Before I log in for the day and start typing away, I like to check the news to see what’s going on in the world. Regardless of the news organization I’m using, the number of videos, audio, and pop-up ads that inundate my screen can be maddening. If severe weather is on the way, or there’s something major happening in my area, I don’t need to see ads for Bob’s Discount Furniture before I know if my house is about to get blown away.
That’s when I discovered a beautiful, Material-based open-source news application that lets me view what I want, when I want it. It may be a little boring to look at, but rather than getting overstimulated at the start of the day, I can just look at the news. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that make life better.
Read You is fully open-source
It’s being updated fairly frequently, so new features are in the pipeline
As with many of the greatest applications currently installed on my PC or Android devices, Read You is fully open source. This means that the code is completely transparent, so security-minded individuals can see everything that is being implemented into the program. This means developers can’t sneak in any nasty code that tracks or monitors what you’re doing on your device, and you always know what you’re using.
Plus, having fully open and available code means that other like-minded developers can collaborate and add new features to the application in the future, making it even better than before. Community collaboration is one of the coolest parts of open-source applications, especially when creative individuals get together to put something together, unlike anything you’ll normally find in the app store. From adorable weather apps that are surprisingly accurate to replacements for your favorite Adobe software, open-source is quickly becoming a staple of my day-to-day phone and PC usage.
- OS
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Android
- Price model
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Free
- App Type
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RSS Newsfeed
- Open-Source?
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Yes
Privacy and security are important
It operates locally and doesn’t have background tracking or data collection
Read You focuses on privacy and security, while looking stunning in the process. Seeing as the code is public, tech-minded individuals can review it first to ensure nothing has been slyly added that could put their information at risk. There are also no third-party tracking SDKs included in Read You, so anything that you consume through here is yours and yours alone.
You don’t need an account, and the app pulls data from the websites you follow to show you everything you want, right on your device. If you want more than just the RSS feed, you can click on the title and instantly be transported to the website so you can see whatever you’re reading about in full detail.
The Material look is timeless
Simple and clean is the way that Read You has me feeling tonight
Android has used the Material design since 2014, but it continues to evolve. Read You, as the name states, takes inspiration from the Material You look and feel of Android devices, and I think it does a fantastic job of emulating it. While the app isn’t something directly created by Google, the simplicity and look match what Google has been doing for the longest time. Sure, it may be a little “dated”, but I quite like how it looks.
It also makes navigation incredibly simple for those who have been using Android for a while. Everything is pill-shaped like it was back in 2021, and getting around the app is incredibly simple. You could even toss this onto an older, budget tablet and give it new life, so your folks have an easy way to check the news in their area.
This 3-widget setup is the only Android home screen you need
Simplify your home screen with just the basics for a clean, functional look.
If you’re planning on adding your favorite websites, like MakeUseOf, for example, you won’t be able to just copy and paste the URL into Read You. You’ll need the RSS feed link to add them to this application. For those unfamiliar with RSS, Really Simple Syndication makes it easier for you to receive news through applications of your choosing. If you’re like me and you like to visit many different websites daily to see what’s new on the feed, RSS can quickly and easily deliver all the information to you in one spot.
But if you’ve never used an RSS feed application before, it can be slightly confusing. The best thing to do is search for your favorite websites on a site like FeedSpot, copy the RSS feed link, and paste it into Read You. From there, the app takes care of the heavy lifting and searches for new information and new posts at regular intervals. No extra work needed from you.
My morning ritual is complete
Now I can browse all my favorite sites in one place, no ads or tracking
Sure, spending time reading the news in the morning, especially lately, can put a damper on your day. But seeing as I can personalize this RSS feed into whatever I want it to be? I can filter out the nastiness and start the day with a fun story about my favorite tech or video games. Plus, knowing that I’m not getting tracked or my data isn’t being sold off is a great piece of mind to have.
If you don’t want to create your own homepage to get your RSS feeds and other information, this is a quick and easy way to get your info on the go. There may be other RSS news apps that have more features, but for my use-case? This is exactly what I’ve been searching for.
