GoReader Pro Review

GoReader Pro is finally up and running smoothly, after a login bug had rendered the app unusable for more than two months before the developer finally squashed it. This Google Reader client claims to have the “best interface” and provide the “best user-experience”; both are quite good, but we wonder about the developer’s commitment to future fixes and improvements.

This app’s strength lies in its design and simplicity of use. If you already have a Google reader account set up, it will synchronize immediately upon login, pulling up your latest items (regular, starred and shared) and notes. Items marked as read will remain that way when imported into the app.

The app includes an integrated feed directory that allows the user to organize feeds categorically. The left-hand menu allows for quick access to various item lists. The content periodically refreshes automatically, or you can refresh manually with a button. The right-hand panel displays the selected content much like an e-mail message in Google mail, but optimized with the “add star,” “like,” “share,” “keep unread” and “e-mail” buttons at the bottom of each block of content. Additionally, font sizes can be increased or decreased within each block of content.

When you tap on a link in an item, a full-screen browser window launches displaying the content. The transition between the main interface and the browser window is flawless, adding to the impression that GoReader Pro is very user-friendly and efficient.

However, we are unable to provide this app with our Must Have rating, since support is a question mark. For those who had purchased GoReader Pro prior to the change in Google’s login API, the app was nothing but a source of frustration, and while we found this app to be pleasant to use, we cannot guarantee it will remain that way. Developer support is very important on the App Store, particularly for apps that access continually evolving external services like this one.