14 Other Ways to Use RSS Feeds

The Enduring Value of RSS Feeds

RSS stands as a significant advancement for the internet, comparable in impact to the introduction of email. It has fundamentally altered how we consume information online, boosting productivity and convenience in numerous ways.

Beyond simply utilizing RSS feeds with a traditional feed reader, a variety of alternative applications exist to enhance content interaction.

Exploring Alternative Uses for RSS

While many are acquainted with the core function of RSS feeds and feed readers, the potential of this technology extends far beyond basic subscription. Numerous innovative methods allow for expanded content utilization.

• Content Aggregation: Feeds can be combined from multiple sources into a single, customized view.
• Monitoring Keywords: Track mentions of specific terms or phrases across the web.
• Project Collaboration: Share updates and relevant articles with team members.

These are just a few examples illustrating the versatility of RSS. Its adaptability continues to provide value in a constantly evolving digital landscape.

The initial benefits of RSS – increased efficiency and a more enjoyable browsing experience – remain central to its appeal. However, the capacity for novel applications ensures its continued relevance.

SendMeRSS: Email Delivery of RSS Feed Updates

SendMeRSS, also frequently referred to as R-mail, provides a convenient solution for users who prefer managing information directly within their email inbox.

This service is designed for individuals who favor email communication and wish to stay current with updates from RSS feeds without needing a dedicated feed reader.

How SendMeRSS Functions

SendMeRSS operates by accepting any RSS feed and subsequently delivering new content updates to your email address.

The system diligently monitors feeds for new publications at intervals of no less than two hours.

Consequently, any newly published content will be delivered to your inbox within a maximum timeframe of two hours, ensuring timely information access.

Key Benefits

• Email-Centric Approach: Ideal for those who primarily use email for communication.
• Timely Updates: Receive notifications of new content within a two-hour window.
• Universal Feed Compatibility: Works with any standard RSS feed.

Essentially, SendMeRSS bridges the gap between RSS feeds and email, offering a streamlined method for staying informed.

MailBucket: Transforming Email into RSS Feeds

Please note that MailBucket is currently non-functional. However, the following information details how it previously operated as a useful online tool.

MailBucket was designed to allow users to monitor specific emails directly within their RSS feed reader. This provided a convenient method for staying updated on information delivered via email.

How MailBucket Functioned

The process involved a straightforward setup. Initially, a filter needed to be established within your email client.

This filter was configured to forward selected messages to a unique address provided by MailBucket: XYZ@mailbucket.org.

Following this, users could access a customized RSS feed generated by MailBucket using the following URL: http://mailbucket.org/XYZ.xml, where 'XYZ' represented a user-defined identifier.

Practical Applications

While forwarding all email to an RSS feed isn't generally recommended due to security and convenience concerns, certain scenarios benefited from this functionality.

• Daily Reports: Receiving automated reports as easily digestible feed items.
• Newsletters: Consolidating newsletter content within your existing feed reading workflow.
• Specific Notifications: Tracking updates from particular sources or services.

In these instances, MailBucket offered a streamlined approach to information management.

It's important to reiterate that MailBucket is no longer operational, but understanding its functionality provides insight into innovative uses of RSS technology.

TwitterFeed: Automating RSS to Twitter Updates

TwitterFeed is a service that has proven valuable for consistently sharing content. It’s a recommended tool for anyone looking to automate their social media posting.

This free platform allows users to monitor multiple RSS feeds and automatically publish updates to a Twitter account.

Benefits for Bloggers

For blog owners, creating a dedicated Twitter account specifically for blog updates is a smart strategy. TwitterFeed facilitates this by enabling the automatic posting of all new blog content.

This allows Twitter users to easily follow the blog’s updates without needing to follow the main account.

Example in Practice

As an illustration, MakeUseOf (MUO) utilizes this approach. You can view their dedicated blog feed on Twitter at the following link.

• This demonstrates a practical application of TwitterFeed’s capabilities.
• It showcases how a separate Twitter account can effectively disseminate blog content.

By leveraging TwitterFeed, content creators can maintain a consistent online presence and reach a wider audience.

Pingie: RSS Feed Delivery to Mobile Devices

Please note that the Pingie service is currently non-operational. Originally, Pingie was a US-based service that enabled users to receive updates from RSS feeds directly as SMS text messages.

Key Features of the Former Pingie Service

The service was entirely free of charge and compatible with virtually any mobile phone capable of receiving standard text messages. No software installation or downloads were required to utilize Pingie’s functionality.

Users could subscribe to their preferred RSS feeds and receive timely notifications on their phones. This provided a convenient method for staying informed about new content without needing to actively check websites.

Service Limitations

It’s important to reiterate that Pingie is no longer functioning. The service was specifically designed for users located within the United States.

Despite its simplicity, Pingie offered a valuable solution for mobile users seeking a straightforward way to monitor RSS feed updates. However, its discontinuation means alternative methods must now be employed.

FeedJournal: Transforming RSS Feeds into Printable PDFs

FeedJournal provides a service for subscribing to and converting numerous RSS feeds into a visually appealing, printable newspaper format.

Users can easily collect their preferred feeds and then specify a desired layout, such as a three-column arrangement.

Generating Newspaper-Style Documents

The platform then generates a printable document designed to resemble a traditional newspaper.

This functionality is particularly well-suited for consuming news content and longer-form articles.

• Key Feature: Conversion of multiple RSS feeds.
• Output Format: Printable PDF newspaper.
• Customization: Adjustable layout options (e.g., 3-column).

FeedJournal offers a unique way to consolidate and enjoy online content in a familiar, offline format.

It’s an effective solution for those who prefer reading lengthy articles or staying updated on news in a printed, organized manner.

Integrating RSS Feeds with Wigitize

For website owners seeking to incorporate RSS feeds, Wigitize presents a streamlined and efficient solution. This platform facilitates the addition of feeds with notable ease.

A key differentiator of Wigitize lies in its provision of a remarkably lightweight and unstyled widget. This allows for complete customization of the widget's appearance to align with your website’s design.

Key Features of Wigitize

• Simplicity: Wigitize prioritizes a user-friendly experience, making RSS feed integration accessible.
• Lightweight Design: The widget is designed to minimize impact on website loading times.
• Customization: Full styling control is granted, enabling seamless integration with existing website aesthetics.

Unlike many competing services, Wigitize doesn’t impose pre-defined styles. Instead, it empowers users to tailor the RSS feed display precisely to their needs.

This flexibility makes Wigitize an ideal choice for developers and designers who require granular control over their website’s presentation.

ReminderFeed: Scheduled Reminders via Feedreader

Please note that ReminderFeed is currently non-operational. It previously offered a straightforward method for scheduling both single and recurring reminders directly within your preferred feed reader.

How ReminderFeed Functioned

The service allowed users to easily create reminders by completing a simple form. Users could then define both a start date and an end date for the reminder's activity.

Upon submitting the form and clicking the "create" button, a customized feed was generated. This feed contained the scheduled reminders.

Key Features

• Scheduling Options: Supported both one-time and recurring reminders.
• Custom Feed Generation: A unique feed was created for each reminder set.
• Simplicity: The interface was designed to be quick and easy to use.

ReminderFeed provided a convenient way to stay on top of important tasks or events by leveraging the existing infrastructure of RSS or Atom feed readers. However, it is important to reiterate that the service is no longer active.

TagMindr: A Retrospective

TagMindr was a service designed to facilitate scheduled RSS reminders. It provided a straightforward method for users to revisit webpages or images discovered during web browsing.

Core Functionality

The primary function of TagMindr was to allow users to set reminders for links or images. These reminders could be linked to bookmarks stored in various online accounts.

Supported Platforms

TagMindr integrated with several popular platforms, including:

• Delicious
• Twitter
• Flickr
• Magnolia

This integration enabled users to easily recall content they had previously saved on these services.

Current Status

It is important to note that TagMindr is no longer operational. The service has been discontinued, and its features are no longer available.

Despite its current unavailability, TagMindr offered a unique solution for managing and revisiting online content. It simplified the process of remembering interesting webpages and images found during browsing sessions.

FeedBlendr: RSS Feed Consolidation

FeedBlendr, also known as FeeDoor, was a service designed to consolidate multiple RSS and Atom feeds into a single, unified feed.

Functionality and Features

The primary function of FeedBlendr was to allow users to combine content from various sources. This included the capability to merge different types of feeds.

Specifically, it supported the integration of video and audio feeds – like podcasts – alongside traditional text-based feeds.

Service Status

Please note that FeedBlendr is currently non-operational. The service is no longer available for use.

Users seeking similar functionality will need to explore alternative feed aggregation tools.

FeedCrier: Real-Time RSS Feed Notifications via Instant Messaging

FeedCrier is a service designed to deliver updates from RSS feeds directly to your instant messaging application.

This allows users to stay informed about new content without constantly checking websites.

Supported Instant Messaging Platforms

FeedCrier is compatible with a variety of popular IM clients, including:

• AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)
• MSN Messenger (Windows Live Messenger)
• Jabber
• Google Talk

By leveraging these platforms, FeedCrier provides a convenient method for receiving feed notifications.

Users can configure FeedCrier to monitor specific RSS feeds and receive alerts whenever new content is published.

ZapTXT: Keyword Monitoring of RSS Feeds (Discontinued)

ZapTXT was a service designed to track RSS feeds for the presence of particular keywords. Upon detecting a new article containing the defined keywords, users would receive immediate notifications.

Alert Delivery Options

The system offered flexible alert delivery methods. Users could choose to receive notifications via email, through their preferred instant messaging application, or directly to their mobile phone.

This allowed for timely awareness of new content matching specific search criteria. The service provided a convenient way to stay informed about evolving topics.

It's important to note that ZapTXT is no longer available.

SpokenText: Transforming RSS Feeds into Audio Content

SpokenText is a service designed to automatically convert RSS news feeds into spoken word audio. This allows users to effectively subscribe to these feeds as podcasts, readily accessible through platforms like iTunes.

Key Features and Functionality

The core function of SpokenText is the automated conversion process. It takes information directly from RSS feeds and transforms it into a natural-sounding speech format.

Beyond simply listening, users have the flexibility to download these audio conversions. Recordings can be saved as mp3 files for offline access and personal archiving.

Accessibility and Convenience

SpokenText provides a convenient method for staying informed. It’s particularly useful for individuals who prefer to consume news and information while multitasking.

• Automatic Conversion: RSS feeds are converted to speech without manual intervention.
• Podcast Subscription: Easily subscribe to feeds as podcasts via iTunes.
• Downloadable Audio: Recordings are available for download in mp3 format.

This service offers a streamlined approach to audio news consumption, making information accessible in a new and convenient way.

RSSMixer: Consolidating Multiple RSS Feeds

RSSMixer was a useful service designed to aggregate several RSS feeds into a single, unified feed.

Functionality and Access

This tool enabled users to consolidate information from various sources into one convenient stream, accessible through standard feed readers, iPhones, or Apple Dashboards.

The process was straightforward; no account creation was necessary.

How it Worked

Users simply inputted the URLs of the desired feeds and clicked the "Mix" button.

Following this, a page appeared, presenting options for accessing the newly created combined feed.

Please note: As of recent checks, RSSMixer is no longer operational.

AideRSS: Streamlining Your RSS Feed Experience

AideRSS is a valuable tool for individuals who find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content from numerous RSS subscriptions.

It addresses the challenge of staying current with feeds when subscribed to a large number of sources.

How AideRSS Works

The core function of AideRSS is to analyze your existing RSS subscriptions and identify the most widely discussed stories.

Essentially, it filters out less-circulated content, presenting you with only the items generating significant "buzz."

This allows users to quickly focus on the most important and trending information.

Optimal Usage

For maximum effectiveness, AideRSS is best utilized with popular sources that consistently publish a substantial number of stories daily.

Examples of suitable sources include websites like Engadget, Gizmodo, and Mashable, which typically release more than 10-15 articles per day.

Feedback Welcome

We are continually striving to improve AideRSS.

If you have any suggestions or notice anything missing, please share your thoughts in the comments section.