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As I’ve mentioned in several ‘coming soon’ type posts on NetNewsWire 2.0, I’ve been looking forward to seeing this new version very much – as it is the version that adds sync with Google Reader.

2.0 is out tonight.  I grabbed the update as soon as I saw it, have been giving it a look and have some early first impressions to share.

The Surprising New Look

Here’s my very first impression of the big new NetNewsWire 2.0: The new icon is much snazzier than the new look and UI of the app itself.  This is the snazzy new icon:

And this is the new main screen within the app:

For me, there is a pretty stark contrast between the slick, lovely new icon and the very basic, drab look of the app itself.  It features that very old-school, basic cookie-cutter iPhone app interface – and, at least for me, is a bit disappointing feeling on first look.

Here’s a look at a rival native RSS app, Feeds, and its comparable main screen:

And an individual news item in NetNewsWire and then in Feeds:

The app has now split into two versions in its 2.0 incarnation – the free version is now ad-supported, and there is a new ‘Premium’ version for $1.99, with no ads but also with no additional features as far as I can see.

The ads in the free version are not too intrusive but are certainly noticeable…

Maybe muted or subtle is a better way to describe the UI.  Here’s a general listing of feeds and the NYT’s individual feed page:

Here’s how subtle the marking of a starred item is.  You tap on the star button down at the bottom of the screen, and a very subtle grey star appears at the top right of the item:

The settings options for the app are also very basic, with literally three items to modify via the Settings app (none within the app itself): username for Google Reader account, whether to display news items with latest at top or bottom, and InstaPaper account details.

What’s New – Apart from Google Reader Sync?

Here are some of the other new items listed on the App Store page for Version 2.0:

• Lots for performance enhancements
• Expand and collapse folders
• Save to InstaPaper, send to Twitter, or send email without leaving the application.
• New views for starred items and for latest news (published in the last 24 hours)

How’s The New Google Reader Sync?

This is definitely quite impressive so far – easily the thing that has left the best first impression. Sync seems relatively fast, especially from NetNewsWire to GReader, though less so going in the other direction.

I like that the sync also feels very solid.  It has not crashed at all for me so far, lets me browse feeds while it is syncing, remains fully responsive during sync, and shows good and rapidly updated status information while syncing.

This sync is THE big new feature I’ve been so keen to see, and so far it looks good.

Some Missing Things

Some features that I’d like and expect to see, and that I do not see are:

An option to hide feeds that have no unread items

Shared items are not shown – and you cannot share an item via the app

No ‘All Items’ view.

For me, these are basic – and important – features that should really be in this version.

Overall

So that’s it for quick first night (and late night) thoughts on NetNewsWire 2.0.  Mixed feelings for now.  I very much want to like this app.  I like the sync, and feel like maybe the very basic look will grow on me.  I don’t like the missing features noted above, and I really hope NetNewsWire will prove its past reputation (for lack of updates) wrong and provide a swift update to add these missing items.

You can find both versions of NetNewsWire in the App Store now.  I’m not linking it right now because I find it confusing that the free version is still showing an old 1.x version number and icon, despite the fact mine was updated to 2.0 tonight.