Fav.or.it from London, RSS reader to beat Google Reader?

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/12/PID_013232/Podtech_Favorit.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/4776/a-new-favorit-rss-reader&totalTime=687000&breadcrumb=f5c1e25b0f374a2eb5726d5e72c47b6a]

Here’s the interview I did with Nick Halstead of Fav.or.it. Does he convince you to give up your RSS reader? The lockin on RSS readers is so strong for me that I can’t move. But there’s still a lot of people who will need an RSS reader. Does Fav.or.it have a chance against bigger, more entrenched RSS readers like NewsGator, Bloglines, or Google Reader (which is really gaining momentum now)?

Interview done during the geek dinner. That’s why I carry my camera with me cause sometimes I get pitched so well that I just have to get it on tape.

  • Project

    Love the comments stuff.

  • Project

    Love the comments stuff.

  • http://www.techfornovices.com/ Tech For Novices

    so are you going to chuck google reader now?

  • http://www.techfornovices.com Tech For Novices

    so are you going to chuck google reader now?

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Tech For Novices: I thought I made that clear. No. I have more than 8,000 things in my link blog’s database. That’s lockin and I’m not giving it up. I might use it in conjunction, though.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Tech For Novices: I thought I made that clear. No. I have more than 8,000 things in my link blog’s database. That’s lockin and I’m not giving it up. I might use it in conjunction, though.

  • http://nbrightside.com/blog Andy C

    The integrated commenting and attention tracking are interesting features.

    The Trends and Recommendation Engine less so as Google Reader already does that.

    To succeed, they would obviously need a sizeable user base. However a sizeable user base would pose the inevitable questions about performance and scalability as, to do it properly, it sounds like they could be storing and mining a *lot* of data here.

    I predict with a no-quibble, money-back guarantee that GR will incorporate some or all of this functionality by the end of 2008.

    However, I can’t actually create and share slices, import OPML, actually use it or post a detailed review of fav.or.it because it’s currently a closed beta.

    Pity a UK company couldn’t spell favourite correctly and used the obligatory embedded Web 2.0 periods. That is so last year, don’t you think ?

  • http://www.nbrightside.com/blog/ Andy C

    The integrated commenting and attention tracking are interesting features.

    The Trends and Recommendation Engine less so as Google Reader already does that.

    To succeed, they would obviously need a sizeable user base. However a sizeable user base would pose the inevitable questions about performance and scalability as, to do it properly, it sounds like they could be storing and mining a *lot* of data here.

    I predict with a no-quibble, money-back guarantee that GR will incorporate some or all of this functionality by the end of 2008.

    However, I can’t actually create and share slices, import OPML, actually use it or post a detailed review of fav.or.it because it’s currently a closed beta.

    Pity a UK company couldn’t spell favourite correctly and used the obligatory embedded Web 2.0 periods. That is so last year, don’t you think ?

  • http://fav.or.it/ Nick Halstead

    Scoble, I always like a challenge so I bet you a bottle of your favourite tipple that within 6 months I have managed to completely switch you over.

    Andy C, GR/Bloglines/etc will not be able to change their whole infrastructure that is designed to serve individual feeds to a system that is serving slices, we have built our database and infrastructure from the ground up to be able to do this, of course someone (Google included) is capable of copying but we don’t expect to see it for 12 month’s and that gives us time to get traction with the non-tech users who are incapable of using GR. And if you want a beta account just sign up and be one of the first to get an invite in January.

    I have also put up a video all about ‘human powered blogosphere search’ using fav.or.it – http://tinyurl.com/25s6d7

  • http://fav.or.it Nick Halstead

    Scoble, I always like a challenge so I bet you a bottle of your favourite tipple that within 6 months I have managed to completely switch you over.

    Andy C, GR/Bloglines/etc will not be able to change their whole infrastructure that is designed to serve individual feeds to a system that is serving slices, we have built our database and infrastructure from the ground up to be able to do this, of course someone (Google included) is capable of copying but we don’t expect to see it for 12 month’s and that gives us time to get traction with the non-tech users who are incapable of using GR. And if you want a beta account just sign up and be one of the first to get an invite in January.

    I have also put up a video all about ‘human powered blogosphere search’ using fav.or.it – http://tinyurl.com/25s6d7

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  • http://www.grannybuttons.com/ Andrew Denny

    Well, Nick Halstead’s got a mountain to climb if he wants to persuade British users. Nothing irritates most of us like American spelling imposed on us unwillingly!

    I’ll wait for a more ‘colourful’ version to come along :-)

  • http://www.grannybuttons.com Andrew Denny

    Well, Nick Halstead’s got a mountain to climb if he wants to persuade British users. Nothing irritates most of us like American spelling imposed on us unwillingly!

    I’ll wait for a more ‘colourful’ version to come along :-)

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  • Jamie

    There are obviously some misses identified here by fav.or.it. I hope Google Reader is paying attention. I could care less about the comments personally (though it is convenient). I think the recommendations are much better integrated though. Of course, that’s just based on what I’ve seen. And the Pipes-like filtering capability rocks. (Though I’m pretty sure the Google Reader team is working on that.)

    I would use it for re-publishing to Reader when I get a beta account in January. I just really like the interface and “starring” is now part of how I work and used across all of Google’s sites.

  • Jamie

    There are obviously some misses identified here by fav.or.it. I hope Google Reader is paying attention. I could care less about the comments personally (though it is convenient). I think the recommendations are much better integrated though. Of course, that’s just based on what I’ve seen. And the Pipes-like filtering capability rocks. (Though I’m pretty sure the Google Reader team is working on that.)

    I would use it for re-publishing to Reader when I get a beta account in January. I just really like the interface and “starring” is now part of how I work and used across all of Google’s sites.

  • http://www.wedocreative.com/ Zee

    TechHorses…haha…

  • http://www.wedocreative.com Zee

    TechHorses…haha…

  • weaverluke

    At Blog Friends, we already do a lot of what favorit and Google Reader do and/or promise to do, and quite a few things they don’t. We also have 22k users, including 12 of the Technorati Top 100, who seem to think we’re doing something right. I must say, though, the built-in comment management functionality of favorit does sound really nice. And with 100 million bloggers and more potential blog readers, it’s a huge potential mass market that has barely begun to be tapped, so plenty of room for all. May a million flowers bloom! : )

    http://apps.facebook.com/blogfriends

  • weaverluke

    At Blog Friends, we already do a lot of what favorit and Google Reader do and/or promise to do, and quite a few things they don’t. We also have 22k users, including 12 of the Technorati Top 100, who seem to think we’re doing something right. I must say, though, the built-in comment management functionality of favorit does sound really nice. And with 100 million bloggers and more potential blog readers, it’s a huge potential mass market that has barely begun to be tapped, so plenty of room for all. May a million flowers bloom! : )

    http://apps.facebook.com/blogfriends

  • weaverluke

    P.S. I should emphasiSe that all spelling in the Blog Friends app is very definitely British. Sorry, Robert. ; )

  • weaverluke

    P.S. I should emphasiSe that all spelling in the Blog Friends app is very definitely British. Sorry, Robert. ; )

  • Rajiv

    All your videos are great. However, I don’t understand why your audio sounds really like coming from the other end of the tunnel. The interviewees have great audio. Keep rocking

  • Rajiv

    All your videos are great. However, I don’t understand why your audio sounds really like coming from the other end of the tunnel. The interviewees have great audio. Keep rocking

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  • Konstantin

    Yes, Google Reader has got big share but personally I hate it.

    I use Mindity (http://www.mindity.com) all days — thanks for great interface and ton of useful features to discover.

  • Konstantin

    Yes, Google Reader has got big share but personally I hate it.

    I use Mindity (http://www.mindity.com) all days — thanks for great interface and ton of useful features to discover.

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