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Google Reader for Android gets new widgets

Two new widgets, a new feature, and more language support in its official RSS-reading app for Android.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
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Jessica Dolcourt
Google Reader for Android
Google

If you've been disgruntled by a dearth of widgets in Google Reader for Android, today's news might pacify you.

Google issued three new features and support for Russian translation today in its Reader app. Two of them are widgets. You can now mark a previous item as read, a feature first found on the mobile-optimized version of Reader online.

As for the widgets, one will display the number of unread items on your home screen and take you there when you select it. The other widget is a larger-size news ticker you can selectively filter. It, too, will open your story or stream when you tap it. 

Although Reader is compatible on phones running Android 1.6 and higher, widget activity works only on Android 2.2 Froyo and up.