widgetBeat…

News-feed widget lets you pick keywords… at a price

March 7th, 2008

by Al Merkrebs, March 7, 2008 @ 10:38 PST

“News by Keywords” is a Google-based news aggregator, made by Apexoft. This gadget (widget) caught my eye because of its advertised ability to filter news by user-defined keywords.

I downloaded the trial to test it on feeding me news with the word “widgets.” Before entering my keyword, my first impression was good based on its cool looks- news was ticking across its little black screen in a retro-NY-Times-Square style. It even puts your current time at the bottom of its window.

Then I tried to add my keyword “widgets,” and major disappointment set in. Get this- you can open the options window but you CANNOT CHANGE ANY ONE of the options without “registering,” which turns out to mean buying the license for $10.00 USD. Talk about feeling duped. I totally understand that widget developers need to earn a living, but demo widgets should let you play with (i.e. customize) them A LITTLE.

I sat there staring at this useless demo for a good while, trying to decide what to do next. Finally, for 10 bucks, I bit the bullet.

After I added my “widgets” keyword, I was pleasantly soothed. A bunch of “widgets” news started ticking across its little window. You click anywhere on the news item and the item opens up in your browser. For 10 bucks you are now able to add multiple keywords, change speed of ticking and a few other minor options. You cannot select which news sources are searched.

Pros: Looks cool in a retro way; can filter news down to one word; good amount of foreign news.

Cons: Can’t really check it out with your own keywords until coughing up $10.00 USD; even after buying the license, no option to change colors or font size; can’t change date range, and as a result, often get days-old news; too easy to click the top or bottom of the widget window and accidentally open a browser page; difficult to move the widget without minimizing it.

Engine required: Google Desktop

Download gadget (widget) here: News by Keywords

Entry Filed under: widget reviews