AOL Launches News Reader

As Google's dies

With Google Reader's demise looming, a host of media companies have jumped to fill the impending void. Apps like Zite have updated to take on Reader-like qualities. Digg has been racing to build its own RSS reader that largely reproduces Google Reader's core functions. And now, AOL joins the fray with its own AOL Reader, officially launching today.

Like the just-announced Digg Reader and Google Reader before it, AOL Reader has a simple, minimalist design. It's got all the features you'd expect from a robust RSS reader. Does it have anything mind-blowing that sets it apart from other readers? Not really. But it looks good, works as expected, and if you have an AOL account, you'd be remiss not to give it a shot if you're looking for a new web-based reader.

Searching for news sources and adding feeds is straightforward — just tap the plus sign on the upper left of the interface. A "Settings" button next to that gives you more options, like the ability to import the OPML file for existing subscriptions if you currently use another reader.