天佑的自由天地

我轉用了 NewsAlloy 已經個多月，我已經完全沒有使用 Bloglines 來閱讀 feed 了，現今繼續使用 Bloglines 的原因只不過是因為我現時使用的 Blogroll plugin 是靠 Bloglines 來維持。

說說為何我會轉用 NewsAlloy 吧，一來 Bloglines 之前間中有暫停服務的時候，二來 loading 實在太慢了，有點忍受不了，所以便找尋另一個 online RSS reader，之前試用過 Rojo，及後不記得在那一個外國 blog 提及使用 Ajax 技術的 NewsAlloy，所以便一試，後果正如上段文字所講，已經不需用 Bloglines 來閱讀 feed 了。

在文章的閱讀方式，NewsAlloy 和 Rojo 是很類似的，文章是以時間倒序來排列，可以設定只顯示未閱讀文章，不像 Bloglines 那樣文章讀後便石沉大海，只需選擇 "All" 便能顯示所有文章，看到值得細讀的文章，click "Pin" icon 便可以，要閱讀所有已 pinned 的文章，只需選擇 "Pinned" 便可一覽無遺，實在非常方便。

以下是我使用了一段時間的意見可供大家作為參考。

優點：

• 使用了 Ajax 技術，速度比起 Rojo 更快
• 提供 shortcut key 的應用
• 有 floating toolbar，不需 scrolling 便可在旁邊使用 function icon
• 可以直接把文章加進 del.icio.us 及 Digg 內，這個功能實在方便，因為不是所有 feed 都使用 FeedBurner 的 FeedFlare 功能的
• 可以直接在 Technorati 和 Google 搜尋某文章的資料
• 自動改變編碼，將 Big5、GB 等編碼改變成 UTF-8 方便閱讀，思存‧記憶回收筒便是其中一個使用 Big5 feed 的例子，在 Bloglines 看只會是一堆亂碼
• Filter by period - 可自行設定顯示某段時間發表的文章
• Archives 功能，能自行設定將過了某些時間的文章自動搬往 Archives folder 內，減少文章的顯示數量
• 開發者 lordtime 的支援十分好，有問必答，還不斷修正問題及加添新的功能

缺點：

• 在 social networking 方面的功能仍然缺乏，不能知道那些人 subscribe 了相同的 feed，只能知道訂閱人數，亦不能知道其他用家訂閱了的 feeds，而在 tagging 方面，現時只有文章的 tagging 功能，但還未有使用這些 tags 的功能，在這方面比 Rojo 還差很遠
• 在 online help 方面非常缺乏，尤其是 shortcut key 的說明
• Export OPML file 功能尚未完善，不可以直接 export 所有 feeds，要自行揀選所有 feeds 才可進行 export
• 因使用 Ajax 的關係，在關閉了 javascript 功能的 browser 內不能運作（不過嚴格來說不算是缺點吧？現時大部份人都會啟動 javascript 支援吧？）
• 還未提供 API 給外界使用，如果有 API 提供的話，我和 Bloglines 的關係應該可以一刀兩斷:tongue1:
• 因為 NewsAlloy 還在開發中，所以有可能會有一些小問題出現

雖然 NewsAlloy 在某些功能上未及 Rojo，而某些人會覺得 NewsAlloy 的介面好像電郵系統而不喜歡，但感覺是很個人的，我的選擇是 NewsAlloy，不知大家的選擇又是那一個 RSS reader 呢？

相關鏈結

• Madthiu's PALACE » 如果 Bloglines 是梁詠琪，那我就是鄭伊健了

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As requested by the developer of NewsAlloy lordtime, this Chinese review is translated to English and post it below. Hope you don't mind my poor English. Besides, this is the first English article in my blog and it's a memorable moment as well.

Comments on NewsAlloy

Previously, I'm a long time Bloglines user. I've switched from Blogines to NewsAlloy for more than one month now. The only reason I'm still using Bloglines is that my Blogroll plugin is functionally based on Bloglines API.

Talking about the reasons of switch to NewsAlloy. First, there were several service stoppages in Bloglines previously. Second, the loading time of feeds is quite slow so I started to seek a better online RSS reader. First come across Rojo and then heard from a foreign blog I can't remembered that mentioned a new online RSS reader using Ajax called NewsAlloy. So I give it a try and stick with it.

For the presentation of articles, NewsAlloy is similar to Rojo, i.e. the articles are sorted by reversed chronological order. Those 'Read' articles will not disappear and can be viewed anytime which contrary to the approach of Bloglines that those read articles cannot be found for reading again. It's convenient to pin the articles for further reference by simply click the 'Pin' icon. To show all the pinned articles, select 'Pinned' option from the left and all done.

The followings are the comments on NewsAlloy during this switching period for your reference. I hope you can get the ideas what's NewsAlloy look like.

Pros

• Using Ajax that the loading speed is faster than Rojo
• Support shortcut key to minimize the mouse usage
• Floating tool bar on the right - Convenient to access function without scroll up and down
• Add selected article to del.icio.us and Digg easily by simply click the icon. Such function provide a simpler way to do so since not all feeds using FeedFlare function of FeedBurner
• Just a click of icon to search the selected article in Technorati & Google
• Charset encoding conversion - Convert Chinese charset (Big5 and GB) and Japanese charset to UTF-8 automatically. Those feeds using Big5, such as seechuen.com, can be shown properly in NewsAlloy and it's just a mess in Bloglines without switching the encoding in browser
• Filter by period - Limit the articles shown by set a filter by period
• Archives function - old articles can be archived automatically and let the new old shown in the Inbox
• Developer lordtime is very helpful and nice. He is willing to hear the suggestions of users, fix the bugs quickly and add new functions from time to time

Cons

• Lack of social networking functions - Only capable to know how many persons subscribed the same feed but without actually knowing who. Cannot view the subscriptions of other users. Only support the tagging of articles but without any function to use those tags
• Online help is very insufficient especially for the shortcut key assignment
• Export to OPML file is not yet completed, cannot export the whole subscription in a simple way. User has to select all the feeds / channel (same as folder) in order to export the whole subscription
• Due to Ajax usage, it is not functional in the browser without javascript support. However, it should not be problem actually, I think over 90% users should have javascript enabled
• Not yet provide API for third party usage. If there is API provided, my connection with Bloglines should be ended:tongue1:
• The development of NewsAlloy is still on-going, small minor problems may appear from time to time

In terms of functions available, especially about social networking, NewsAlloy is some how cannot be compared with Rojo. I know some persons don't like the email system like interface of NewsAlloy. However, the choice of online RSS reader is very personal. I choose NewsAlloy at this moment. How about yours?