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Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

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21–30 of 63 posts

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#21
Pocket + Kobo (my eReader)

Kobo has no RSS client, though, so for catching up on news feeds, Feedly on my Android phone or tablet. But I've largely stopped using Feedly at all, as my backlog would simply get so far that it started feeling like a chore to get through them.

I recommend longform.org for finding great longform article content.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#22
This is mostly aimed at night-time reading and is an extension of f.lux but on linux you can apply custom glsl scripts to the screen with the compton compositor. I invert the screen and then highly red-tint it. This way I get 'native' darkmode on everything black-on-white, without having to depend on developers making a dark mode, buggy userscripts, and it works on all applications, even videos. (https://github.com/JZL/linux-color-inversion)

I have a script which changes my terminal and texteditor colorscheme then calls this script

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#23
My system primarily revolves around Instapaper[0].

If I run into anything that looks like it might be intereseting I save it to Instapaper using the browser extension on my workstation, or the app on my phone / tablet.

I also have a handful of email lists that automatically forward into instapaper, and a couple rss feeds that auto send to instapaper (Via ifttt[1]).

When I want to actually consume content I use the instapaper iPadOS app, which has a simple and clean UI. (This can also be done in your browser if you prefer)

[0]: https://www.instapaper.com/ [1]: https://ifttt.com/

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#24

I don't read much of anything online these days. Most "reading" environments treat you as a user, not a reader . Poor typography, endless scrolling, and an endless supply of content that isn't worth reading in the first place. So I mostly consume text on screen only so that I can accomplish tasks. In other words, "reading" online is a means to an end. All that said, if I stumble on a long form piece of writing that l…

I also tend to print anything substantial that I plan on reading. It's just easier on the eyes (though Firefox's reader mode and usejournal.com also help) and I can re-use the blank side of the paper for my notes. After that, it makes an okay fire starter.

I've also started subscribing to magazines and newspapers again. Most of the 'online' content I read is available in print form.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#25

I don't read much of anything online these days. Most "reading" environments treat you as a user, not a reader . Poor typography, endless scrolling, and an endless supply of content that isn't worth reading in the first place. So I mostly consume text on screen only so that I can accomplish tasks. In other words, "reading" online is a means to an end. All that said, if I stumble on a long form piece of writing that l…

This is probably the comment that I resonate the most with - what defines "something worth reading" to you? Part of me feels like theres no way to get to the good stuff without sifting through it all a bit first.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#27
post #24

I don't read much of anything online these days. Most "reading" environments treat you as a user, not a reader . Poor typography, endless scrolling, and an endless supply of content that isn't worth reading in the first place. So I mostly consume text on screen only so that I can accomplish tasks. In other words, "reading" online is a means to an end. All that said, if I stumble on a long form piece of writing that l…

I also tend to print anything substantial that I plan on reading. It's just easier on the eyes (though Firefox's reader mode and usejournal.com also help) and I can re-use the blank side of the paper for my notes. After that, it makes an okay fire starter. I've also started subscribing to magazines and newspapers again. Most of the 'online' content I read is available in print form.

I am very much a fan of the printed word. I've been thinking about it like this: Online, text delivers itself to you, almost always in short-form streams, everything is ephemeral. With a physical book, you have to bring yourself to the text. Language, dialog, form, typography all come together on the page in a way that is highly satisfying. The act of reading printed pages is an "event" of sorts.

Any magazine recommendations?

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#28
Been reading a lot of longer articles and papers lately. If the author doesn't provide a PDF, I roll my own -- using Reader Mode and Print To File. I store a copy in Zotero so I can keep track of things and so I can add notes.

This enables distraction free reading and lets me archive the stuff I'm reading.

Used to have a similar workflow with Polar instead of Zotero, but switched to Zotero.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite way to read online content?

#30

I don't read much of anything online these days. Most "reading" environments treat you as a user, not a reader . Poor typography, endless scrolling, and an endless supply of content that isn't worth reading in the first place. So I mostly consume text on screen only so that I can accomplish tasks. In other words, "reading" online is a means to an end. All that said, if I stumble on a long form piece of writing that l…

This is probably the comment that I resonate the most with - what defines "something worth reading" to you? Part of me feels like theres no way to get to the good stuff without sifting through it all a bit first.

I don't have a standard definition, I just spend time browsing for articles and essays that are aligned with whatever is top of mind at the moment. I might the weird one here, but I think my JSTOR subscription is worth every penny. The variety of content, along with the quality of publications is generally excellent. I stumbled on ETC: A Review of General Semantics recently and I've printed a bunch of articles and essays from their publications, dating back to the 60's. It's good stuff!
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