Editing NetNewsWire

{{Short description|News aggregator for macOS}}
{{Infobox software
| name = NetNewsWire
| logo = NetNewsWire icon.png
| logo caption = macOS icon for NetNewsWire
| screenshot = 
| caption = NetNewsWire 2.0.1 under [[Mac OS X v10.4]].
| developer = Current: Brent Simmons<br>Former: [[Black Pixel]], [[NewsGator Technologies]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2002|07|12}}
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1382254|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1382254|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1382254|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1382254|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| operating system = [[iOS]], [[macOS]]
| genre = [[News aggregator]]
| license = [[MIT License]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
'''NetNewsWire''' is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] RSS reader for macOS and iOS, originally developed by Brent and Sheila Simmons through Ranchero Software. It was first introduced on in 2002 as ''NetNewsWire Lite'', a free version with fewer features compared to the commercial release. Ownership transitioned over time, with NewsGator acquiring it in 2005 and Black Pixel in 2011, before Brent Simmons regained the intellectual property in 2018 and released his open source Mac RSS reader, "Evergreen" as NetNewsWire 5.0d1. NetNewsWire has been well received by the community, receiving awards such as Macworld's Editor's Choice.

==History==
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,<ref>{{cite web| title =NetNewsWire feature chart| publisher =[[NewsGator]]| url =http://www.newsgator.com/nnwlite-compare.aspx?nnw=1| access-date =2007-05-30}}</ref> 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 [[podcast]]s, synchronization of feeds and feed status between computers, [[Bloglines]] support, and a built-in tabbed browser.

In October 2005, [[NewsGator]] bought NetNewsWire, bringing their [[NewsGator Online]] RSS synchronization service to the Mac.<ref>{{cite web| last =Fleischman| first =Glenn| title =NewsGator Acquires NetNewsWire| work =[[TidBITS]]| publisher =[[Adam C. Engst]]| date =2005-10-10| url =https://tidbits.com/2005/10/10/newsgator-acquires-netnewswire/| access-date =2007-05-30}}</ref> Brent Simmons was hired by NewsGator to continue developing the software.<ref>{{cite web| title =NewsGator acquires NetNewsWire| publisher =Brent Simmons| url =http://inessential.com/2005/10/04/newsgator_acquires_netnewswire| access-date=2011-06-12}}</ref>

NetNewsWire 3.0 was released on June 5, 2007.<ref>{{cite web| last =McNulty| first =Scott| title =NetNewsWire 3.0 now available| work =TUAW| date =2007-06-05| url =http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/05/netnewswire-3-0-now-available/| access-date =2007-06-05}}</ref> The version added [[Spotlight (software)|Spotlight]] indexing of news items, integration with [[iCal]], [[iPhoto]], [[Address Book (application)|Address Book]], and [[VoodooPad]], [[Growl (software)|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 [[adware#Advertising supported software|advertisement-supported model]] with the 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 (iOS)|App Store]]. It included 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 codebase which was used in the iOS version of the app and for NetNewsWire 4.0 which was released as shareware.<ref>{{cite web| title =The return of NetNewsWire Lite| publisher =Brent Simmons| url =http://inessential.com/2011/03/02/the_return_of_netnewswire_lite| access-date =2011-06-12}}</ref>

On June 3, 2011, the acquisition of NetNewsWire by Black Pixel was announced.<ref>{{cite web| title =NetNewsWire acquired by Black Pixel| publisher =Brent Simmons| url =http://inessential.com/2011/06/03/netnewswire_acquired_by_black_pixel| access-date =2011-06-12}}</ref> For two years development had been apparently stalled, with a gap in updates from 2011 through the release of the version 4 Open Beta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://netnewswireapp.com/netnewswire-3-3 |title=NetNewsWire 3.3 |url-status=dead |access-date=2013-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112204938/http://netnewswireapp.com/netnewswire-3-3 |archive-date=2013-01-12 }}</ref>

On June 24, 2013, NetNewsWire 4.0 was announced and released as an open beta by Black Pixel. This announcement also brought news that the product would be a commercial product with no free component (though the beta would be free to use through the final release).<ref>{{cite web | title = NetNewsWire 4 Open Beta | publisher = Daniel Pasco | url = http://blackpixel.com/blog/2013/06/netnewswire-4-open-beta.html | access-date = 2013-06-27}}</ref>

The final release of NetNewsWire 4.0 occurred on September 3, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/netnewswire/id635060292?mt=12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908021237/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/netnewswire/id635060292?mt=12 |archive-date=2015-09-08 |title=Mac App Store - NetNewsWire|website=[[iTunes]] }}</ref>

In 2017 support of [[JSON Feed]] was added into the code base.<ref>{{cite web |author=Brent Simmons |title=Support JSON Feeds |website=[[GitHub]] |date=2017-09-04 |url=https://github.com/brentsimmons/NetNewsWire/issues/20 |access-date=2020-01-01}}</ref>

On August 31, 2018, Black Pixel announced that they had returned the NetNewsWire [[intellectual property]] to Brent Simmons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/bpxl-craft/the-future-of-netnewswire-8fc999387a8a|title=The Future of NetNewsWire|first=George|last=Dick|date=31 August 2018|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref>

On September 1, 2018, Brent Simmons released NetNewsWire 5.0d1. It was a renamed version of his open source Mac RSS reader, "Evergreen".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ranchero.com/netnewswire/history|title=NetNewsWire History|access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> Almost a year later, NetNewsWire 5.0 was released on August 26, 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inessential.com/2019/08/26/netnewswire_5_0_now_available|title=NetNewsWire 5.0 Now Available|access-date=30 August 2019| date=26 August 2019}}</ref> as an open source<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesweetsetup.com/netnewswire-5-0-relaunches-as-an-open-source-rss-reader-for-the-mac|title=NetNewsWire 5.0 Relaunches as an Open-Source RSS Reader for the Mac|last=Ginter|first=Josh|date=2019-08-29|work=The Sweet Setup|access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref> application.

On December 22, 2019, Brent Simmons started a public beta for the NetNewsWire iOS app which was distributed through [[TestFlight]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inessential.com/2019/12/22/netnewswire_5_for_ios_public_testflight|title=inessential: NetNewsWire 5 for iOS Public TestFlight|website=inessential.com|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> The iOS version of NetNewsWire 5.0 was released March 9, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ranchero.com/netnewswire/|title=NetNewsWire: Free and Open Source RSS Reader for Mac and iOS|website=ranchero.com|access-date=2020-03-08}}</ref>

On March 27, 2021, Brent Simmons released NetNewsWire 6.0 for macOS along with a public beta for iOS which, again, was distributed through [[TestFlight]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NetNewsWire - NetNewsWire 6.0 for Mac |url=https://nnw.ranchero.com/2021/03/27/netnewswire-for-mac.html |website=nnw.ranchero.com |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=NetNewsWire: NetNewsWire for iOS Public TestFlight |url=https://netnewswire.com/test-ios |website=NetNewsWire |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref>

On June 22, 2021, Brent Simmons released NetNewsWire 6.0 for iOS.<ref>{{cite news |title=NetNewsWire 6 adds iCloud RSS syncing, Twitter and Reddit integration, more |url=https://www.imore.com/netnewswire-6-adds-icloud-rss-syncing-twitter-and-reddit-integration-and-more |access-date=25 August 2021 |work=iMore |date=22 June 2021}}</ref>

==Reception==
NetNewsWire has been well regarded by many users and reviewers. According to [[FeedBurner]], NetNewsWire was the most popular desktop newsreader on all platforms in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=RSS Market Share |work=Burning Questions |publisher=[[FeedBurner]] |date=2005-01-10 |url=http://blogs.feedburner.com/feedburner/archives/2005/01/rss_market_shar.php |access-date=2007-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602085926/http://blogs.feedburner.com/feedburner/archives/2005/01/rss_market_shar.php |archive-date=2007-06-02 }}</ref> The software received a ''[[Macworld]]'' Editor's Choice Award in 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=The 19th Annual Editors' Choice Awards |work=[[Macworld]] |publisher=[[Mac Publishing]] |date=2004-02-01 |url=http://www.macworld.com/2004/02/features/editorschoiceawards2004/ |access-date=2007-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705002820/http://www.macworld.com/2004/02/features/editorschoiceawards2004/ |archive-date=2007-07-05 }}</ref> and 2005<ref>{{cite web|last=Frakes |first=Dan |title=NetNewsWire 2: Even with Safari 2.0 in the picture, RSS reader remains indispensable |work=[[Macworld]] |publisher=[[Mac Publishing]] |date=2005-12-20 |url=http://www.macworld.com/products/eddy05/NetNewsWire-2.php |access-date=2007-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602062957/http://www.macworld.com/products/eddy05/NetNewsWire-2.php |archive-date=2007-06-02 }}</ref> and maintained a 4.8 out of five stars rating among reviewers at [[VersionTracker]] (now [[CNET]]).<ref>{{cite web| title =NetNewsWire| work =[[CNET]]| date =2007-05-30| url =http://download.cnet.com/NetNewsWire/3000-2164_4-10187938.html| access-date =2013-06-30}}</ref> ''[[Ars Technica]]'' called NetNewsWire's built-in browser "hands-down the best of any Mac newsreader,"<ref>{{cite web| last =Warren| first =Brian| title =Mac RSS Readers| work =[[Ars Technica]]| date =2005-09-22| url =https://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/newsreaders-mac.ars/4| access-date =2007-05-30}}</ref> and [[Walter Mossberg]], technology columnist for ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', said that NetNewsWire is his favorite for the Mac.<ref>{{cite news | last =Mossberg| first =Walt| author-link =Walter Mossberg | title =A Guide to Using RSS, Which Helps You Scan Vast Array of Sites| work =All Things Digital| publisher =[[Wall Street Journal]]| date =2005-05-05| url =http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20050505/guide-to-using-rss/| access-date =2007-05-30}}</ref>

NetNewsWire 5.0 was also received well. MacStories praised the RSS reader's search engine and general stability, but lamented that some advanced features and customization options had not made it into the release, calling 5.0 "a solid foundation for the future".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.macstories.net/reviews/netnewswire-review-the-mac-rss-client-rebooted-with-a-solid-foundation-for-the-future/|title=NetNewsWire Review: The Mac RSS Client, Rebooted with a Solid Foundation for the Future|date=26 August 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref>  [[Gizmodo]] wrote that NetNewsWire 5.0 was off to a promising start, but agreed that it lacked some of the features that might be expected by a power user.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/one-of-the-best-rss-readers-is-back-1837585587|title=One of the Best RSS Readers Is Back|website=Gizmodo|date=26 August 2019 |language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of feed aggregators]]
* [[Comparison of feed aggregators]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Aggregators}}

[[Category:Atom (web standard)]]
[[Category:MacOS Internet software]]
[[Category:Software based on WebKit]]
[[Category:News aggregator software]]
[[Category:2002 software]]
[[Category:Formerly proprietary software]]