Reading this comment by Dave gave me an idea for a cool feature that I’d like to see some desktop RSS aggregators like FeedDemon to adopt: remote access.
Desktop aggregators are great as they have a nice interface and can work independent of a web browser. But unlike web-based services like Bloglines, they’re not easy to use on the move – if you’re not using your machine then it can be difficult to keep track of what you’ve read. You could find an aggregator that fits on a USB keychain but if you’re in an internet cafe that won’t let you plug those in then you’re stuck.
Remote access, to some extent, solves this. It builds on a feature implemented in P2P clients like eMule and Shareaza, which allows you to administer the client via a web interface in addition to using the desktop interface. This works by the client including a small web server and opening a port on your computer which you can then access from other machines (providing your computer is switched on and has an active internet connection). So, say I have Shareaza running on this computer with remote access enabled – I can then go into university, find a computer, type in my laptop’s IP address and port number for Shareaza’s remote access feature into a web browser, and then login. Once there, I’d be able to see how my transfers were progressing and even do searches and start new transfers through my laptop. And when I got home, those transfers may well have finished. That’s all currently possible.
Now, imagine FeedDemon had this feature. I could go into university, find a computer, type in my laptop’s IP address and port number for FeedDemon’s remote access feature in a web browser, and then login. Once there, I could read the all the feeds I was subscribed to, update channels and add new feeds. And when I got home, the feeds I had read would show up as being read.
I don’t believe any aggregators support that yet but it would be an excellent feature to add, since it would combine the convinience of a desktop aggregator with the ability to read feeds anywhere that a web-based aggregator has.
I’ll Lazyweb this post, just so that it can attract attention.
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July 31, 2004 at 22:59
I suppose you could write a script yourself which acts as an RSS aggreator, runs on your webspace (with cache facilities – so it only updates each feed when you want it to be) and then produces an “uber-RSS feed” and/or a web page as necessary. Full web based configuration and since you don’t need a direct RSS aggreator to view it, you can read the headlines of all your major feeds from any web browser on any platform (even mobile phones).
Hmmm – that’s a programming project for you Neil
August 1, 2004 at 00:46
[More in response to the previous comment]
There are web-based things like http://www.planetplanet.org/ which runs http://planet.mozilla.org/ and http://feedhouse.mozillazine.org/ which I must admit I’m now switching too, rather than using FeedDemon.
August 1, 2004 at 00:47
Richy, isn’t that just Bloglines?
August 1, 2004 at 01:43
No need to dream of an aggregator like that Richy. I’ve been using feed on feeds for ages! It’s great. I get access to my RSS feeds in Work/College/Home
August 1, 2004 at 03:56
Yep I’ve been thinking about this problem I had with Feeddemon and not being able to carry it around. I do use Shareaza and the web access feature is indespensible ! Perhaps Nick will see this post and implement the features !
August 1, 2004 at 08:16
Richy, Dave M, Dave… I think what Neil is wanting is the ability to use the *same* feeds both in the aggregator and online without having to update it twice.
Am I right?
August 1, 2004 at 09:35
Why use an aggregator then if you want it synchronised across multiple computers? I must agree that bloglines is absolutely perfect for me, I can keep my read feeds synchronised across the four computers I regularly use. What does FeedDemon offer that Bloglines doesn’t?
August 1, 2004 at 10:12
Ciaran’s right. 99% of the time the desktop aggregator is fine, but if I’m without this machine and want to catch up with my feeds, it’s a little difficult.
Email is another example – at home, I’d use a POP3 account to save my mail, but if I was on the move and needed to check my email I’d like a Webmail interface to view it.
August 4, 2004 at 11:38
I’ve been thinking a bit about this.
I think what would be best is not to have remote access, as that opens up all sorts of security issues. Instead, build into the aggregators a function to keep your list in the aggregator and your list in something like Bloglines in sync.
In other words, the services would still be separate – you could use either one without worrying about the other – but you could easily keep your lists in sync from the aggregator. So if you add a URL in Bloglines, next time you sync up it’ll add it in your aggregator, and vice versa.
How’s this?
August 4, 2004 at 11:40
…or of course, the alternative could be to have the aggregator just be a front-end to the web-based service, which would also solve the problem.