Exclusive: Washington Times for Avantgo & Co

Alexander Turcic · 11-11-2004, 12:02 PM

To test-drive a new automated system I've been working on, I am going to share with you new mobile links to (highly demanded) web pages that don't offer native mobile support. Those mobile links can be used with any offline and online browser. So... Avantgo, iSilo, Plucker & Co users, please enjoy

Feedback is greatly appreciated!

Today's links: Washington Times Mobile
Link-Depth: 1

Washington Times - World
Washington Times - Nation/Politics
Washington Times - Business
Washington Times - Editorials/Op-Ed
Washington Times - Commentary
Washington Times - Metropolitan
Washington Times - Sports
Washington Times - Entertainment

Bob Russell · 11-11-2004, 12:55 PM

Yippee!!!!!
It's a happy day for me. These feeds are great.

Tip for reading with iSilo...
Use the stylus to drag the screen as you go thru the titles with sample text. If you try to page down thru it, you may get kind of lost about where the titles are.

Alexander Turcic · 11-11-2004, 01:04 PM

Bob, do you have a suggestion how to improve usability? Perhaps we should enumerate the titles?

Harpgliss · 11-11-2004, 02:11 PM

Hi,

WOW!

This is content that I had only found thru Handstory.

I stopped using Handstory because of Isilo and missed this content.

Nice job as usual but like the CBS content and MSNBC content I would like to see the individual links consolidated into one.

Would there be ways to do these the way you have them now and the way I have requested them?

Not trying to make more work for you(seriously) but you did ask for the feedback.

Peace,

David

Bob Russell · 11-11-2004, 03:03 PM

Alex,

No matter what tweaks to make or not make, it's really an awesome presentatation of the content. But since you're asking, my personal preference would be:

1) The first list of one-liner links, would point directly to the full text story rather than the truncated example text. I figure either I want to scan the stories from the first one-liner list or from the truncated text, not start with the one-liner version and then move to the truncated text version and then move again to the full text. After all, if I wanted to do that, I'd probably just start with the truncated text in the first place, and ignore the one-liner lists. Currently, I do that because it's sort of the only reasonable option. But, like I said, it works fantastic just as it is right now.

<-- Me... very happy!

2) I also agree with David that it would be nice if there was a page that had links to all the sections. I.e. an additional new top-level page with a link for each of the Wash Times sections. Another new top-level page for all the CNET sections. Etc.
Then, if the original links remain available, I could also choose whether just to include, for example, the water cooler section of CBS news by itself, or to include all the content from CBS news.

Alexander Turcic · 11-11-2004, 04:48 PM

The problem with putting the content together is that I would have to fetch all content at once. The danger with this is that the connection could more easily time out (for it takes longer to fetch several pages at once).

However, after re-reading Bob's 2nd suggestion, I think I have an idea how to make this possible. Let me finish the database project, so I can move all the links to the database and clear the mess on my harddrive

Bob Russell · 11-11-2004, 05:07 PM

I wasn't sure what you meant about combining content, so just to clarify point #1, the existing layout would not have to change... the only thing that would change would be the destination of the links at the very top. It would redirect you to the full text instead of the truncated sample text.

Point #2.. Cool!

Alexander Turcic · 11-11-2004, 05:11 PM

Yes sorry I was only referring to point #2. Your first suggestion sounds good to me, although I personally prefer the current layout. Perhaps I should make it a user preference option.

Harpgliss · 11-11-2004, 05:15 PM

Hi,

Alex,sorry for not explaining myself clearer but,The idea that BobR suggested is pretty much what I would like to see.

Peace,

David

Colin Dunstan · 11-11-2004, 05:17 PM

I agree with you guys, it is more convenient to have the categories combined in one channel. The good thing about offering individual channels is that people can pick only the content they are interested in. Most don't know how to 'exclude' links, so they end up downloading everything causing unnecessary strain on bandwidth. So it is a tricky decision.

Bob Russell · 05-02-2005, 10:20 AM

Seems that the Washington Times feeds don't work anymore. Not sure if it's fixable either.... they just changed their web site. (Top level is okay, but when you try to go to the full article it errors out.) In fact, if you click on print, you no longer get a printable version. You just get a printer dialog.

Ugh. This is one of my favorites.

Alexander Turcic · 05-02-2005, 11:08 AM

Thanks for the heads up, Bob. I did some changes to the feeds; as soon as the cache expires (2 hours), they should work for you again.

Bob Russell · 05-04-2005, 05:09 PM

Yes, it's working great. After not seeing a printer-friendly page available on the web site I didn't think it could be done, but I'm glad you found a way. Thank you!

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11-11-2004, 12:02 PM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Exclusive: Washington Times for Avantgo & Co To test-drive a new automated system I've been working on, I am going to share with you new mobile links to (highly demanded) web pages that don't offer native mobile support. Those mobile links can be used with any offline and online browser. So... Avantgo, iSilo, Plucker & Co users, please enjoy Feedback is greatly appreciated! Today's links: Washington Times Mobile Link-Depth: 1 Washington Times - World Washington Times - Nation/Politics Washington Times - Business Washington Times - Editorials/Op-Ed Washington Times - Commentary Washington Times - Metropolitan Washington Times - Sports Washington Times - Entertainment

11-11-2004, 12:55 PM	#2
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Yippee!!!!! It's a happy day for me. These feeds are great. Tip for reading with iSilo... Use the stylus to drag the screen as you go thru the titles with sample text. If you try to page down thru it, you may get kind of lost about where the titles are.

11-11-2004, 01:04 PM	#3
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Bob, do you have a suggestion how to improve usability? Perhaps we should enumerate the titles?

11-11-2004, 02:11 PM	#4
Harpgliss Member Retired Posts: 149 Karma: 6287 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Hudson,Mi. Device: TH55	Hi, WOW! This is content that I had only found thru Handstory. I stopped using Handstory because of Isilo and missed this content. Nice job as usual but like the CBS content and MSNBC content I would like to see the individual links consolidated into one. Would there be ways to do these the way you have them now and the way I have requested them? Not trying to make more work for you(seriously) but you did ask for the feedback. Peace, David

11-11-2004, 03:03 PM	#5
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Alex, No matter what tweaks to make or not make, it's really an awesome presentatation of the content. But since you're asking, my personal preference would be: 1) The first list of one-liner links, would point directly to the full text story rather than the truncated example text. I figure either I want to scan the stories from the first one-liner list or from the truncated text, not start with the one-liner version and then move to the truncated text version and then move again to the full text. After all, if I wanted to do that, I'd probably just start with the truncated text in the first place, and ignore the one-liner lists. Currently, I do that because it's sort of the only reasonable option. But, like I said, it works fantastic just as it is right now. <-- Me... very happy! 2) I also agree with David that it would be nice if there was a page that had links to all the sections. I.e. an additional new top-level page with a link for each of the Wash Times sections. Another new top-level page for all the CNET sections. Etc. Then, if the original links remain available, I could also choose whether just to include, for example, the water cooler section of CBS news by itself, or to include all the content from CBS news.

11-11-2004, 04:48 PM	#6
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	The problem with putting the content together is that I would have to fetch all content at once. The danger with this is that the connection could more easily time out (for it takes longer to fetch several pages at once). However, after re-reading Bob's 2nd suggestion, I think I have an idea how to make this possible. Let me finish the database project, so I can move all the links to the database and clear the mess on my harddrive

11-11-2004, 05:07 PM	#7
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I wasn't sure what you meant about combining content, so just to clarify point #1, the existing layout would not have to change... the only thing that would change would be the destination of the links at the very top. It would redirect you to the full text instead of the truncated sample text. Point #2.. Cool!

11-11-2004, 05:11 PM	#8
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Yes sorry I was only referring to point #2. Your first suggestion sounds good to me, although I personally prefer the current layout. Perhaps I should make it a user preference option.

11-11-2004, 05:15 PM	#9
Harpgliss Member Retired Posts: 149 Karma: 6287 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Hudson,Mi. Device: TH55	Hi, Alex,sorry for not explaining myself clearer but,The idea that BobR suggested is pretty much what I would like to see. Peace, David

11-11-2004, 05:17 PM	#10
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	I agree with you guys, it is more convenient to have the categories combined in one channel. The good thing about offering individual channels is that people can pick only the content they are interested in. Most don't know how to 'exclude' links, so they end up downloading everything causing unnecessary strain on bandwidth. So it is a tricky decision.

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05-02-2005, 10:20 AM	#11
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Seems that the Washington Times feeds don't work anymore. Not sure if it's fixable either.... they just changed their web site. (Top level is okay, but when you try to go to the full article it errors out.) In fact, if you click on print, you no longer get a printable version. You just get a printer dialog. Ugh. This is one of my favorites.

05-02-2005, 11:08 AM	#12
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Thanks for the heads up, Bob. I did some changes to the feeds; as soon as the cache expires (2 hours), they should work for you again.

05-04-2005, 05:09 PM	#13
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Yes, it's working great. After not seeing a printer-friendly page available on the web site I didn't think it could be done, but I'm glad you found a way. Thank you!