I use tags, and they work well for me. I use more than 2 tags, so even if there were a Read/Unread element, I probably wouldn't use it. I use tags for:
read read, partially skimmed read; read again later to read
If I select multiple items, I cannot add tags. Do I need to add tags individually? If so, tagging is not working effectively.
I am with OP on that. There should be a functionality that unread items are moved or copied to a special collection, e.g. "Unread". They should disappear when an item is marked read. This is reasonable and that is why was implemented in other applications.
See my link. Colored links can be (un)assigned by number keys, including to multiples. A saved search for the relevant tag will add/remove to a collection automatically on assignment/unassignment.
(You can assign regular tags to multiple items by dragging them to the tag in the selector on the left, but unassignment isn't possible in mass. It's also a lot less elegant than a single keystroke).
read
read, partially
skimmed
read; read again later
to read
I am with OP on that. There should be a functionality that unread items are moved or copied to a special collection, e.g. "Unread". They should disappear when an item is marked read. This is reasonable and that is why was implemented in other applications.
A saved search for the relevant tag will add/remove to a collection automatically on assignment/unassignment.
(You can assign regular tags to multiple items by dragging them to the tag in the selector on the left, but unassignment isn't possible in mass. It's also a lot less elegant than a single keystroke).