Current Version: Simplify GR 1.3
Designed for Google Reader, Simplify GR integrates tools such as Helvetireader and FancyBox to provide a clean, minimalistic reading experience.
The Simplify GR extension utilizes Helvetireader to reduce the clutter of the Google Reader interface by limiting the number of colours, buttons and social features normally present—some other stylesheet options are available as of Simplify GR version 1.2. When reading articles in Google Reader some entries contain the entire article, while others do not, requiring you to visit the originating website. Simplify GR makes this process more seamless by opening the originating website in an clean panel that floats overtop of the Google Reader page. This panel allows you to read an article and return to Google Reader in an incredibly seamless fashion. Simplify GR takes its seamlessness even further by opening full articles loaded within this floating panel through Instapaper‘s text view—providing a distraction-free reading experience similar to Safari 5′s Reader mode.
All of these options are configurable within Safari 5′s Preference Extensions pane. You can enable/disable Helvetireader (or other stylesheets) as well as enable/disable FancyBox or adjust how it works.
The full articles can be loaded in FancyBox by selecting the article in Google Reader to expand it, then either clicking the main title link or pressing the b key. Holding the Alt key while clicking the title link or pressing b will toggle Instapaper text view and the original web page.
Screenshots
Version History
1.3 (Mar. 11/11) – Fixed a bug in which the keyboard shortcut would not open the currently selected article. Added an option to hide feeds listed under Subscriptions that have no unread items. Added support for the .co.uk Google domain. Updated bundled jQuery to version 1.5.1. Added license; Simplify GR is published under the GNU General Public License.
1.2 (Dec. 18/10) – Added keyboard shortcut. Pressing b will activate FancyBox for the current article (Alt key toggles Instapaper/original, just like it does when clicking the title link). Added support for the following Google domains: .ca, .de, .nl, .fr, and .it. Added additional stylesheet options: Lucidica and Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Updated bundled FancyBox to version 1.3.4. Updated bundled jQuery to version 1.4.4. New icon.
1.1 (Oct. 26/10) – Added support for SSL (https) connections. Updated bundled FancyBox to version 1.3.2. Updated bundled JQuery to version 1.4.3.
1.0 (Sep. 3/10) – Original release.
Hey! Thanks for writing this extension. I’m also using Reeder and I totally understand your motivation. Unfortunately, the extension doesn’t seem to be working for me. I installed it twice, but it still doesn’t work. First time an extension just doesn’t do anything. It can’t be because my GR is in German, can it? Do you have an idea? Do I have to take care of any particular settings maybe? Thanks again. The extension is a great idea.
After installing it make sure you reload the Google Reader page. I just tried switching my Google Reader to German and it still worked. The extension only activates if the URL matches:
http://*.google.com/reader/view/*
If you’re using Google Reader on an SSL connection (https) it will not work (in version 1.0).
Also make sure the settings are enabled in Safari’s preference pane. On the Extensions tab click Simplify GR: Style should be Helvetireader and Title Links Open As should be Instapaper Text for the full effect. These should be set by default, but double-check just in case. After changing the settings, reload the Google Reader page.
If none of that works, try disabling all your other extensions (just for testing) to see if it works then (again, reload the Google Reader page). If it does, let me know what extensions you have installed and I will investigate a possible conflict.
this is awesome, thanks !
I love Instapaper Mobilizer
the best Reader experience i know is on the iPad : http://reederapp.com/ipad/_index/images/3.png
http://reederapp.com/ipad/
perhaps you could add some ideas from it ?
anyway, Thanks
)))) super happy
Thanks for the feedback! I mentioned in a blog post (but not on this page) that Reeder inspired me to create this extension. I do have a few small things I would like to improve with it and if you have any particular features you would like to see, feel free to let me know.
Thanks for the help, Dave. It’s working fine now. The problem was that my Google account is German and when I go to the GR page through my GMail etc. it directs me here:
http://www.google.de/reader/view
I’m now using the .com-URL as a bookmark and it works.
Thanks again. I love the extension!
Glad you got everything working! Thanks for sharing what the solution was as well.
Can you please please enable it on the https connection, and also add a contextual menu item to disable it?
I can look into enabling it on SSL connections.
Can you elaborate by what you mean with the contextual menu item? I’m not sure what advantage being able to turn on/off the extension through a contextual menu would be since Safari has an option to disable extensions individually in the Preferences pane and this extension has settings to turn on/off its features. All that said, I don’t know that I understand what you’re asking for.
Thanks for making Simplify GR–it’s a fantastic way to use Google Reader. One thing I’m missing is the ability to open the FancyBox view of an article with a keyboard shortcut. Using the standard “v” shortcut opens the article in a new tab/window. Is it possible for Simplify GR to intercept this keyboard shortcut and open the article in the FancyBox overlay?
Thanks for the feedback!
I’ve looked into enabling FancyBox through keyboard shortcuts but haven’t found a way to really make it work. Google Reader generates its content quite dynamically and it seems to intercept the keys at a fairly high level. I did try a few workarounds but wasn’t completely successful. I am going to keep working at it though.
Dave,
Thanks for this extension,
Could you look into enabling it for HTTPS ?
The newly released Firesheep extension forced me to switch to secure protocol..
Thanks !
Sam
For sure. HTTPS will be supported in the next release.