integrating rss into your web site
DESCRIPTION
Presented at Internet Librarian 2007 in Monterey, CA on 28 October 2007.TRANSCRIPT
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Integrating RSS into Your Web sitePart 1:
Introduction
Michael SauersTechnology Innovation
LibrarianNebraska Library
CommissionInternet Librarian 2007
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Introductions
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NameLibraryPositionDoes your library use RSS? If so, how?Why are you here?
What is RSS?
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Depending on who you ask it stands for either “Really Simple Syndication”, “Rich Site Summary”, or “RDF Site Summary”.
“Really Simple Syndication” is the de facto definition today.
RSS is an XML language for syndicating items on the Internet.
The History of RSS
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RSS 1.1 (update to RSS 1.0), RSS 3.0 (a new, independent project), and “Simple Sharing Extensions” (an update to RSS 2.0 by Microsoft) have all been proposed but have had no impact yet.
How does RSS work?
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Information Provider
Information Receiver
How does RSS work?
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The information provider creates an RSS file.
Users subscribe to the file via an aggregator.
When the author updates the RSS file, the user is automatically notified of the new items and may read them on their schedule.
Are there differentversions of RSS?
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Yes. In fact, there are currently eight different versions:RSS 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 1.0, 2.0, & Atom Feeds
Each has different features from the author’s point of view.
Today’s aggregators support all of the versions transparently.
RSS 2.0 & Atom are the most common.
Implications of RSSInformation is received in a single locationInformation is received quicklyThe need to visit the originating Web site is
reducedand…
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The possible end of this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0“> <channel> <title>Nebraska Library Commission Blog</title> <link>http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/blogs/NLC/</link> <description>Bringing together people and information</description> <language>en</language> <copyright>Copyright 2007</copyright> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 10 May 2007 07:34:17 -0600</lastBuildDate> <generator>http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/</generator> <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs> <item> <title>New depository directories</title> <description>
<![CDATA[<p>The directories of Nebraska's federal and state depository libraries got a new look recently. Contact names and emails of library staff will be updated automatically when our comprehensive library directory is updated. The depository directories are located at <a href="http://http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/ docs/nefed.asp">http://http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/docs/nefed.asp</a></p>]]> </description> <link>http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/blogs/NLC/2007/05/new_depository_directories.html</link> <guid>http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/blogs/NLC/2007/05/new_depository_directories.html</guid> <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Information Resources</category> <pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 07:28:43 -0600</pubDate> </item> </channel></rss>
What does RSS look like?
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How can I find feeds?
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Feedster
Bloglines
BlogrollsA list of blogs/feeds read by another blogger
Look for the orange icon…
How do I subscribe to a feed?
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Look for the orange iconhttp://www.feedicons.com/
Depending on your aggregator, the subscription procedure may range from copying and pasting the link to right-clicking and selecting “subscribe”.
Podcasts
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Uses RSS to syndicate audio content
RSS 2.0 <enclosure>Like adding an attachment to an e-mail
Audio FormatsMP3 (Open Source)AAC (Apple Proprietary)
iPod not necessary
Podcasts in iTunes
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Notable Feeds
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Librarian.netwww.librarian.net
LISNewswww.lisnews.com
The Shifted Librariantheshiftedlibrarian.com
The Travelin’ Librariantravelinlibrarian.info
Tame the Webtametheweb.com/ttwblog
Unshelvedwww.overduemedia.com
PaperCutspapercuts.tscpl.org
• Gizmodowww.gizmodo.com
• Security Now!www.grc.com/securitynow.htm
• Inside The Net &This Week in Tech (TWiT)thisweekintech.com
• Boing Boingboingboing.net
• Google News• isbn.nu• del.icio.us• flickr
Michael SauersTechnology Innovation
LibrarianNebraska Library
CommissionInternet Librarian 2007
Integrating RSS into Your Web sitePart 2:
Reading Feeds
What is an Aggregator?
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An aggregator is a type of software that retrieves syndicated Web content that is supplied in the form of a web feed (RSS, Atom and other XML formats), and that are published by weblogs, podcasts, vlogs, and mainstream mass media websites.-Wikipedia
It’s what you need to retrieve and read RSS feeds.
What are the differenttypes of aggregators?
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Standalone ClientsFeedReader, Radio UserLand
PIM add-insPluck, NewsGator, intraVnews
Browser add-insFirefox, Sage
Web-basedBloglines, NewsIsFree
A list is available @http://www.lights.com/weblogs/rss.html
Why do I need an aggregator?
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Most importantly it makes the content of the feed readable
Checks for updates automaticallyNotifies you of new informationDisplays only new items for youMay allow you to sort and save information
RSS file in IE6
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Atom file w/ associated style sheet
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Firefox 2.0
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Internet Explorer 7
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Types of Aggregators
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ClientAdd-onBuilt-inServer-basedWeb-based service
FeedReader (client)
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Pluck (add-on for IE)
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Firefox 1.5
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Netscape 8
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IE7beta 2
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Feed on Feeds (server)
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Bloglines (Web-based service)
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Subscribing to a feed
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Integrating Bloglines w/ Firefox 2.0
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The Bloglines Bookmarklet
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Michael SauersTechnology Innovation
LibrarianNebraska Library
CommissionInternet Librarian 2007
Integrating RSS into Your Web site Part 3:
Creating Feeds
How do I create a feed?
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Hand-rolledYou type the markup and the content
Semi-automatedYou type the content, software generates the markup.
Fully-automatedYou put the content in your blog and software generates a feed based on that content.
FeedSpring
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FeedSpring
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FeedSpring
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FeedSpring
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FeedSpring
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FeedSpring
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FeedSpring
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FeedSpring
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LimitationsLocal installation limits mobility and posters
to a single computer.No built-in FTP. Must transfer the .xml file to
the server manually.Still in beta (but what isn’t these days?)
RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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RapidFeeds: FeedManager
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LimitationsRegistration does not work with newer e-mail
addresses. (Insisted my .info address was invalid.)
Does not allow publishing to another server so if the company disappears, your feed goes with it.
ListGarden
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ListGarden
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ListGarden
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ListGarden
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ListGarden
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ListGarden
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LimitationsDepending of type of server installed on, may
not be secure. (i.e. no passwords on cgi-bin directories.)
RSSxl
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RSSxl
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RSSxl
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RSSxl
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RSSxl
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LimitationsSolid knowledge of HTML required to get
parsing correct.Works better on pages with simpler layouts.The validation code “will change each month
and you will need to visit this page for the new code.” (Though I’ve found feeds continue to work without updating the code.)
“If you are using this tool to publish an RSS feed from your website, then you must include a visible HTML link to www.wotzwot.com on your site next to the link to your feed like the following: ‘Powered by RSSxl’”
Sabifoo
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Sabifoo
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Sabifoo
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Sabifoo
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Sabifoo
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Sabifoo
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LimitationsThird party service could disappear at any
time.Doesn’t always work well with Yahoo!
Messenger and AIM.Does not interpret HTML in posts.
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What are you doing now?Post via:
Web siteClientsIMSMS
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Limitations140 characters per post
RSS Calendar
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RSS Calendar
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RSS Calendar
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RSS Calendar
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RSS Calendar
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RSS Calendar
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RSS Calendar
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RSS Calendar
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LimitationsNo importing from existing calendars
Michael SauersTechnology Innovation
LibrarianNebraska Library
CommissionInternet Librarian 2007
Integrating RSS into Your Web site Part 4:
Republishing Feeds
RSS2GIF
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RSS2GIF
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RSS2GIF
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RSS2GIF
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LimitationsUh, why? (Someone help me here…)Third party service.Reported several test feeds as “invalid”.
Integrating feed content into your Web site
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Grab content from multiple RSS feedsReduce and/or mash itRepublish it on your site
rssviewer
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rssviewer
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rss viewer
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rssviewer
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rss viewer
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LimitationsThird partyHas a way to combine multiple feeds (feed
combiner) but only those that are pre-programmed
RapidFeeds: MySite
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RapidFeeds: MySite
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RapidFeeds: MySite
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RapidFeeds: MySite
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RapidFeeds:MySite
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RapidFeeds: MySite
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RapidFeeds: MySite
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RapidFeeds: MySite
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RapidFeeds: MySite
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LimitationsRegistration does not work with newer e-mail
addresses. (Insisted my .info address was invalid)
Code supplied is longer than all others as it contains all the CSS. Would want to move that to an external file.
RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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RSS2HTML
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LimitationsThird party service.Minimal customization / limited to their
templates / can’t make it look like your site.Did not work well on some feeds and not at all
on others. (No luck with GoogleNews. Mixed results with Flickr.)
Given a URL to embed with, not a script, which forces embedding via iframe.
Feed2JS
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Feed2JS
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Feed2JS
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Feed2JS
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Feed2JS
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Feed2JS
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LimitationsThird party
(but you can download and install it on your own server which is recommended)
FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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FeedDigest
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LimitationsThird party service.Limited to five feeds in free version.
Scrolling RSS News Ticker
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Scrolling RSS News Ticker
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Scrolling RSS News Ticker
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Scrolling RSS News Ticker
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Scrolling RSS News Ticker
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LimitationsThird partyShows small advertisement
RSS Scrollbox Widget
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RSS Scrollbox Widget
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RSS Scrollbox Widget
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RSS Scrollbox Widget
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RSS Scrollbox Widget
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LimitationsThird partyShows small advertisement
Ad free, local-hosted version available for $35.
Grazr
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Grazr
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Grazr
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Grazr
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Grazr
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Grazr
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LimitationsThird party
LibraryThing Blog Widget
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LibraryThing Blog Widget
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LibraryThing Blog Widget
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LimitationsRequires JavaScriptRequires LibraryThing account
Michael SauersTechnology Innovation
LibrarianNebraska Library
CommissionInternet Librarian 2007
Integrating RSS into Your Web site Part 5:
Advanced Feed Manipulation
FeedBlendr
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FeedBlendr
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FeedBlendr
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FeedBlendr
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FeedBlendr
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LimitationsCould not get OPML importing to work.Third party service could disappear at any
time.“If this blend is not accessed for more than 2
weeks, it will be removed from the database and will need to be recreated.”
FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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FeedBurner
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LimitationsSince by using this you get a new feed URL,
it is not recommended you use it on existing feeds.
Your feed will be relying on a third party to work. If the company goes under, your feed will disappear.
Feed Crier
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Feed Crier
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Feed Crier
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LimitationsOnly three feeds for freeFree version advertisement supportedWorks only with AIM
ZapTXT
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ZapTXT
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ZapTXT
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ZapTXT
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ZapTXT
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ZapTXT
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LimitationsCan’t handle feeds that require loginsSometimes reports a feed as “not valid” and
there’s nothing you can do about it.Searches on multiple keywords are “OR”
searches. “AND” searches don’t seem to be possible.
Mail2RSS
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Mail2RSS
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Mail2RSS
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Mail2RSS
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Mail2RSS
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LimitationsBloglines doesn’t like the RSS2.0 feeds, use
the 1.0 link insteadMail automatically deletes after seven daysFeeds are limited to 20 itemsPotential security issue when using Subscribe
with Bloglines bookmarklet(next slide)
Mail2RSS
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RssFwd
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RssFwd
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RssFwd
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RssFwd
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RssFwd
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RssFwd
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RssFwd
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LimitationsSome (including me) argue that converting
RSS to e-mail defeats the purpose of RSS.
Feed2Podcast
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Feed2Podcast
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Feed2Podcast
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Feed2Podcast
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Feed2Podcast
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LimitationsYour feeds are read by a computer generated
voice.Non-English words are not well supported.
Contact information
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Michael [email protected]
http://travelinlibrarian.info/http://del.icio.us/travelinlibrarian/il2007/rss