IDNetters Forums

Technical News & Discussion => Windows News & Discussion => Topic started by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 12:29:50

Title: Do you RSS?
Post by: 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?
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Inactive on Feb 14, 2008, 12:49:43
Never used them Rik. ;)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: madasahatter on Feb 14, 2008, 12:52:53
Me neither - am I missing out on something really good?
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on Feb 14, 2008, 12:53:53
Me neither.  Not even the IDNet ones.  :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 12:55:54
So, given the choice, would you like to see the IDNet info delivered by email instead?
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: madasahatter on 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
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: madasahatter on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 13:04:56
I find it useful, not so much on bandwidth as on receiving alerts automatically to any network issues.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Noreen on 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. 
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Si on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: colirv on 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!).
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Malc on 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. ;D
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Inactive on Feb 14, 2008, 13:53:12
It's his mobile phone connection Malc, posh bugger..  ;D
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Malc on Feb 14, 2008, 13:55:09
So, if I click, it rings his phone, or, is he texting to the forum.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Inactive on 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. ;)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on 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. :)
Title: I've been playing with a new reader
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 14:32:12
From Attensa, (http://www.attensa.com/products/?_kk=attensa&_kt=3ab27ed5-00b4-459c-8d78-3681455cf53e&gclid=CIr96oryw5ECFQqwQwod1yScCQ) it integrates with Firefox, IE and Outlook.

It's free too. :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Malc on Feb 14, 2008, 14:36:14
Quote from: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 14:28:15


call Simon.

Why? He's done nothing wrong :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 14:37:08
 :P  :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: mogden on 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?  :laugh:
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 15:14:52
Yes, I think that fully qualifies you Matt. :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on 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.  :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 16:25:14
Presumably that's a limitation of the WAP browser (or interface)?
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on 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.  ;)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 16:42:31
SMF rules, but it's still Nokia for me. :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on Feb 14, 2008, 16:48:39
Well, not having an SE doesn't seem to be impeding your access to the forum!  ;D
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 14, 2008, 16:50:56
True, but then I'm never far from my router...
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: madasahatter on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on Feb 14, 2008, 16:58:37
Mine kept logging me out, Mad, so I will be interested to see how you get on.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: madasahatter on Feb 14, 2008, 17:16:33
I will let you know mate :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: talos2 on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Sebby on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Gary on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Lance on 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!
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on 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?
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Lance on 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!
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Lance on Feb 19, 2008, 08:03:08
I like the look of the Nokia N96 - wonder what that'll be like to use!
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Simon on 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.  :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 19, 2008, 09:29:51
Black is my favourite colour in most things - I'd have made a great professional mourner. :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Lance on 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.
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 19, 2008, 10:33:40
Time for a weekend in NY, Lance? :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Lance on Feb 19, 2008, 10:42:00
If I could afford to, Rik, I would!   :P
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on 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. :)
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Lance on Feb 19, 2008, 10:45:57
But seeing I don't buy my phones anyway - I get them free on contract!  :(
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Rik on Feb 19, 2008, 10:47:49
But not in black, at least yet. :)

One to go!!!
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Gary on 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 :rant2:
Title: Re: Do you RSS?
Post by: Lance on 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!