As of now, Google Reader is one of the few useful quality RSS feed readers around. I would say that if you still use RSS you probably use Google Reader. The only problem is that GReader is ugly. Its crowded and dull layout is calling to be spruced up.

First instead of staying with Google Reader I thought about changing to a desktop program. Honestly, no programs I tried worked well enough to top the big G. They were either to slow or just plain unusable. Then I stumbled upon one of the coolest “hacks” ever.

Helveltireader is a simple reskinning of Google Reader. From the Helveltireader website you can install an extension that automagically changes the CSS file and V’iola. You are ready to go. Helveltireader streamlines the normal Google Reader interface and eliminated the unnecessary sharing features and buttons. I think Helveltireader is most likely something you will either love or hate. I am in the love camp. Because it makes Google Reader less clunky and more streamlined.

Another cool utility I want to get the word out about is PrtScr. PrtScr is an awesome screen capturing tool. It is a huge improvement over just pressing the “prt sc” button on your keyboard and importing the image into MsPaint. PrtScr automatically takes the picture and saves it wherever you want when invoked by a keyboard shortcut. PrtScr is so useful that it has even earned itself a hotkey button in my AHK script. I would definitely check it out if you are a blogger on a Windows system and need a good screen clipping tool.