Yahoo Pipes & IFTTT: Monitor the News You Need
Leveraging Automation for Personalized News Consumption
The benefits of automation are considerable. Any process that minimizes the manual effort required to reach a desired outcome should be embraced. We've previously explored tools for automating routine tasks, such as utilizing Wappwolf for cloud storage automation and IFTTT for backup procedures.
Now, we will demonstrate how IFTTT can be effectively integrated with Yahoo Pipes to generate tailored news feeds and alerts.
Harnessing the Power of Yahoo Pipes
Yahoo Pipes is a frequently underestimated resource capable of manipulating and refining news feeds to align with specific needs. Even when subscribing to an RSS feed from a preferred website, it’s probable that not every published post will be of interest.
Certain subjects may be deemed irrelevant, prompting the need for focused content delivery.
Independently, Yahoo Pipes facilitates the creation of customized RSS feeds. Multiple feeds from diverse sources can be consolidated into a single stream.
Furthermore, each individual feed can be subjected to various filtering mechanisms.
Creating Focused News Feeds
This capability allows users to monitor a website’s feed while selectively receiving only the content that aligns with their interests. For example, if you are solely interested in Android news, a filter can be established to deliver only stories pertaining to that topic.
Conversely, if you wish to stay informed about all topics except Linux, a pipe can be constructed to exclude news related to that operating system.
Ultimately, this combination of tools empowers users to curate a highly personalized and efficient news consumption experience.
Creating a Custom Information Pipeline
Begin by navigating to the Yahoo Pipes website and logging in with your existing Yahoo account. Alternatively, you can create a new account or utilize your Google or Facebook credentials for access.
Initiate the process by clicking the ‘Create a pipe’ button located at the top of the page. Subsequently, drag a Fetch Feed module from the Source section on the left-hand side onto the central workspace.
Input the URL of the RSS feed you intend to utilize. Multiple feeds can be added, so careful selection isn’t immediately crucial.
Each Fetch Feed module is designed to accommodate a single RSS feed. Therefore, simply add as many modules as required to incorporate all desired sources.
The primary benefit of constructing a pipe lies in its ability to curate a feed containing only the information you find relevant. This is achieved through the implementation of filtering mechanisms.
Expand the Operators section on the left and drag a Filter module onto the workspace. A separate filter can be applied to each news feed you’ve incorporated.
For the purpose of this example, we will configure the filters to display only articles pertaining to iOS 7 and the Play Station 4. Select ‘Permit’ from the initial dropdown menu within the Filter module, and then choose ‘any’ from the subsequent dropdown.
Configure the first field to ‘item.title’, ensuring the second field is set to ‘Contains’. Then, utilize the final field to specify your desired search terms or filter criteria.
Additional filters can be added by clicking the ‘+’ icon next to Rules, allowing you to refine the feed for specific websites.
Once the filters are established for a feed, connect the Filter module to the corresponding Fetch Feed module. This connection is made by dragging the node at the bottom of the Fetch Feed module to the node at the top of the Filter module.
Complete the setup of all desired filters for each selected feed. Ensure all modules are interconnected to enable filtering functionality.
Combining feeds before filtering is an option, but it limits the precision of the filtering process. You might want news about iOS 7 and Play Station 4 from different sources, for instance.
Finalize your pipe by dragging a Union module from the Operators section to the workspace. Then, connect this module to each of the Filter modules.
The Union Module must also be connected to the top of the Pipe Output, located at the bottom of the workspace.
Save your work by clicking the ‘Save’ button in the upper right corner of the page. Provide a name for the Pipe and click ‘Save’ again.
With the pipe saved, click the ‘Run Pipe’ link at the top of the page. You can then obtain the newly generated RSS feed from the ‘Get as RSS’ link.
Utilizing IFTTT for Content Monitoring
While manual feed monitoring is achievable through tools like Google Reader, leveraging IFTTT offers an automated solution for receiving alerts upon the publication of new articles. Begin by navigating to the IFTTT website and either logging in to an existing account or establishing a new one.
Initiate the creation process by clicking the "Create" link located at the top of the page.
Setting Up the Trigger
Select "this" and then choose the "Feed" icon. Since our goal is to receive notifications when articles containing specific keywords are published, click "New feed item matches." This selection allows for the development of multiple rules to manage diverse article types.
For example, you might prefer email notifications for iOS 7 news, while simultaneously adding PlayStation 4-related articles to Instapaper.
Input the keyword that will serve as the trigger, and then paste the URL of the RSS feed previously generated in Yahoo Pipes. Confirm your selections by clicking "Create Trigger."
Configuring the Action
Proceed by clicking the "that" link, followed by "Email." Select "Send me an email," customize the email format as desired, and then click "Create Action." Note that the email will be delivered to the address associated with your IFTTT account.
Provide a descriptive label for your new applet and click "Create."
The process can be replicated to create additional rules. This time, choose the "Feed" trigger and the "Instapaper" action for articles referencing PS4, or any other topic your customized feed focuses on.
Sharing Your Experiences
Have you discovered innovative applications for IFTTT and Yahoo Pipes? We encourage you to share your insights and experiences in the comments section below.