New Google Reader Feature Can Create a Feed for Any Site
January 26, 2010
Google has launched a new feature for Google Reader that lets users create a custom feed to track changes on pages that don't have their own feed. In other words, you can follow changes to any site.
"These custom feeds are most useful if you want to be alerted whenever a specific page has been updated," says Google's Brian Shih. "For example, if you wanted to follow Google.org's latest products, just type 'http://www.google.org/products.html' into Reader's 'Add a subscription' field. Click "create a feed", and Reader will periodically visit the page and publish any significant changes it finds as items in a custom feed created just for that page."
Google points to examples like the Zillow home page, which would show new real estate listings, a Macy's special offers page, which would keep one informed of the latest special offers, and the NYU Computer Science Department page, which features news and highlights. You can certainly see the possibilities that this feature could open up. If data overload was a problem for you before, this probably isn't going to help. However, if you are looking to stay informed and up to date on even more web content, this might be just the ticket.
This new feature appears to solve any potential problems that could arise in the future with relation to the dying of RSS feeds. I'm not saying that they're dying, but some think they will, and if sites stop putting out RSS feeds, a feature like this would presumably allow you to continue using your feed reader to follow those sites anyway.
The feature provides short snippets of page changes so users can decide if the changes are enough to make the page worth going to. If you have a site, and you don't want Google to crawl or create feeds for it, you can opt-out. To do so, Google says you can:
- Add a <meta name="googlebot" content="noarchive"> tag to any page you don't want available in Reader. Google compares the cached and current versions of your page to determine if that page has been updated. Adding the NOARCHIVE meta tag will prevent Google from caching your page.
- Use robots.txt to block Googlebot from crawling your site. (You can block your entire site, or a file or directory.) However, if you decide to block Googlebot, your content will not be available to appear in search results. Doing this will not remove the previously generated feed from Reader, but Reader will stop generating feeds after this measure has been taken.
There are a few things that can prevent a site from being picked up by this feature. It only supports English-language content in HTML. Updates to content in iFrames and updates to content that requires signing in to view are not detected.
Have You Read This?
> Google Reader's Mobile Interface Upgraded
> Google Makes Google Reader More Personal
> Google Reader Gets Much-Needed Social Features
Google Now Has Its Own URL Shortener
December 15, 2009
Google made a couple of announcements today that actually combined for perhaps a more interesting announcement than either of them as stand-alone news items.
First, Google has added a new share button to the Google Toolbar, which allows users to share any site on the web via their social network of choice. Second, Google announced that with Feedburner, you can now set your feeds up to post to Twitter.
The thing that these two announcements have in common is that they both utilize a new URL shortener from Google. They tried to slip that in their quietly a couple of times, but then went ahead and made an announcement about the service itself.
The shortening service is located at goo.gl, but it is not available for broad consumer use at this point. Google is just using it itself to compliment the aforementioned services. In other words, you can't just go to goo.gl and shorten a URL yourself. However, Google says that in time, it may offer such an option.
"We think people who use the Google Toolbar and FeedBurner will benefit from a shortener that is easily accessible — making it faster and easier to share, post and email links," Google says. They also say the core goals of the Google URL Shortener are:
- Stability – ensuring that the service has very good uptime
- Security – protecting users from malware and phishing pages
- Speed – fast resolution of short URLs
Google's standard privacy policy applies to goo.gl. The company says that it may choose to publicly display aggregate and non-personally identifiable statistics about particular shortened links, such as the number of end use clicks.
On a related note, Facebook also now has its own URL shortener.
Have You Read This?
> Ushering In a Whole New Era of Linking Questions
> Short URL Spam a Big Threat in August
RSS E-mail 2.0 Critique
November 26, 2009
This is my unbiased review of Pawan’s recent release of ‘RSS E-mail 2.0′
What this is all about…
RSS E-mail 2.0 is a step-by-step tutorial kit containing 10 screen-capture VIDEO presentations on RSS e-mail subscription management for blog owners.
The best feature I like about is actually the video tutorial format; instead of reading a book, you could actually see how these “techie” stuff is done, right before you, so you can easily copy-cat the strategy revealed inside.
You’ll be able to easily understand what you need to do in order to manage, monetize and profit from your RSS feed content
What that means is that once your blog is setup with these RSS settings, you’ll be making money almost on auto-pilot.
If you always wanted to get paid without lifting a finger, then RSS E-mail 2.0 might provide you with the quick-fix solution, although getting rich overnight will probably never happen.
What I like about this video package is the insider “secrets”. For example… did you know you could get a new autoresponder account with AWEBER for just $1.00 [30-day trial]?
Also, do you really know how to setup your first e-mail autoresponder list in 10 minutes or less?
Or, how to create a new blog broadcast so that your subscribers get free blog updates in their inbox?
RSS E-mail 2.0 explains that and more, walking you step-by-step throughout the entire process.
And believe it or not, an autoresponder list is even more powerful than a feed broadcast. Once you capture your visitor’s email address you can follow-up with your subscribers on a regular basis, thus increasing your clicks & sales…
You can send one-time broadcast messages and recycle traffic to whatever site or product you wish… day in day out!
What I don’t like about this product is they only share a few real life RSS to Email case studies. I wished they’d include a lot more! But I guess that’s just me…
It’s in your best interest to put your hands on RSS E-mail 2.0 today if your blog RSS feed content is not fully monetized yet.
Check out the full product here and download the videos today if it fits you!
Latest Magazine WordPress Themes Gallery
July 26, 2009
Internet is a dynamic media where things are continuously changing and adapting. And just like the internet, the blogosphere is also changing quickly and seems to be tailored to meet the trends. Creative blogger will create a surprising theme and the entire blogosphere will be influenced to follow.
The most recent trends in the blogging world is the rise in popularity of many magazine-style WordPress themes. Many of them are paid themes, but there are also several free magazine style WordPress themes as well for people to download for free of charge. This post is our effort to collect them in one place for your convenience and is being updated weekly.
The following is a our collection of the best free and premium Magazine WordPress themes:
Free Magazine WordPress Themes
Scarlett Theme
Hamasaki Theme
Rebel Magazine Theme
Massive News Theme
Arthemia Free Theme (Premium Version Also Available)
Source | Download | Demo | Premium Version of Arthemia
Studio WordPress Theme
Jello Wala Mello Theme
Mimbo Theme
WP Gold Theme
Morning After Theme
Zeke 1.0 Theme
Forte Theme
Small Magazine Theme
Source | Download | (Unable to Locate a Demo)
Premium News Theme
Premium Magazine WordPress Themes
Church Theme
Church Theme ($59.95), All StudioPress Themes ($199.95)
Lifestyle Theme
Lifestyle Theme ($59.95), All StudioPress Themes ($199.95)
WP Smooth Theme
Single-Use ($99.00), Multiple-Use ($199.00), Developer’s Pack ($299.00)
One Theme (Fun Version)
Single-Use ($60.00), Multiple-Use ($110.00, $160.00, or $210.00), Developer’s Pack ($260.00)
Open Air Theme
Single-Use ($70.00), Developer’s Pack ($150.00)
Note: WP Hacks readers can now click here to get 2 premium themes from Woo Themes for the price of 1!
Newsday Theme
Single-Use ($45.00), Developer’s Pack ($150.00)
WP Vybe Theme
Single-Use ($99.00), Multiple-Use ($199.00), Developer’s Pack ($299.00)
Gemini Theme
Single-Use ($60.00), Developer’s Pack ($120.00)
Moviemaker Theme
Unlimited Websites ($37.00)
Fresh News Theme
Single-Use ($70.00), Developer’s Pack ($150.00)
Note: WP Hacks readers can now click here to get 2 premium themes from Woo Themes for the price of 1!
BloggingStream Theme
Single-Use ($70.00), Multiple-Use ($150.00)
Note: WP Hacks readers can now click here to get 2 premium themes from Woo Themes for the price of 1!
Shiva Pro Theme
Single-Use ($89.00), Multiple-Use ($149.00)
Carbonated Theme
Unlimited License ($70.00)
Fast Track Theme
Multiple-Use ($34.00)
WPSN Sports Theme
Multiple-Use ($38.00)
Arthemia Premium Theme
Single-Use ($70.00), Multiple-Use ($140.00), Developer’s Pack ($240.00)
Yamidoo Magazine Theme
Single-Use ($69.00), Multiple-Use ($119.00), Developer’s Pack ($149.00)
Kongo Theme
Single-Use ($45.00), Developer’s Pack ($150.00)
Mayones Theme
Single-Use ($45.00), Developer’s Pack ($150.00)
Traveler Theme
Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($179.95), Developer’s Pack ($279.95)
Technology Theme
Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($149.95)
WP Crystal Magazine Theme
Single-Use ($79.00), Multiple-Use ($179.00), Developer’s Pack ($279.00)
Celebrity Press Theme
Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($149.95), Developer’s Pack ($249.95)
Vanity Celebrity Theme
Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($149.95), Developer’s Pack ($249.95)
Celebrity Gossip Theme
Single-Use ($35.00), Multiple-Use ($95.00)
WP Jazz Theme
Single-Use ($99.00), Multiple-Use ($199.00), Developer’s Pack ($299.00)
Newspaper Theme
Single-Use ($59.00), Multiple-Use ($159.00), Developer’s Pack ($259.00)
NewsPro Theme
Single-Use ($59.00), Multiple-Use ($159.00), Developer’s Pack ($259.00)
Suvi Magazine Theme
Single-Use ($59.00), Multiple-Use ($159.00), Developer’s Pack ($259.00)
iTeam Sports Theme
Single-Use ($59.95), Multiple-Use ($149.95)
Gamemaker Theme
Unlimited Websites ($37.00)
Church Life Theme
Office Theme
Office Theme ($59.95), All StudioPress Themes ($199.95)
WP Clear Theme
Single-Use ($99.00), Multiple-Use ($199.00), Developer’s Pack ($299.00)
bSocial Theme
Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($150.00)
