Comments on: Engadget: too much of a good thing? http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/ Editor and technology critic in the midst of founding a new content startup. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:50:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Dave Storm http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-52999 Dave Storm Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:01:55 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-52999 I was initially overwhelmed with the Engadget feed as well, but using Google Reader i found a system that works for me. I quickly scan through a few times a day, starring the stuff that looks interesting/useful/relevant. During a break or when I get home from work I then take the time to read the starred items. I agree that a custom feed configuration, perhaps based on tags or keyworks would be cool. I was initially overwhelmed with the Engadget feed as well, but using Google Reader i found a system that works for me. I quickly scan through a few times a day, starring the stuff that looks interesting/useful/relevant. During a break or when I get home from work I then take the time to read the starred items.

I agree that a custom feed configuration, perhaps based on tags or keyworks would be cool.

]]> By: How do you read your feeds? » Ryan Block http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-50357 How do you read your feeds? » Ryan Block Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:41:25 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-50357 [...] frequent and unfortunate use of mark all as read, and a gradually shrinking OPML). Naturally, the irony isn’t lost on me; trust me, Engadget readers experiencing news overload have my complete sympathy. It’s not [...] [...] frequent and unfortunate use of mark all as read, and a gradually shrinking OPML). Naturally, the irony isn’t lost on me; trust me, Engadget readers experiencing news overload have my complete sympathy. It’s not [...]

]]> By: Sean Kelly http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-34008 Sean Kelly Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:33:33 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-34008 I tried adding Engadget to my Technology feeds, but it was just too much. I also have problems keeping up with Google News feed, and dropped it as well. I hate having things in my reader that are unread, and I never get around to reading them all. I always tell myself I'll read them later in the afternoon or evening, but never do. What you should do is have categories and allow people to subscribe to them. I want to hear about Apple things, robots, non-PDA cellphones, any article with the word "monkey" in it, and any breaking news. You need a page that users can use to craft a custom feed. I could do it with Yahoo Pipes I guess, but I'm far too lazy for it right now. That said, Engadget really is a great site. I listen to the podcast, as it is a nice condensation of what is happening without having to sift through hundreds of posts. The only thing I can think of to make the podcast more entertaining would be a crossover between BOL and Engadget. I tried adding Engadget to my Technology feeds, but it was just too much. I also have problems keeping up with Google News feed, and dropped it as well. I hate having things in my reader that are unread, and I never get around to reading them all. I always tell myself I’ll read them later in the afternoon or evening, but never do.

What you should do is have categories and allow people to subscribe to them. I want to hear about Apple things, robots, non-PDA cellphones, any article with the word “monkey” in it, and any breaking news. You need a page that users can use to craft a custom feed. I could do it with Yahoo Pipes I guess, but I’m far too lazy for it right now.

That said, Engadget really is a great site. I listen to the podcast, as it is a nice condensation of what is happening without having to sift through hundreds of posts. The only thing I can think of to make the podcast more entertaining would be a crossover between BOL and Engadget.

]]> By: Ryan Block http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33889 Ryan Block Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:43:11 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33889 You're absolutely right. Another fun bug! I wonder how many thousands of people this prevented from seeing the feed... very frustrating. You’re absolutely right. Another fun bug! I wonder how many thousands of people this prevented from seeing the feed… very frustrating.

]]> By: Joost Schuur http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33886 Joost Schuur Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:37:13 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33886 When I'm at http://www.engadget.com/tag/breaking+news/ and look at the source, I see: ...link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/rss.xml" /... That resolves as www.engadget.com/rss.xml. Seems to me if you want to auto-detect the tag specific feed, it should read href="rss.xml" to get the proper relative URL. When I’m at http://www.engadget.com/tag/breaking+news/ and look at the source, I see:

…link rel=”alternate” type=”application/rss+xml” title=”RSS 2.0″ href=”/rss.xml” /…

That resolves as http://www.engadget.com/rss.xml.

Seems to me if you want to auto-detect the tag specific feed, it should read href=”rss.xml” to get the proper relative URL.

]]> By: Ryan Block http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33884 Ryan Block Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:30:24 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33884 Joost, it should autodetect. It does in all my browsers, we have the code in the page: <head> <title>Posts tagged Breaking+news at Engadget</title> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/rss.xml" /> Thanks for pointing that out in the feeds page though, I'll have to look into that tomorrow AM!</head> Joost, it should autodetect. It does in all my browsers, we have the code in the page:

Thanks for pointing that out in the feeds page though, I’ll have to look into that tomorrow AM!

]]> By: Joost Schuur http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33883 Joost Schuur Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:26:03 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33883 Ryan: In Antoine's defense, the link box on the front page has no specific RSS icon for the breaking news feed, the breaking news feed page itself doesn't auto-discover that specific feed, and there's no info on http://www.engadget.com/feeds/ about the per-tag feeds either. In fact, there are some placeholders or unparsed tags on the latter that just read '%Overview%' next to each category feed. Good to know about tag feeds though, thanks! Ryan: In Antoine’s defense, the link box on the front page has no specific RSS icon for the breaking news feed, the breaking news feed page itself doesn’t auto-discover that specific feed, and there’s no info on http://www.engadget.com/feeds/ about the per-tag feeds either.

In fact, there are some placeholders or unparsed tags on the latter that just read ‘%Overview%’ next to each category feed.

Good to know about tag feeds though, thanks!

]]> By: Ryan Block http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33865 Ryan Block Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:38:22 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33865 Antoine, we did announce it -- see the big box on the right that says "see what's new at Engadget"? It's been in there since last September. Antoine, we did announce it — see the big box on the right that says “see what’s new at Engadget”? It’s been in there since last September.

]]> By: Antoine http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33860 Antoine Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:20:40 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33860 Good thing I went here reading your article. I didn't know about the "breaking news feed". I feel relieved ... Since like 2 or 3 weeks, I felt the same way and began to quit reading Engadget because of the quantity of the news. Maybe you should make an annoucement on Engadget about the breaking news feed, I'm sure LOTS of people don't know about it ! Antoine Good thing I went here reading your article. I didn’t know about the “breaking news feed”. I feel relieved … Since like 2 or 3 weeks, I felt the same way and began to quit reading Engadget because of the quantity of the news.

Maybe you should make an annoucement on Engadget about the breaking news feed, I’m sure LOTS of people don’t know about it !

Antoine

]]> By: Ryan Block http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33851 Ryan Block Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:53:47 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33851 Joost, it's http://www.engadget.com/tag/breaking+news/rss.xml You can do that with any Engadget tag. For instance: http://www.engadget.com/tag/microsoft http://www.engadget.com/tag/microsoft/rss.xml http://www.engadget.com/tag/apple http://www.engadget.com/tag/apple/rss.xml Jeffrey: our crossposting method is generally characterized as "most important 10% of mobile / HD news" hits the front page. Occasionally we'll have stuff that isn't necessarily so super important, but that we feel people just definitely need to know about. Joost, it’s http://www.engadget.com/tag/breaking+news/rss.xml

You can do that with any Engadget tag. For instance:
http://www.engadget.com/tag/microsoft
http://www.engadget.com/tag/microsoft/rss.xml
http://www.engadget.com/tag/apple
http://www.engadget.com/tag/apple/rss.xml

Jeffrey: our crossposting method is generally characterized as “most important 10% of mobile / HD news” hits the front page. Occasionally we’ll have stuff that isn’t necessarily so super important, but that we feel people just definitely need to know about.

]]> By: Urban Strata http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33832 Urban Strata Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:50:14 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33832 Count me as one who wants MORE Engadget, NOT LESS. If anything, I'm a bit confused about the cross-posting between Engadget and Engadget Mobile (I subscribe to both, but not sure why I do). All in all, I see Engadget as my go-to source for bleeding edge tech info, and if that requires 40 or 80 or 180 posts per day, so be it. You guys keep me ahead of the curve. :) Count me as one who wants MORE Engadget, NOT LESS. If anything, I’m a bit confused about the cross-posting between Engadget and Engadget Mobile (I subscribe to both, but not sure why I do). All in all, I see Engadget as my go-to source for bleeding edge tech info, and if that requires 40 or 80 or 180 posts per day, so be it. You guys keep me ahead of the curve. :)

]]> By: Titanas http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33818 Titanas Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:29:44 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33818 I agree with Rob La Gesse's idea for several different feeds depending on the content. Don't forget that at the moment we also get some cross posting between Engadget, Engadget Mobile and Engadget HD. I'd also suggest MSNBC's feed feature with the Most Viewed stories. I agree with Rob La Gesse’s idea for several different feeds depending on the content. Don’t forget that at the moment we also get some cross posting between Engadget, Engadget Mobile and Engadget HD.

I’d also suggest MSNBC’s feed feature with the Most Viewed stories.

]]> By: Joost Schuur http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33797 Joost Schuur Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:33:52 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33797 Ryan: I'm not seeing a feed for http://www.engadget.com/tag/breaking+news/. What's the URL? Ryan: I’m not seeing a feed for http://www.engadget.com/tag/breaking+news/. What’s the URL?

]]> By: Joost Schuur http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33793 Joost Schuur Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:27:05 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33793 I too unsubscribed longer ago. Partly because there were too many updates, but I realize I could probably create category feed subscriptions. The problem is, even within a given category, there's a bunch of coverage I'd end up not caring about. The other big reason was I was getting jealous of all the cool new toys I'd read about that ever weren't out yet, weren't going to come out in the US, or I couldn't afford. Perhaps if entries had a 'major/minor' rating and I could subscribe to only major updates (on a per category basis)? But one person's major is another person's minor, and you've got several people writing for Engadget with differing opinions. I did just go back and subscribe to the Features and Announcements feeds, to dip my toes into the water again. I too unsubscribed longer ago. Partly because there were too many updates, but I realize I could probably create category feed subscriptions. The problem is, even within a given category, there’s a bunch of coverage I’d end up not caring about.

The other big reason was I was getting jealous of all the cool new toys I’d read about that ever weren’t out yet, weren’t going to come out in the US, or I couldn’t afford.

Perhaps if entries had a ‘major/minor’ rating and I could subscribe to only major updates (on a per category basis)? But one person’s major is another person’s minor, and you’ve got several people writing for Engadget with differing opinions.

I did just go back and subscribe to the Features and Announcements feeds, to dip my toes into the water again.

]]> By: Too Much" in RSS feeds? « Late to the Party http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33755 Too Much" in RSS feeds? « Late to the Party Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:08:34 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33755 [...] too many updates, causing people to unsubscribe to their feed.  This article was spurred by Ryan Block’s post on his personal blog asking, “Is Engadget’s daily wall-to-wall coverage too much of a good [...] [...] too many updates, causing people to unsubscribe to their feed.  This article was spurred by Ryan Block’s post on his personal blog asking, “Is Engadget’s daily wall-to-wall coverage too much of a good [...]

]]> By: modus http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33731 modus Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:22:53 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33731 I manage to keep up with engadget, but mostly because I've dumped alot of the other tech feeds I used to browse. Not only do you guys hit most topics I care about, but the writing is actually far better than most. (I won't name names, but the tone of the site that starts with "G" and ends with "izmodo" gets on my nerves). I don't know your back-end set up, but instead of trying to allow for custom feeds (which would rock but be complicated to implement) or just a breaking news "must have" feed, what about something along the lines of a small, medium and large feed? Kind of Geek: You have your breaking news/editor's choice feed for the big releases/reviews and major tech company chaos Geek: Same as above, add in any product/software release (no announcements w/o release info) and breaking scientific discoveries Binary Geek: Everything, from zero all the way to one - the rumors, the announcements without release info, the tech soap opera stories and yes, even the random USB crap I don't know if this is really any easier of a system than being able to filter by tag to get a custom feed like Rob suggested, but if it is, it might make for a nice middle ground. Any way you break it, I'll still keep you guys at the top of my feeds, and somehow, I'll manage to spend the 2 seconds deciding which stories to ignore. Cheers I manage to keep up with engadget, but mostly because I’ve dumped alot of the other tech feeds I used to browse. Not only do you guys hit most topics I care about, but the writing is actually far better than most. (I won’t name names, but the tone of the site that starts with “G” and ends with “izmodo” gets on my nerves).

I don’t know your back-end set up, but instead of trying to allow for custom feeds (which would rock but be complicated to implement) or just a breaking news “must have” feed, what about something along the lines of a small, medium and large feed?

Kind of Geek: You have your breaking news/editor’s choice feed for the big releases/reviews and major tech company chaos

Geek: Same as above, add in any product/software release (no announcements w/o release info) and breaking scientific discoveries

Binary Geek: Everything, from zero all the way to one - the rumors, the announcements without release info, the tech soap opera stories and yes, even the random USB crap

I don’t know if this is really any easier of a system than being able to filter by tag to get a custom feed like Rob suggested, but if it is, it might make for a nice middle ground.

Any way you break it, I’ll still keep you guys at the top of my feeds, and somehow, I’ll manage to spend the 2 seconds deciding which stories to ignore.

Cheers

]]> By: Jamie http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33724 Jamie Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:42:08 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33724 Id like to add my vote for a tag system on Engadget with RSS feeds for each tag (real broad though, like 'Gaming', 'Software', 'photography' etc). I havent unsubscribed to Engadget but there is too much for me that is of little interest. You guys do a great job of covering so much stuff that its hard for me to just find the posts I would be interested in. Id like to add my vote for a tag system on Engadget with RSS feeds for each tag (real broad though, like ‘Gaming’, ‘Software’, ‘photography’ etc). I havent unsubscribed to Engadget but there is too much for me that is of little interest. You guys do a great job of covering so much stuff that its hard for me to just find the posts I would be interested in.

]]> By: Ryan Block http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33717 Ryan Block Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:17:34 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33717 Rob -- come to think of it, I think I do remember seeing that post. Tag/catgory filters for showing the front page and feeds is definitely a good idea (and one we've toyed around with), but it could be extremely difficult to accomplish with our system. We're built to take a beating from literally millions of people at once, so we're very vertical, but not to horizontal. I'll def see what our techs think though. Knots -- you must be thinking of the myriad other blogs that wrote about the USB humping dog. We didn't cover it. James -- we do have something like a "must read Engadget feed", the breaking news feed. Check it out! As for the commented on feed, that's def an idea worth looking into. Rob — come to think of it, I think I do remember seeing that post. Tag/catgory filters for showing the front page and feeds is definitely a good idea (and one we’ve toyed around with), but it could be extremely difficult to accomplish with our system. We’re built to take a beating from literally millions of people at once, so we’re very vertical, but not to horizontal. I’ll def see what our techs think though.

Knots — you must be thinking of the myriad other blogs that wrote about the USB humping dog. We didn’t cover it.

James — we do have something like a “must read Engadget feed”, the breaking news feed. Check it out! As for the commented on feed, that’s def an idea worth looking into.

]]> By: Nima http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33711 Nima Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:50:52 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33711 I also dropped Engadget's feed pretty quickly because of the overload. I think Rob's idea is great -- offer multiple, more specific feeds. You could also have an Editor's Pick feed, which covered only maybe the top five or so items of the day. I would definitely subscribe to that. I also dropped Engadget’s feed pretty quickly because of the overload. I think Rob’s idea is great — offer multiple, more specific feeds. You could also have an Editor’s Pick feed, which covered only maybe the top five or so items of the day. I would definitely subscribe to that.

]]> By: Jorge http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33706 Jorge Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:35:17 +0000 http://www.ryanblock.com/archive/2007/04/engadget-too-much-of-a-good-thing/#comment-33706 After a long time, I deleted the feed a month ago, for the same reason here presented. I searched for a trimmed down, just the important things feed , but couln't find it, I didn't know which feed to subscribe to. I said: lets listen to the podcast only, that would be enough. I feel it isn't, but I couldn't carry the load of passing all the headlines and you making me to always have unrad items in my google reader. I'll try the breaking news thing. After a long time, I deleted the feed a month ago, for the same reason here presented. I searched for a trimmed down, just the important things feed , but couln’t find it, I didn’t know which feed to subscribe to. I said: lets listen to the podcast only, that would be enough. I feel it isn’t, but I couldn’t carry the load of passing all the headlines and you making me to always have unrad items in my google reader.
I’ll try the breaking news thing.

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