February 11, 2026
RSS renaissance, drama included
NetNewsWire Turns 23
Fans toast 23 years of chill reading — and roast today’s clickbait
TLDR: NetNewsWire turns 23 and just shipped version 7.0, with quick fixes and a plan to improve syncing next. Comments glow with nostalgia and speed praise, while a side debate pits pure RSS readers against bookmark apps like GoodLinks — proof that simple, calm reading still matters.
NetNewsWire blew out 23 candles and dropped 7.0 for Mac and iOS — the team says 7.0.1 is cooking to clean up post-release hiccups. For the uninitiated, NNW is an RSS reader — a simple way to follow sites without ads and algorithm drama. The crowd went full nostalgia: “pre‑slop internet” vibes, Google Reader refugees crawling back, and Apple‑only folks calling it the “easiest solution.” One fan gushed it’s their “happy place,” like stepping into Snow Leopard days when Steve Jobs might whisper “one more thing.” The mood? Cozy, fast, and blessedly un‑noisy. Check it out at NetNewsWire.
Of course, there’s spice. A GoodLinks plug sparked a showdown: feed reader vs bookmark hoarder — pick your weapon. Others poked at the roadmap: lots of bugs and “tech debt” (old code that needs tidying), but speed is up since Brent retired, and 7.1 promises better syncing across devices. 7.2 could be polish; 7.3 depends on Apple drops at WWDC — cue memes about touchscreen Macs and folding iPhones. Strongest take: simple, fast software beats bloated “engagement bait.” Counterpoint: if you live outside Apple’s world, you’re still window‑shopping. Verdict from the comments? RSS isn’t dead; it’s brunching with the cool kids again.
Key Points
- •NetNewsWire marks 23 years since its 1.0 Mac release and has just shipped version 7.0 for Mac and iOS.
- •The team is working on NetNewsWire 7.0.1 to address regressions and immediate post-release tweaks.
- •Ongoing priorities include fixing bugs, addressing technical debt, and polishing the app; development pace increased after Brent’s retirement last year.
- •NetNewsWire 7.1 will focus on syncing fixes and improvements; 7.2’s focus is not yet determined (likely UX/polish).
- •Plans for 7.3 are not set and depend on outcomes from 7.1/7.2 and potential changes introduced by Apple at WWDC.