The most underused browser feature: reader mode

Sssh, a Chrome PM might be reading!

More or less. Here's various implementations:

https://github.com/masukomi/arc90-readability

Original JS library:

https://github.com/masukomi/arc90-readability/blob/master/js...

Specifically see here:

https://github.com/masukomi/arc90-readability/blob/master/js...

Reader mode really helps me in printing as well. Old comment of mine:

Printing is something I started to do some months ago. Instead of keeping the tab open for weeks, I decided I'd print anything I want to read and place it a physical "inbox".

Some tips: I print 2 pages to a side, so 4 pages per printer paper. Even long articles don't use too much paper, and for my eyes it's still readable (there are a few articles where I need to enlarge first). I print using either Firefox's "Simplify Page" feature or its "Readability" feature. This removes almost all the noise: No ads, no menus, etc. It's just the article and relevant images. Similar to reading a physical newspaper.

It's been a game changer. I can now read wherever I want. Going to the mechanic? I just take some of these printed articles with me. I find myself taking notes on the paper - something I would not do well on the computer screen. My eyes get a lot less strain. Once you get used to this, there's no going back. Now when I see an article through a web browser, it's just ugly. Too many distractions. Even the menus are annoying. I didn't realize I'd been putting up with filth for so long.

I initially worried that my inbox would get full and I'd have the same mental angst, and my plan was that if it happens, I'll take a random bunch and throw it in the recycle bin. But it never came to that - I still manage to read everything I print. Somehow, the physical inbox weighs less on my mind than the virtual one. I don't feel I need to deal with this inbox. It's OK if it just sits there collecting dust.

Bad for the environment. Good for the brain.

I discovered Reader Mode on Chrome a few months ago and have used it a lot since. I use it everyday and it makes it much easier to read articles.

I use Reading List feature to save articles that I want to listen to later during a run or workout. I made https://per.quest to listen to any URL. I wish there was a rss feed provided by the browser for Reading List feature so I could listen to articles one after another.

I also stopped using reader mode for sites with insane ads/videos/js/popovers that hog the browser and just open them with per.quest/read/[URL] to extract just the article text.