
- Support for re-sizable snap views (or docked mode)
- Snap app and open articles directly in side by side view
- Share to Facebook and Twitter directly from app
- Tap right edge or click three dots on mouse hover in articles list for quick actions
- Tap feed title in the grids view to open item directly in browser
The entire interface has always been good for touch control, but it's now even better in the new version. It is now possible to tap titles virtually anywhere in the interface and have the desired action spring to life.
All of the improvements made to Nextgen Reader version 2.0 work together to make operation fluid and intuitive. It is now one of the best Windows 8 apps in the Microsoft Store and is highly recommended. It is well worth the $2.99 price.
See related:
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Windows 8.1: Makes the ThinkPad Tablet 2 even better
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ThinkPad Tablet 2: Best Windows tablet
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Acer W3 8-inch Windows 8 tablet: First impressions
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Windows 8 tablets: A confusing world for buyers
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Epiphany: Windows 8 is a very good tablet OS
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10 advantages Windows 8 tablets have over the iPad and Android
- 10 disadvantages Windows 8 tablets have compared to the iPad and Android
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