Ilium Software's Newsbreak 2.0 - RSS Reader

**Malatesta** · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 01:04 PM

I consider RSS readers on mobile devices essential.

They are easier and faster to use than Web browsers, more efficient and they look better since the formatting is unified.

Up until a couple of days ago I would have said that the free RSS readers out there like NewsCopier were a better deal than a pay program like Newsbreak 1.5. That changed this week though with the release of Newsbreak 2.0.

http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/nw/newsbreak.htm

The big advantage is now support for Video and Podcasts built right in with the ability to sync all to the Storage Card.

More importantly Newsbreak is "on sale" for $7.95 till 3/15 which is a really great deal (reg is $19.95) so if you can spare the change, pick it up.

Works on Smartphone and PPC platforms.

Some reviews:

- ClintonFitch.com
- JustAnotherMobile Monday
- Pocket PC Louisville

*Note: I encourage people to buy using Pocketgear.com or Smartphone.net as Handango as some pretty awful practices.

PhilR8 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-2007, 04:49 AM

I downloaded it based on your recommendation and I like it. I went ahead and bought it - it's a fair price, and Pocket Gear is running a 20% off promotion on all software through March 20th, so it ended up being something like $6.25.

I agree that it makes surfing quicker and more efficient. I must have over a hundred rss feeds loaded into it.

xdalaw · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-2007, 11:18 AM

I like NewsBreak a lot, and have used it since it's v1 release. One bug, however, is that your feed list sometimes disappears and needs to be re-compiled when channel data is stored on the Storage Card.

This never happened on my X50v or 8125, but it has happened pretty regularly on my 700Wx.

I emailed ilium support and they acknowledged this issue and said the only "fix" was to store channel data on the device, rather than the storage card. Not a great "fix" if you ask me.

I also bought v2--since I do think it's the best RSS reader (in general)--but problem still remains.

I sent a new email today informing them that v2 hasn't solved this issue.

Just FYI.

budney · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2007, 08:37 AM

I don't know where my head has been. With all the praising Mal has done in the past about RSS readers, I just never gave them a chance. This is just great, it will make my breaks at work fun. I bought both PPC & Smartphone versions.

naftalim · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2007, 01:39 PM

I havent used RSS readers before and tried Newsbreak. This is great, I used the trial for 5 minutes and bought the software.

scottymomo · #6 (**permalink**) 03-13-2007, 08:36 PM

Nice to see podcast support but they need to support streaming of podcasts and not just downloading...also needs to support passing links to full articles through optimizers like mobileleap or squeezer like QuickNewsfor PalmOS does. otherwise very nice

**Malatesta** · #7 (**permalink**) 03-14-2007, 01:33 AM

Glad everyone is enjoying

Once you use RSS, you never go back. It's just such an easier system. Although I hate, hate hate when sites only "tease" you with partial content (like scottymomo was talking about), they do that to preserve ad revenue stream.

In turn I only use RSS feeds from full-sources and ditch the partials (luckily that's not too many for myself).

Just think to: you can add your favorite PPCGeeks sub-forum as individual RSS feeds (we support them for every sub-forum on here!). Great for just following a thread along on the go.

ScandaLex · #8 (**permalink**) 03-14-2007, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malatesta

Just think to: you can add your favorite PPCGeeks sub-forum as individual RSS feeds (we support them for every sub-forum on here!). Great for just following a thread along on the go.

How

budney · #9 (**permalink**) 03-14-2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malatesta

Glad everyone is enjoying

Once you use RSS, you never go back. It's just such an easier system. Although I hate, hate hate when sites only "tease" you with partial content (like scottymomo was talking about), they do that to preserve ad revenue stream.

In turn I only use RSS feeds from full-sources and ditch the partials (luckily that's not too many for myself).

Just think to: you can add your favorite PPCGeeks sub-forum as individual RSS feeds (we support them for every sub-forum on here!). Great for just following a thread along on the go.

I take you & Scotty are talking about trying to get to view the whole story, and getting this error?

We all should start a list of our favorite feeds to help newbies like me find the good ones.

ScandaLex - Look on the very bottom left of any page and click the XML/RSS button.

Ilium Software · #10 (**permalink**) 03-14-2007, 01:29 PM

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for your kind words. We're really glad you guys like NewsBreak.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xdalaw

I emailed ilium support and they acknowledged this issue and said the only "fix" was to store channel data on the device, rather than the storage card. Not a great "fix" if you ask me.

It isn't really meant to be a 'fix' but rather a method of recovery should you run into this. The problem is that we are not able to reliably replicate the problem so we're just not sure why people run into this. Fortunately the number of people who do is very small but, as I said, we aren't sure why. We are continuing to work on this though despite the difficulty!

Quote:

Nice to see podcast support but they need to support streaming of podcasts and not just downloading...also needs to support passing links to full articles through optimizers like mobileleap or squeezer like QuickNewsfor PalmOS does. otherwise very nice

Thanks for the ideas. We'll definitely keep them in mind as we work up the plans for the next version.

Quote:

I take you & Scotty are talking about trying to get to view the whole story, and getting this error?

I believe what they are talking about is that in general, many sites provide only a teaser in the news feed but require you to visit the site to read it all.

As for your error, it is a system message that means that the 'default browser' registry setting on your Pocket PC points to something that isn't there. If this is happening, it would probably happen in other applications that offer hyperlinks to click on (like in email messages for example.)

Hard to say how to fix it although with some Opera users they found that opera doesn't register properly when installed to a storage card. Not sure if that will help but it might!

And if you ever have any questions, problems or comments with or about NewsBreak feel free to drop us a line. We have email support and phone support ( 888-632-538

.

Marc Tassin
Ilium Software
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+1 (734) 973-9388
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PS: Sorry for the weird email links. I don't have 8 posts yet so it won't let me post the email addresses.