Do you RSS?

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 12:29:50

I've dabbled with RSS feeds over the years, but I usually find that they overwhelm me with too much information on too broad a front. About the only useful one is the IDNet usage/network status information.

What have your experiences with RSS been like?

Inactive · Feb 14, 2008, 12:49:43

Never used them Rik.

madasahatter · Feb 14, 2008, 12:52:53

Me neither - am I missing out on something really good?

Simon · Feb 14, 2008, 12:53:53

Me neither. Not even the IDNet ones.

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 12:55:54

So, given the choice, would you like to see the IDNet info delivered by email instead?

madasahatter · Feb 14, 2008, 12:58:39

What sort of IDNet info is on there Rik? Might give it a go this weekend and have a play

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 13:00:07

Daily updates on bandwidth usage and total/projection for the month (3 feeds/day) plus any network status announcements.

madasahatter · Feb 14, 2008, 13:03:48

Ah rite - up to now I've just logged in to the customer portal every few days for that info. The only thing I do tend to log in for to be honest.

Not sure if I'd want an e-mail every day to be honest.

Simon · Feb 14, 2008, 13:04:13

We already get notification of maintenance emails (as of recently), and I wouldn't want daily info, as it would soon become tiresome. I think email notifications of approaching bandwidth limit is enough.

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 13:04:56

I find it useful, not so much on bandwidth as on receiving alerts automatically to any network issues.

Noreen · Feb 14, 2008, 13:24:00

Never used RSS, Rik. I don't really bother about usage, on the few occasions when I've checked it I'm nowhere near the limit.

Si · Feb 14, 2008, 13:35:57

I do use a few RSS feeds - IDNet, BBC News, one or two blogs. I use Firefox's Live Bookmarks, though, rather than a feed reader and it's mainly just for headline style or "now updated" type information. I've just started playing with an iGoogle widget for displaying feeds on your Google homepage - currently working well for the IDNet one.

The main benefits of building a feed into your google homepage is I can check my bandwidth at a glance from any PC anywhere, so I'd like it kept please! There's also the fall back if you are using your own email host and they have a problem then the feed info for service announcements etc is very useful.

colirv · Feb 14, 2008, 13:37:58

Quote from: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 12:29:50
What have your experiences with RSS been like?

I only use the IDNet notifications (brilliant) and Hot Deals ( a bit too voluminous but I can't be ar.. bothered to keep looking at the site!).

Malc · Feb 14, 2008, 13:51:22

Never heard of it until I found out about the ID feeds.

Why has Simon got a little phone next to the topic title instead of some pages?

We miss nothing.

Inactive · Feb 14, 2008, 13:53:12

It's his mobile phone connection Malc, posh bugger..

Malc · Feb 14, 2008, 13:55:09

So, if I click, it rings his phone, or, is he texting to the forum.

Inactive · Feb 14, 2008, 13:56:48

Quote from: Malc on Feb 14, 2008, 13:55:09
So, if I click, it rings his phone, or, is he texting to the forum.

Don't ask me anything complicated Malc, you should know better.

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 14:28:15

Quote from: Malc on Feb 14, 2008, 13:55:09
So, if I click, it rings his phone, or, is he texting to the forum.

It just indicates that someone is using a phone-based browser, Malc, you can't do anything with the icon, eg call Simon.

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 14:30:15

Quote from: Si on Feb 14, 2008, 13:35:57
I can check my bandwidth at a glance from any PC anywhere, so I'd like it kept please! There's also the fall back if you are using your own email host and they have a problem then the feed info for service announcements etc is very useful.

I don't think anyone's suggesting removing it Simon, I was just curious if people used RSS and, if they only used it for the IDNet info, whether they would find email as/more useful.

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 14:32:12

From Attensa, it integrates with Firefox, IE and Outlook.

It's free too.

Malc · Feb 14, 2008, 14:36:14

Quote from: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 14:28:15

call Simon.

Why? He's done nothing wrong

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 14:37:08

mogden · Feb 14, 2008, 15:11:34

I use RSS a lot, using the iGoogle homepage as an aggregator.

This means on one web page I can have a synposis of all the information from the various sources that interest me, plus my calendar, even (via xfruits) my email as a feed.

I also use RSSRadio as a collector for Podcasts I am interested in.

Can I keep my Geek badge?

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 15:14:52

Yes, I think that fully qualifies you Matt.

Simon · Feb 14, 2008, 16:23:53

The mobile phone icons only seems to work with Sony Ericsson phones, and I don't have full forum facilities, so I can read threads and post, but that's about it. Can't edit posts, so any errors have to stay there till I get home.

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 16:25:14

Presumably that's a limitation of the WAP browser (or interface)?

Simon · Feb 14, 2008, 16:32:40

SMF, Rik. The version I see is a striped down, plain text version, especially for phone or handheld browsers. As far as I know, only SMF offers this feature. On other phones, such as Nokia, the complete HTML page is displayed, making it very difficult to use on a small screen. This is why I like SE and SMF.

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 16:42:31

SMF rules, but it's still Nokia for me.

Simon · Feb 14, 2008, 16:48:39

Well, not having an SE doesn't seem to be impeding your access to the forum!

Rik · Feb 14, 2008, 16:50:56

True, but then I'm never far from my router...

madasahatter · Feb 14, 2008, 16:52:37

I've got an SE k800i so I think I'll have a play with WAP access when I get a chance.

Simon · Feb 14, 2008, 16:58:37

Mine kept logging me out, Mad, so I will be interested to see how you get on.

madasahatter · Feb 14, 2008, 17:16:33

I will let you know mate

talos2 · Feb 14, 2008, 20:26:23

I use them for the local newspapers because they update them continually, I use one off the BBC website for local weather, and another from the maritime agency which keeps me up to date with the local sea state, I find them all very usefull.

Sebby · Feb 14, 2008, 22:55:55

Quote from: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 12:29:50
I've dabbled with RSS feeds over the years, but I usually find that they overwhelm me with too much information on too broad a front. About the only useful one is the IDNet usage/network status information.

What have your experiences with RSS been like?

I'm exactly the same, Rik. I read sites such as The Register daily, and in the past I've subscribed to the RSS feed as I'd thought it would make sense. But, after a few days, I find myself bombarded with information and I get rid of it. I'm not a RSS fan at all.

Gary · Feb 15, 2008, 08:49:17

I use one for the BBC news both on my pc as well as for the weather and podcasts on my mobile, the IDnet one does not bother me to much, I prefer just logging in and seeing the graph and statistics personally, but as Rik said some do overwhelm you with information.

Lance · Feb 15, 2008, 23:41:54

I use the FT.com rss feed, and find it very useful for just glancing through and picking out interesting stories.

As for using my Nokia to display the full webpage, I much prefer it like that. Maybe it's my younger eyes than yours, Simon!

Simon · Feb 16, 2008, 00:22:11

Quote from: Lance on Feb 15, 2008, 23:41:54
As for using my Nokia to display the full webpage, I much prefer it like that. Maybe it's my younger eyes than yours, Simon!

What, with all that fiddling about with the 'mouse' pointer, and only being able to view a small section of the page at a time? It might be OK for other websites, but for forums, I thought it was rubbish! Have you seen 'us' on a Sony Ericsson, Lance?

Lance · Feb 17, 2008, 23:32:20

I haven't - but I've seen the WAP layout for the forum.

Maybe it's better on my phone as it has a higher resolution then most? I find it nice and easy to navigate around on it, as the pages on the whole adjust to the width of my screen. I just have to scroll up and down!

Simon · Feb 18, 2008, 00:05:42

Maybe there are some settings on the N82 that I didn't get to, Lance. I didn't use it for very long, but I can hardly believe that what I saw is as good as it gets.

Lance · Feb 19, 2008, 08:03:08

I like the look of the Nokia N96 - wonder what that'll be like to use!

Simon · Feb 19, 2008, 09:26:46

I don't tend to go for sliders or flippers, but I do like black, so it's cool in my book.

Rik · Feb 19, 2008, 09:29:51

Black is my favourite colour in most things - I'd have made a great professional mourner.

Lance · Feb 19, 2008, 10:31:54

My current phone is a slider, and I quite like it! Flippers on the other hand I'm not keen on. There is of course a N82 in black now, but only in USA at the moment.

Rik · Feb 19, 2008, 10:33:40

Time for a weekend in NY, Lance?

Lance · Feb 19, 2008, 10:42:00

If I could afford to, Rik, I would!

Rik · Feb 19, 2008, 10:43:26

The savings on the phone should pay for the trip - especially if you stock up on CDs & DVDs while you are there.

Lance · Feb 19, 2008, 10:45:57

But seeing I don't buy my phones anyway - I get them free on contract!

Rik · Feb 19, 2008, 10:47:49

But not in black, at least yet.

One to go!!!

Gary · Feb 19, 2008, 11:18:53

Quote from: Lance on Feb 19, 2008, 08:03:08
I like the look of the Nokia N96 - wonder what that'll be like to use!

I liked the look of that Lance but feature wise having DVB tv has to be a battery eater, and the kickstand looks a little flimsy as well but 16GB of internal memory and being able to add a extra 8 is great, I would wait to see what battery life on it is like, then get the updated version later maybe instead

as they always seem to have the issues fixed in later models ie N95 vs N95 8GB sometimes it pays not to be a company's beta tester

Lance · Feb 19, 2008, 13:35:04

Indeed. I've not looked into it but understand that carphonewarehouse (sorry Gary!) do some sort of swap out between 9-12months. Once I've looked into it, I might get the N82 to start with and then get the N96 on the swap in a year or so!