I’ve greatly enjoyed FeedFlow ( github or the official site ) as my reader since it’s minimalistic and just looks so polished. Almost fully cross platform as well.
Please do recommend RSS apps for all platforms. Currently using:
Android: Read You iOS/Mac: Unread
I’ve been using Feedly on iOS for a few years since google dropped their rss client.
I’m using feeder on android and it’s working well for me. On desktop I use Firefox extension but can’t remember the name
https://search.f-droid.org/?q=rss&lang=en
Personally, Feeder.
I use https://miniflux.app/. It’s pretty small, costs $15/year. I do this because I want to keep my feed status across different devices.
I’m not perfectly happy with it. Perhaps it’s a bit too minimal. When I subscribe to an aggregate like Hacker News, it pretty much floods my feed and I get swamped.
If anyone has a slightly better alternative in mind, I’d be happy to hear.
Is there a recommended, shiny RSS reader for Linux and Android? Which I want to try?
I use quiterss on my linux desktop. Its already in the repos on debian and works great for me. I have extremely minimalistic requirements tho, so might not be for you if you want a shiny UI. It has tagging, custom keyword filtering, folders, notifications. All i need.
I use Thunderbird and Read You
Algorithms done right are useful. Make sure things that are likely important to be bubble to the top. I don’t have time to read/watch it all, so prioritize the important things for me.
Done right is the hard part. It is too easy to prioritize memes that make people angry even though if you really investigate you discover that while there is a little truth it is grossly exaggerated and whoever is being mocked isn’t that stupid - because things that make people mad tend to get attention.
The algorithm really needs a “there is plenty more but you have seen all the important stuff - go outside and do something” after I’ve seen what is important. Of course it then needs a “but I’m currently confined to a hospital bed so just show me something so I’m not bored out of my mind”. The likes of facebook of course cannot allow such a thing as once you stop scrolling their ad revenue is gone. However that is what the world needs.
The companies deploying the algorithms aren’t taking any of what you said into consideration though. They only want to feed you what has the most interaction as that can garner the most money from ad revenue.
Would be nice if open-source aggregators like Lemmy allowed users to “Subscribe” to community developed algorithms.
I’d love to (attempt) to build an “ethical” algorithm for content sorting, have it be open-source, and be able to have clients use it without having to actually modify the client itself.
I don’t personally have any issue with algorithms - they work quite well for me, though it does require some active management. For example, if I watch one or two 30-second videos on YouTube, it quickly starts recommending more, which quickly floods my feed. However, when I start ignoring those recommendations, despite the temptation to click, the algorithm eventually stops pushing them and shifts back to suggesting accurately tailored, long-form content that genuinely interests me. The same goes for using the “not interested” button. This aligns with my experience on platforms like Twitter and Instagram as well, though the latter I no longer use.
Algorithms obviously don’t care whether the content they show you makes you glad that you saw it. They simply serve what captures your attention. If it’s outrage, then that’s exactly what you’ll get. The algorithm knows plenty of other users engage with that kind of content, so it rationally assumes the same will apply to you.
If it’s outrage, then that’s exactly what you’ll get
I don’t know how fix this, but this is one of the things a good algorithm needs to prevent. Outrage does get my attention - but it isn’t where I want my attention.
The hardest part is when you have to curate yourself. To me RSS feels like a lot of work upfront. Is there a tool to help discover items to add to your feed aligned with your interest?
This is where I’ve struggled. I’ve gone and tried once or twice and just kinda got confused and lost and came back to reddit, at that time.
You start with vlogs you like.
Then see who they have in their blog roll.
More seriousl, I have literally used RSS regular since like 2006 or so. And I will NEVER forgive Google for killing Reader.
Anyway, what I mean to say is, its just a growing process. Someone links an article and you say, “Well, this sote seems interesting” and you stick it in your RSS reader.
Next thing you know you are pulling 1000-2000 articles a day, even with limiting filters.
One last bit of advice. Most systems let you export your subs.
DO THIS FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE YOU WILL HATE YOUR PAST SELF WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND YOU LOSE ALL YOUR SUBS.
Never forget never forgive.
Feedly does a great job of that.
title could be worded better… i was confused at first that there was some algorithm for rss he was no longer using. it should be something like ’ i ditched the website algorithm feed and utilize the rss instead’
I use self hosted FreshRSS. I has:
- news straight from the section I care about in chronological order order
- new blog updates
- music review updates
- Bandcamp releases from artists/labels I follow
- open source software releases I follow
- YouTube updates from channels I follow.
- etc
It is by far the best way to get updates about just the things you care about.
If you want to quickly find RSS feeds without having to view source:
Want My RSS for Firefox
openfeeds for Qutebrowser
Apparently Google has an RSS extension but I haven’t looked into it.
Some RSS tools that are useful:
MoRSS (worked for like, one niche website I look it, but still might be useful)
