Oct 17, 2011
Just Press “J”: A Google Reader Tip
Remember a looooong time ago when I posted a tutorial on how to use Google Reader? (Actually, why would you remember that? Dumb question.) Anyway, I posted about it a long time ago and you can read it if you want.
I still use Google Reader for subscribing to blogs, but just recently discovered something nifty about it!
I was scrolling through my “All Items” view, and Abraham pipes up, “Hey, did you know if you hit “J” it’ll take you down to the next post?”
I tried it, and wow are my scrolling fingers ever-so-glad I did!
Of course you’ll still scroll through a post you actually want to read but if you see the title and it doesn’t interest you???
Just “J” it on your keyboard and you’re onto the next!
[flickr photo via photosteve101]
And I’ll throw in one bonus tip for you, just because I like you:
If you accidentally pass one up and go, “Doh! I actually wanted to see that one!”, no worries! Just “K” it on the keyboard and you’ll go back to the previous entry in your feed!
Cool, huh?
Do you have any Google hacks I/we should know about? Do tell!
“M” will also mark as “unread” if you’ve scrolled through one you want to re-read or didn’t mean to mark as read.
That tutorial was what introduced me to Google Reader! thanks a bunch for that initial post and then this follow-up! <3
Cool tips! Thanks Molly. I use the spacebar to “jump” through a long post that I’m only mildly interested in. It’s quicker than scrolling sometimes.
I use Google reader all the time for work and for fun… this will be very helpful! Thank you!
I had never thought to seek for keyboard shortcuts in Google Reader. I did a quick search, and they have a page telling all the commands: http://www.google.com/support/reader/bin/answer.py?answer=69973
You just saved me at least 5 minutes a day. Super.
Oh, this is fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
I use my arrow keys to scroll through a post. I love the J and K buttons because I always start with the older new entries so I need to jump “up”.
If you want to still go to the actual blog pages to read with the ease of google reader–you can install a “next” bookmark icon for your search bar. If you click it, you automatically go to the next unread post in your reader. Directions are under google reader settings, goodies, then 3rd title down says put reader in a bookmark. Super easy!
I, too, was going to suggest the “next” bookmarklet. I especially like it because it takes me to each blog and I can see all the pretty stuff, not just the words on Google Reader. I {heart} it!!
Just press shift+? and you will be able to find out a lot of keyboard shortcuts for google reader.
Ok – I’m still fumbling through technology and Google reader is something I’m working towards but what I got out of this was a chuckle that Abraham “piped” up :) OK, back to lurking!
OK, I’m LOVING these new shortcuts!!
There’s also a really cool button you can add to your firefox bookmarks tabs called the “next” button, where if you click “next” it will take you to the next most recent blog post from your google reader. it rocks! See:
http://www.noahbrier.com/quickies/2010/01/the_google_reader_next_button.php
for details about how to get it!
L marks that you LIKE the post.
Thanks. This tip was incredibly helpful.
[...] meant to include this last week. Molly Piper gives us a Google reader tip. I’ve found this very [...]
Life changer! Thanks