I missed this when it first came out, (I was in the depths of the post-holiday haze), and thought maybe you might have too:
Google put out a nice tutorial video on Getting Started with Google Reader, perfect for anyone looking to get in on RSS-feeds and readers without knowing where to start:
Showing posts with label google reader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label google reader. Show all posts
22 January 2009
24 November 2008
Read It Later, Part II [Site Review]
Last week, we talked about the online bookmarking tool Read It Later, and how it can help you organize web sites that you want to mark to read, but don't necessarily want to bookmark.
This week I want to talk briefly about another feature of Read It Later, namely its integration with RSS feed reader Google Reader. This feature is only available with use of the Firefox extension, so those who have installed and use RIL on another browser will not find this post of use.
Reading It Later, Blog Style
If you subscribe to a number of different blogs in a number of different areas of interest (as many of us do), you may find that you have a difficult number of blog posts to track and read. Using Read It Later can help maximize the time you spend reading blogs, while minimizing the time spent wading through hundreds of thousands of posts.
Here's a shot of my Google Reader genealogy pane, with the Read It Later Firefox extension installed. Notice the line of checkmarks which has been added to the list-view lines, between the stars and the blog post titles:
While browsing posts in list view I can select blog posts that look to be of interest to me by clicking on the checkmark:
Doing so adds those blog posts to my Reading List, visible here as the last three items on my list:
I can now mark all the items in my genealogy folder as "read" within Google Reader, and I am no longer drowning in unread posts that make for a daunting visit to my RSS Reader!
The Best Part
The excellent thing about this feature, is that when clicked on to read from the Reading List, these items will open on their original site. That is, the integration between RIL and Google Reader means that you can bookmark the pages of the original blog posts without ever leaving the Google Reader environment. Previously, a user would have to see the blog post in Google Reader, click through to the original item on the original blog site, then add the page to the Reading List. The new integrated version accomplishes the same things with much more efficiency!
This week I want to talk briefly about another feature of Read It Later, namely its integration with RSS feed reader Google Reader. This feature is only available with use of the Firefox extension, so those who have installed and use RIL on another browser will not find this post of use.
Reading It Later, Blog Style
If you subscribe to a number of different blogs in a number of different areas of interest (as many of us do), you may find that you have a difficult number of blog posts to track and read. Using Read It Later can help maximize the time you spend reading blogs, while minimizing the time spent wading through hundreds of thousands of posts.
Here's a shot of my Google Reader genealogy pane, with the Read It Later Firefox extension installed. Notice the line of checkmarks which has been added to the list-view lines, between the stars and the blog post titles:
While browsing posts in list view I can select blog posts that look to be of interest to me by clicking on the checkmark:
Doing so adds those blog posts to my Reading List, visible here as the last three items on my list:
I can now mark all the items in my genealogy folder as "read" within Google Reader, and I am no longer drowning in unread posts that make for a daunting visit to my RSS Reader!
The Best Part
The excellent thing about this feature, is that when clicked on to read from the Reading List, these items will open on their original site. That is, the integration between RIL and Google Reader means that you can bookmark the pages of the original blog posts without ever leaving the Google Reader environment. Previously, a user would have to see the blog post in Google Reader, click through to the original item on the original blog site, then add the page to the Reading List. The new integrated version accomplishes the same things with much more efficiency!
17 November 2008
Automate Your Online Searches-Google Edition [Quick Tips]
Google now allows you to receive updates from their Google Alerts tool via RSS feed. This change updates the tool and removes one of my long-standing grudges against Google Alerts: that they cluttered my email inbox!
If you don't know what a Google Alert is, never fear. I've got a quick tutorial below which will get you up to speed. Give Google Alerts a shot and rest easier at night knowing that the power of technology is scouring the web for you (even while you sleep!) and alerting you to the newest information being added to the web about your research subjects.
What Google Alerts Are
As I rhapsodize above, Google Alerts are automated searches that you can setup through your Google Account. Much like running a regular Google search, these alerts search the web for sites matching your search terms. The beauty of Google Alerts is that the searches managed through Google Alerts run continuously, and you receive updated search results from your alerts whenever new content matching your terms is indexed by Google! How very handy.
Let's set up an alert, and you'll see better what I mean. (Note that you have to have a Google Account to setup and manage alerts. If you don't have one, you can set one up here. You will also need to use or be using Google Reader or another RSS feed reader in order to make use of the RSS feed.)
Setting up Google Alerts
Once you have signed into your Google Account, go to the Google Alerts page to set up your alert.
Once there, enter your search term in the box on the right. (Note that the intial alert set-up form has not been altered to allow you to select an RSS feed; we'll do that later).
I am entering the name of an ancestor that I am researching. Since this is an unusual name, I won't be adding any qualifiers to the search (like "+Charleston" or "+steamboat") to refine it as I would with a more common name:
Ordinarily, if you set up a standard emailed Google Alert, you can select the frequency with which you receive results. However, once you change to an RSS feed, your frequency request will automatically be reset to "as-it-happens".
Once you have hit "Create Alert" you will be taken to this page, where you will see the alerts you have already setup (if any). Click on the "edit" link to the right of the alert you want to change into an RSS feed:
The alert will change to edit mode. Select "feed" from the drop-down menu, as shown, then click "Save":
The alert now shows up as an RSS feed, and can be viewed in Google Reader:
If you don't use Google Reader, you can click on the Feed chicklet to get the alert feed's URL for use in another reader.
Here's a view of my new Google Alert RSS feed in Google Reader:
If you don't know what a Google Alert is, never fear. I've got a quick tutorial below which will get you up to speed. Give Google Alerts a shot and rest easier at night knowing that the power of technology is scouring the web for you (even while you sleep!) and alerting you to the newest information being added to the web about your research subjects.
What Google Alerts Are
As I rhapsodize above, Google Alerts are automated searches that you can setup through your Google Account. Much like running a regular Google search, these alerts search the web for sites matching your search terms. The beauty of Google Alerts is that the searches managed through Google Alerts run continuously, and you receive updated search results from your alerts whenever new content matching your terms is indexed by Google! How very handy.
Let's set up an alert, and you'll see better what I mean. (Note that you have to have a Google Account to setup and manage alerts. If you don't have one, you can set one up here. You will also need to use or be using Google Reader or another RSS feed reader in order to make use of the RSS feed.)
Setting up Google Alerts
Once you have signed into your Google Account, go to the Google Alerts page to set up your alert.
Once there, enter your search term in the box on the right. (Note that the intial alert set-up form has not been altered to allow you to select an RSS feed; we'll do that later).
I am entering the name of an ancestor that I am researching. Since this is an unusual name, I won't be adding any qualifiers to the search (like "+Charleston" or "+steamboat") to refine it as I would with a more common name:
Ordinarily, if you set up a standard emailed Google Alert, you can select the frequency with which you receive results. However, once you change to an RSS feed, your frequency request will automatically be reset to "as-it-happens".
Once you have hit "Create Alert" you will be taken to this page, where you will see the alerts you have already setup (if any). Click on the "edit" link to the right of the alert you want to change into an RSS feed:
The alert will change to edit mode. Select "feed" from the drop-down menu, as shown, then click "Save":
The alert now shows up as an RSS feed, and can be viewed in Google Reader:
If you don't use Google Reader, you can click on the Feed chicklet to get the alert feed's URL for use in another reader.
Here's a view of my new Google Alert RSS feed in Google Reader:
27 August 2008
Feeding eBay [Quick Tips]
I covered the fine art of subscribing to feeds from Flickr a while back, but today I wanted to give a quick tip on subscribing to feeds from ebay.
If you're particularly interested in a certain city, state or area, checking ebay on occasion is a good move, as interesting photos, postcards, letters, even newspapers, magazines and other historic items often appear up for sale on the site. Even if you're not interested in purchasing the items, just browsing can be a rewarding experience.
Since we're all about being automated and having our content come to us, let's subscribe to an RSS feed for our ebay search!
Enter Your Search Term
Even if you've never used ebay before, the site layout is relatively easy to use for our purposes. Just focus on the big search field at the top of the homepage. Enter the location you are interested in, and use the drop-down menu to select a category to search in. I like to use the "Collectibles" category, which seems to be a catch-all for historical items:
Locate the Feed Button
After you click the Search button, you'll be presented with a page of results. Note that you can refine your results using the sub-categories on the left-hand side:
Once you have refined your results (if desired), find the RSS-feed button on the bottom of the page:
Click the button and follow instructions particular to your feed reader.
Sit Back and Enjoy
Here's a glimpse of what my ebay feed looks like in Google Reader:
Success! Now I can peruse posted items of interest without having to remember to go to ebay to look!
If you're particularly interested in a certain city, state or area, checking ebay on occasion is a good move, as interesting photos, postcards, letters, even newspapers, magazines and other historic items often appear up for sale on the site. Even if you're not interested in purchasing the items, just browsing can be a rewarding experience.
Since we're all about being automated and having our content come to us, let's subscribe to an RSS feed for our ebay search!
Enter Your Search Term
Even if you've never used ebay before, the site layout is relatively easy to use for our purposes. Just focus on the big search field at the top of the homepage. Enter the location you are interested in, and use the drop-down menu to select a category to search in. I like to use the "Collectibles" category, which seems to be a catch-all for historical items:
Locate the Feed Button
After you click the Search button, you'll be presented with a page of results. Note that you can refine your results using the sub-categories on the left-hand side:
Once you have refined your results (if desired), find the RSS-feed button on the bottom of the page:
Click the button and follow instructions particular to your feed reader.
Sit Back and Enjoy
Here's a glimpse of what my ebay feed looks like in Google Reader:
Success! Now I can peruse posted items of interest without having to remember to go to ebay to look!
10 July 2008
Cutting Blog Overload
When I finally got my one-year old down for his morning nap, and settled in front of the computer to get my blog reading done, this is what Google Reader had waiting for me:
This adds up to 2,399 blog posts that I supposedly am interested in, and supposedly want to read. And, in truth, I do. But, as aforementioned one-year old will be up within an hour or two, and with other household duties to perform, I simply can't take the time to read it all.
How to cope?
Enter AideRSS and their spiffy Google Reader add-on for Firefox or Greasemonkey.
The extension makes use of PostRank to identify blog posts with the most value, judged by user interaction, linking, etc. You can then filter your posts by PostRank value, and skim posts to keep up on the latest, without having to plow through every post in your lineup in order to find what really matters.
The install for Firefox is incredibly easy... one click and you're done. The usability is great, although it will take me a while to judge just how efficiently or accurately PostRank is determining what "really matters" in my various blogospheres.
This video tells all about the app and how to install:
This adds up to 2,399 blog posts that I supposedly am interested in, and supposedly want to read. And, in truth, I do. But, as aforementioned one-year old will be up within an hour or two, and with other household duties to perform, I simply can't take the time to read it all.
How to cope?
Enter AideRSS and their spiffy Google Reader add-on for Firefox or Greasemonkey.
The extension makes use of PostRank to identify blog posts with the most value, judged by user interaction, linking, etc. You can then filter your posts by PostRank value, and skim posts to keep up on the latest, without having to plow through every post in your lineup in order to find what really matters.
The install for Firefox is incredibly easy... one click and you're done. The usability is great, although it will take me a while to judge just how efficiently or accurately PostRank is determining what "really matters" in my various blogospheres.
This video tells all about the app and how to install:
02 July 2008
Feeding Flickr
If you have never perused the photo-sharing site Flickr for genealogy-related photos, you are missing out! On Flickr you can find everything from photos documenting particular family histories, to photos of historic architecture, clothing, jewelery, monuments, gravesites, and more. You can even search by location, thanks to recent "geotagging" efforts. You'll be amazed at what you can find.
As if that weren't enough, did you know that you can subscribe to RSS feeds of Flickr photo groups and individual users? This allows you to receive a continually updated stream of the photos through your favorite feed reader (Google Reader, My Yahoo Page, browser, Bloglines, etc.). As they do for following blogs, Flickr feeds make it amazingly easy to keep tabs on new photos that are being uploaded to groups that interest you. You can also follow the photostreams of individuals, which can be very helpful for collaborative efforts.
Getting Your Feed On
Subscribing to Flickr feeds is incredibly easy. Here's how to do it:
In this instance, I am interested in the Long Island, NY History photo group. While browsing the page of photos for this group, you can see that the standard feed icon appears in the address bar of my Firefox browser:
If you are using Internet Explorer, you'll find the feed icon appearing in the toolbar below the address bar:
You can also find the feed icon at the bottom of any Flickr photo page:
When you click on the icon, you will be given the option to subscribe to the RSS or Atom Feed for that particular page:
Important: Make sure that you are on the "Pool" page for a particular group, or you may end up subscribing to the group's comments instead of the photostream! To be sure, the click option should read as it does in the image above (note that it says "pool feed"). For individuals, this will read "photostream".
You'll have to follow instructions for your particular reader in order to get your feed setup completely. I use Google Reader, so the setup is pretty easy. Here's the final product, the feed as it appears in my reader:
Voila! I can now follow my favorite Flickr groups without having to leave the comfort of my reader!
As if that weren't enough, did you know that you can subscribe to RSS feeds of Flickr photo groups and individual users? This allows you to receive a continually updated stream of the photos through your favorite feed reader (Google Reader, My Yahoo Page, browser, Bloglines, etc.). As they do for following blogs, Flickr feeds make it amazingly easy to keep tabs on new photos that are being uploaded to groups that interest you. You can also follow the photostreams of individuals, which can be very helpful for collaborative efforts.
Getting Your Feed On
Subscribing to Flickr feeds is incredibly easy. Here's how to do it:
In this instance, I am interested in the Long Island, NY History photo group. While browsing the page of photos for this group, you can see that the standard feed icon appears in the address bar of my Firefox browser:
If you are using Internet Explorer, you'll find the feed icon appearing in the toolbar below the address bar:
You can also find the feed icon at the bottom of any Flickr photo page:
When you click on the icon, you will be given the option to subscribe to the RSS or Atom Feed for that particular page:
Important: Make sure that you are on the "Pool" page for a particular group, or you may end up subscribing to the group's comments instead of the photostream! To be sure, the click option should read as it does in the image above (note that it says "pool feed"). For individuals, this will read "photostream".
You'll have to follow instructions for your particular reader in order to get your feed setup completely. I use Google Reader, so the setup is pretty easy. Here's the final product, the feed as it appears in my reader:
Voila! I can now follow my favorite Flickr groups without having to leave the comfort of my reader!
20 June 2008
Quick Tip: Google Blog Search
If you are a blog fan, and are always on the lookout for new blogs covering content that interests you, you should try out Google's Blog Search.
This specialized search engine is easy to use, capitalizing on the same search functionality and phraseology that you can use for any typical search. Simply enter your search:
... and Google will present to you all of the blog posts containing your search term(s). You can refine the dates of the blog posts using the toolbar on the left-hand side of the results:
This feature is helpful for when you are looking for posts on time-sensitive subjects, such as recent announcements, data releases, etc.
Another Tool
Another useful tool, available if you use Google Reader, is the ability to create and subscribe to a feed based on your search term. This customized feed will store your search term, and continuously update itself with applicable posts as those posts are made.
The link to create a customized feed is located at the bottom of the blogsearch screen, underneath the results:
Clicking on the link will take you to your Google Reader account, where you can subscribe to the feed, file it as you please, then sit back and enjoy the customized information streaming into your reader!
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