Ilium Software NewsBreak v1.2

[MarcFou]

Ilium NewsBreak has always been a popular choice when it comes to mobile RSS. With our busy schedules, it’s not always convenient to read numerous news sources everyday. NewsBreak rises to the occasion by offering several options for downloading and viewing news while on the go. So how does NewsBreak perform? How could it fit into your mobile lifestyle? Read on to find out!

[Pony99CA]

PROS

* Performs well and downloads messages quickly
* Does not require allot of storage space
* Today plug-in included
* Keyword notifications

CONS

* Can't mark individual messages as read/unread
* Full copies of the messages aren't downloaded for offline reading
* No override of channel properties (can't specify how many messages to download for a channel)

I'm using the Smartphone version of NewsBreak 1.2 on my Motorola Q. It seems very similar to the Pocket PC version, although there's no Home screen plug-in corresponding to the Today screen plug-in. I don't find that to be a big negative, though.

I agree with the other Pros and Cons, with a couple of additions.

The biggest is the inability to mark individual messages as read or unread. I think that's a subset of my real complaint -- the inability to flag messages in any way after downloading them. For example, if I see an article that I want to follow-up on, I'd like to be able to flag the article with an icon of my choosing (and if the icon propagated up to the feed itself, that would be better). You could use that capability to simulate a read/unread change by choosing an icon to represent messages that you read but wanted to read again.

The next comment is about the ability to download full copies of messages. I can certainly understand why they that don't allow that given the limited memory on devices (although being able to store content on a memory card alleviates that quite a bit).

However, for non-connected devices like your basic Pocket PC, it would be nice to have an option to download the full article. For connected devices like Pocket PC Phones and Smartphones with unlimited data plans, it's not nearly as important.

However, the inability to flag messages or even change a message's read/unread state would cause me to knock a whole point off the score. The inability to change feed properties would probably get a small decrement, so I'd give NewsBreak for the Smartphone 3.5 stars. It's a good program, but there's plenty of room for improvement.

Steve

[Ilium Software]

Hi!

Great article and very complete. I love it when a review takes a really close look at all aspects of a program. Regarding the Cons and complaints please allow me to comment on these.

Can't mark individual messages as read/unread

Actually you can on both PPC and Smartphone. On a PPC just tap and hold on the specific article in the headline view (the view for a channel where you see all the latest headlines). You can choose Mark Read or Mark Unread right from there. On a smartphone, select the headline and choose Menu->Item->Mark as Read.

Full copies of the messages aren't downloaded for offline reading

There is a very good reason for this actually and it has to do with copyright. The easiest thing to do is read a post I just wrote about this very subject. You can read it here (http://blog.iliumsoft.com/?p=114). It should explain this quite well.

No override of channel properties (can't specify how many messages to download for a channel)

In fact, each channel provides us with a set number of messages in a single file. Some pages show the last 10, others the last 5, and others show dozens. What we could do is give the option to hide or show more or fewer messages, but in the long run, the feed sends us a page with X messages and we display that pre-determined set of messages.

So if the purpose is easier reading, we can probably help with that by looking at advanced filtering/hiding options. If the goal is to save memory, the files are VERY small and we can't actually get rid of parts of a file...we can only determine what displays.

Again, a really excellent article. Thanks!

Marc Tassin
Ilium Software
--------------------
marc@iliumsoft.com
+1 (734) 973-9388
---------------------
http://www.iliumsoft.com

And be sure check out our new blog! http://blog.iliumsoft.com/

[MarcFou]

Actually you can on both PPC and Smartphone. On a PPC just tap and hold on the specific article in the headline view (the view for a channel where you see all the latest headlines). You can choose Mark Read or Mark Unread right from there. On a smartphone, select the headline and choose Menu->Item->Mark as Read.

On the marking a message/article as read or unread, if I tap+hold on the headline, I don't have a context menu. There is a quick flash on the screen and nothing.

This proves to be the case on two devices both running WM5 (MDA & Axim x51v). From the soft key menu I have the option of marking all as read/unread.

As reference I am working from this screen...
http://www.pocketnow.com/html/portal/reviews/0000000907/review/nb5.jpg

Otherwise to combine and address a few other comments made...
After having used SPB Insight, I was very impressed with NewsBreaks speed and performance. The small amount of memory used I thought was a huge plus. Overall these considerations were made in determining the score.

Granted if NB did download full articles that would negate the performance and storage requirements. But would offer the option of full offline reading. I see that as both good and bad. This was an issue when I did the Insight review. A huge plus for offline reading, but overall the app suffers in the performance area because of it.

[Pony99CA]

Regarding marking items as read or unread:

Actually you can on both PPC and Smartphone. On a PPC just tap and hold on the specific article in the headline view (the view for a channel where you see all the latest headlines). You can choose Mark Read or Mark Unread right from there. On a smartphone, select the headline and choose Menu->Item->Mark as Read.
Like MarcFou (too many Marcs here :D), I see no Item option in the Smartphone menu. Are you using a Beta version, or have you released another version since 1.2.0.1038 that I'm using?

Regarding copying the full stories to the device:

There is a very good reason for this actually and it has to do with copyright. The easiest thing to do is read a post I just wrote about this very subject. You can read it here (http://blog.iliumsoft.com/?p=114). It should explain this quite well.
Fair enough, but how does MaximumSoft (http://maximumsoft.com) manage to sell WebCopier then? That whole product exists to copy Web pages to your PC or device for off-line reading.

Regarding copyright, what's the difference between a visit by your software and a visit by me personally? The hits should still be counted, although I suppose you're correct about ads not being served (or clickable).

Regarding changing channel properties:

In fact, each channel provides us with a set number of messages in a single file. Some pages show the last 10, others the last 5, and others show dozens. What we could do is give the option to hide or show more or fewer messages, but in the long run, the feed sends us a page with X messages and we display that pre-determined set of messages.

So if the purpose is easier reading, we can probably help with that by looking at advanced filtering/hiding options. If the goal is to save memory, the files are VERY small and we can't actually get rid of parts of a file...we can only determine what displays.
I obviously don't know what MarcFou intended to do, but I'd like to cache more stories than the feed served.

For example, if a very active feed only keeps 10 stories around, it's quite possible that I could miss some. What I'd like Newsbreak to do is perhaps keep the last 30 stories it downloaded (making sure duplicates were eliminated, of course). I know that's not as easy as it sounds, and you might get confused if a story changed after the first download, but I can live with that.

To give a more concrete example, consider this:

If I'm keeping 30 stories for a 10-story feed, the first download would get 10 stories.
If the next time the feed was polled there were 6 new stories (and 4 old), NewsBreak could add those 6 to the list (and hopefully keep the read/unread status for the 4 overlapping ones as it was -- unless the story had changed). We now have 16 stories in the cache.
If the third time the feed had gotten 15 new stories added, NewsBreak would get 10 new ones (and we'd miss 5) and add them to the cache. We now have 26 stories in the cache.
If the fourth time the feed had gotten 8 stories added (and 2 old ones still there), NewsBreak would delete the 4 oldest stories and add the 8 new ones to the cache. That would give us a total of 30 stories in the cache.
From them on, any new stories would push old ones from the cache.

That's what I'd expect from overriding the feed properties.

So basically, you'd be making and editing local copies of the feeds. If you can cache more like I suggested, you could also delete stories if somebody really wanted to keep fewer stories than the feed served.

Steve

[MarcFou]

I obviously don't know what MarcFou intended to do, but I'd like to cache more stories than the feed served.

For example, if a very active feed only keeps 10 stories around, it's quite possible that I could miss some. What I'd like Newsbreak to do is perhaps keep the last 30 stories it downloaded (making sure duplicates were eliminated, of course). I know that's not as easy as it sounds, and you might get confused if a story changed after the first download, but I can live with that.I meant to elaborate on that one before but didnt. For example I am used to the RSS reader in Opera: http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/m2/rss/index.dml

It uses the default channel properties as far as how many messages to get. But. Messages aren't deleted as new ones are downloaded. So you can keep a running archive of messages. Keep what you want, delete the others.

Thats what I would really like. I gave up RSS on my PC and now only use it on my PPC. So this is something I really miss. How many messages to download I guess is not the issue. Its how many to keep.

There is one feed for example where tips are posted. I would like to retain all of the messages for reference. When I did an update in NB I lost all of the messages (10 total) and they were replaced with the 10 newest. So what I am requesting is that the replace the old with new concept be optional. So this way I can run an archive and keep older items.

[Pony99CA]

It uses the default channel properties as far as how many messages to get. But. Messages aren't deleted as new ones are downloaded. So you can keep a running archive of messages. Keep what you want, delete the others.
It sounds like we're both asking for the same thing, then. And I like adding the ability to delete stories that you no longer care about.

Steve

[MarcFou]

Exactly, and for me that would make NB the ultimate RSS app. The offline reading is not as important to me. Many times I am content with the condensed version of the article. But if I could save messages, I could follow up and read them online later when WiFi permits.

[Ilium Software]

Excellent points all around regarding retaining headlines. I'll certainly keep these on "the list" as we go forward! I can certainly see the appeal.

As for the copyright issue, as I might have mentioned, we know other people do it and aren't getting sued. The problem is that getting away with something and whether or not it is legal are two different things. At this point, as far as I know, the final word on this hasn't come out of the courts. Until we are assured that caching web pages without the prior permission of the copyright holder is 100% legal, we just can't do it.

[Ilium Software]

As for the mark as read... *BLUSH* You are absolutely right. I AM using the beta version of the next release of NewsBreak and that feature (which was supposed to work in the current version) is fixed in this one. I am really sorry for the mis-information! I am so used to the new version that I totally forgot.

So the GOOD news is a new version is coming AND it fixes this problem! :)

[MarcFou]

Thanks for that update. That is great news!

[Pony99CA]

As for the copyright issue, as I might have mentioned, we know other people do it and aren't getting sued. The problem is that getting away with something and whether or not it is legal are two different things. At this point, as far as I know, the final word on this hasn't come out of the courts. Until we are assured that caching web pages without the prior permission of the copyright holder is 100% legal, we just can't do it.
I doubt you'll ever find a lawyer who will say something is "100% legal". :D Look at people still debating the Sony Betamax case and Fair Use.

My rule of thumb is that if you cache the entire page (including all ad links, images, etc.) and display it using Pocket IE, that's legal because it's no different than if somebody used Pocket IE themselves to read the story. The only difference would occur if the page was changed (or deleted) online.

Also, remember that there are Meta tags to disable caching (http://www.codeproject.com/html/meta.asp), so if the publisher doesn't want you to cache the story, they can put those tags in the page. As long as you respect those, how can caching not be legal?

I would have the cache option off by default to save storage.

However, as I said, caching isn't my big concern. I want user-defined story flagging first (beyond Mark As Read/Unread).

And thank you for your active participation here. It's always good to see people from the company respond to their users.

Steve

[Ilium Software]

And thank you for your active participation here. It's always good to see people from the company respond to their users.

No problem! Getting this sort of well thought out and detailed feedback makes my job a lot easier as well!

And we'll keep you updated on the new version NewsBreak!

Marc Tassin
Ilium Software
--------------------
marc@iliumsoft.com
+1 (734) 973-9388
---------------------
http://www.iliumsoft.com

And be sure check out our new blog! http://blog.iliumsoft.com/