Mobile RSS - Partial Success
I’m incredibly addicted to RSS. I add feeds on a whim, and periodically weed through my list, removing feeds that haven’t updated in the last 2 months.
Some quick stats from Google Reader: Currently sitting at 94 feeds. 4,149 items in the last 30 days, which is roughly 140 per day. I do most of my reading at or before 7am, with another spike around 11pm. I use Google Reader because I love it. It is integrated with Firefox, so I just have to click a few times and it’s added to my reader. I also like it because it is the same whether I check on my PC, my girlfriend’s PC, my mobile, or my N800.
RSS is one thing that I’d hope I could put off entirely on my mobile. Sadly, that’s simply not the case. It works for merely weeding through and finding the things that I might find interesting or want to blog about. With Google Reader on my mobile phone (www.google.com/reader/m) I can scan the headlines, or go one-by-one and star the ones that I want to come back to. However, there are a few problems with Mobile RSS…
The first problem on the mobile comes with the multimedia aspects.
Pictures show up ok. It’s not a great experience, but it works. Video,
however, is completely not doable, at least on the N73. I’m also not
impressed with it on the N800.
The other problem with RSS on the go is using them for reference. I try
my best to not simply reblog stuff. The last thing I want Symbian-Guru.com
to become is a commented RSS reader. In that regard, I do my best to
link to the article and give a little bit of background, but then
populate the whole post with my thoughts on the subject. Thus, I do
alot of linking, and neither the N800 or the N73 is good for that.
So for using your mobile device as an RSS reader, I’m going to go
50-50. It’s useful for going through and weeding out the interesting
stuff, but not really useful for followup. I realize there’s a TON of
different RSS apps for S60. I’ve tried several of them, and simply
found them lacking. The biggest oversight is OPML importing. With 94
feeds and growing, there’s no way in hell I’m going to manually type in
every single one of those. If I can’t import my OPML file, I’m through.
“The biggest oversight is OPML importing. With 94 feeds and growing, there’s no way in hell I’m going to manually type in every single one of those. If I can’t import my OPML file, I’m through.”
Finally someone else with my problem. I have 35 feeds that i read everyday on Firefox, but i want to read those on my e61 when I’m on the road. OPML import to a mobile reader would really make that experience more plausible.
The Wildpalm Headline RSS reader does a pretty job of importing/exporting OPML, although I haven’t tried that many feeds at once. It’s worth a look.
haaaa
i too have these rss problems you’re talking about!
i’ve just try Newsgator trial rss reader on my 6630 but it is not perfect : first it is a java software (!) ; second it can import opml via the web interface but it has problem with some feeds ; third it is not free, but at least that would not be a problem if it would worth it ;
there ’s too mobiedge newspaper to try…
Newgator’s new Java RSS Reader is a great option because it ties into their web and desktop clients. Honestly, does anyone really want to sync disparate systems with OPML? My day is already filled with tedious tasks.
NG isn’t free but I can read my feeds on Mac, any browser, or on the john with my E61 and they’re kept in perfect sync. That’s worth the minimal investment.
As for the NG client, well, it’s not Symbian native. Too bad but it’s easy to navigate with one finger. Just don’t lose your data connection during a session or the newsreader will crash and burn. It’s super-fast over wi-fi but a little pokey over EDGE.
well
it is a simple rss feed reader, with no ompl import but feed can be entered via the website.
i’ve just tried Mobispine (listed in right column of symbianguru!) and it seems to work pretty good
moreover it is free!
trying it further.
FreeRange offers OPML import, and is currently testing a beta version that syncs to GoogleReader. You can also use it to post articles directly to de.li.ci.ous, or email articles of interest to anyone. We’ve designed the product for heavy RSS usage on mobile - I have about 100 feeds with 5,000 articles that I track on my E61.
You can download FreeRange directly to your phone OTA from http://mwap.at
Beta is free and we’d love your feedback.
Jon Maroney
http://www.freerangeinc.com
Give http://www.LiteFeeds.com a try …
It is 100% FREE with all of the features you mentioned plus more. OPML import and sync, data compression, full text browsing, secure feeds and image viewing, del.icio.us, clipping and email features etc…
We offer a basic WAP and advanced JAVA reader.
Let us know what you think …
John Goodall
http://www.litefeeds.com