Pluck

Reviewed on 7/13/04    Release date: 6/7/04    Pluck is a newsreader that integrates with Internet Explorer, a nice feature for users who want to read newsfeeds inside their default Windows browser. As such, Pluck offers additional tools not found in competing programs, including the ability to manage Web bookmarks across multiple computers, share Web pages and notes with friends, and sort and filter Amazon, eBay, and Google queries. Pluck's best feature is that it's free without banner ads or spyware. To test Pluck, we downloaded and installed a beta copy (version 0.9.2.53).

Once setup is complete, Internet Explorer loads with the new Pluck component. Some IE users may object to Pluck's usurpation of browser window real estate--Pluck's RSS Reader column gobbles up nearly a third of the left-hand IE screen--but you can easily shrink this column by dragging its borders with your mouse. The excellent Getting Started page explains the main components of Pluck's multipane interface, which, in addition to the RSS Reader column, includes a headline pane that displays story summaries from a particular site or blog and a browser window that allows you to read individual stories.


Pluck comes complete with dozens of ready-to-read RSS feeds, ranging from mainstream news sites such as Yahoo News to tech-oriented material such as CNET's News.com. But adding more feeds is easy: Go to a site that lists RSS feeds, such as CompleteRSS.com, click the orange XML icon beside the feed you wish to subscribe to, and drag it into the RSS Reader column. Pluck allows you to sort or filter stories by topic but not by author. The number of channels allowed appears to be unlimited.

Also, you can't beat Pluck's price--it's free--and the program offers configuration options that some competitors charge extra for. For instance, Pluck can update RSS feeds as often as every 15 minutes, while the free version of Awasu limits updates to once an hour.

 Download for PC