NorthStarNerd.Org

GreatNews RSS Feed Reader

Back in 2006, I reviewed and posted a tutorial I had created about the GreatNews RSS Feed Reader. Well, after a three year hiatus Curio Studio has released a new version of GreatNews which is available without charge. While the user interface, hasn't changed much, it now officially supports Windows 7 and includes other internal improvements. As far as I'm concerned, GreatNews is still one of the best feed readers around, and you can't beat the price! My tutorial is still a great way to learn RSS and start having the filtered web come to you. If you've never utilized RSS (Really Simple Syndication) on your computer, read some of my posts from the RSS Category of this blog.

Research ... Not Just Another Twitter List!

Although I've been a HUGE advocate of RSS technology over the years via this blog (still am), I realize that Twitter is here to stay. Like many of you, I've experimented with Twitter and am still learning the value proposition. I have found that one Twitter List which I have created, my Research List, has been a great way for me to stay informed about new reports in the knowledge domain of collaboration, systems and technology. I've restricted the membership to high quality research groups. I've included the initial list below along with their Twitter account links. Any like groups I should add, and why?  Thanks. 

NorthstarNerd Twitter Research Group:

• APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center)
• Burton Group I.T.
• EcolLab
• Forrester Research
• Gartner Research
• IBM Alpha Works
• MIT Sloan Management Review
• Microsoft Office Labs
• Pew Research

Tracks Web Site Changes

Every wish you could easily track changes on a web site that does NOT have RSS? How often do you bookmark web sites which you like, but then rarely revisit? What if you could be automatically informed when new content appeared? The option to track changes now exists via Google Reader. Thus, using the same tool where one tracks RSS feeds, you may now track web page changes. The process is simple ... just copy the url of the page you wish to track, and then click "add a subscription". (read the official Google Reader service announcement). (see my screenshot examples)

I did find it difficult to track individual pages on sites where a RSS feed already exists. After posting a question of the Google Forum, I was referred to the Change Detection Service.

I'm already using the new capability to track changes on the following web sites ... none of which have RSS:

• Academic Earth (engineering courses)
• Berkeley Wireless Research
• SkinnySki.Com (Nordic Skiing!)
• Stanford Seminars
• Siemens Control Products
• UC San Diego Wireless
• Virginia Tech Wireless

Here is an example from my Google Reader account. Click to view full sized.

Expanding Across the Web via Twitter and RSS

If one creates good content ... it moves! Here is an example from my new Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine which I created last night (and Tweeted).

From bit.ly I can tell that my original Twitter link has been clicked upon 99 times in the last 24 hours. Add yesterday's 623 Feedburner subscribers, and over 700 people have already reviewed this content, and this does not include all the folks who came to NorthstarNerd.Org directly.

From Twitter Search ...

Realtime results for search engine "nobel prize"

0 more results since you started searching. Refresh to see them.

• 
  raysadad: This looks useful. Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://bit.ly/X3rSt (expand) (via @zaidlearn)
  about 6 hours ago
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  zaidlearn: Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://bit.ly/X3rSt (expand)
  about 6 hours ago
  .
• 
  blablatj: RT @ShellTerrell: Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://bit.ly/13RsHG (expand)
  about 7 hours ago
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  av2learner: Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://ff.im/-94CxP
  about 11 hours ago
  .
• 
  pgsimoes: RT @ShellTerrell: Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://bit.ly/13RsHG (expand)
  about 15 hours ago
  .
  
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  web20classroom: RT @ShellTerrell: Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://bit.ly/13RsHG (expand)
  about 15 hours
  .
  
• 
  ShellTerrell: Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://bit.ly/13RsHG (expand)
  about 15 hours ago from
  .
  
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  elearningPosts: Nobel Prize Winners Video Lecture Search Engine http://bit.ly/YAeA3 (expand)
  1 day ago from
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And Finally ... me!

• 
  NorthstarNerd: Just created a new custom Google Search Engine which indexes Nobel Prize Winner Lecture Videos. Access via my blog at http://bit.ly/21uzau (expand)
  1 day ago from 

Twitter Search ... a Yammer for some Reggae!

Welcome to another Northstar Nerd Tutorial. Today we look at Twitter Search. You may have heard about this Web 2.0 service, and discounted it as just a lot of noise, but what if you had the ability to eliminate the static and focus in upon useful content? You need not Tweet yourself. Enter the Northstar Nerd and my short tutorial (under four minutes) which will demonstrate how even without a Twitter account you can data mine this service for useful content.

• Twitter Search Tutorial
  (make take a moment to load)

Here is a screenshot from the tutorial ... click to view full sized.