Adam Pash of Lifehacker just posted a note about FeedShake, a utility that allows users to combine multiple feeds. FeedShake has recently added filtering capabilities.
As some of you already know, we launched an app in April of last year that allows similar functionality. Feed Rinse uses channels to merge feeds and filters to block posts based on keywords and similar criteria with more advanced options for paid users. We’ve recently made the service free at all levels of use.
What you may not know is that we have a number of advances to Feed Rinse that are waiting patiently for us to finalize. Those advancements include a new rss reader.
Which brings me back to FeedShake. Prior to filtering, the primary use of their utility seems to have been merging and customizing feeds. Personally, I see no benefit to either of these features as most readers already allow you to group feeds in folders – a method of organization that can be quickly undone at a later date (folders allow you to expand or collapse contents.)
To be fair to FeedShake, my experience with their utility is limited. I have a wide angle perspective on the rss/atom/xml/etc feed filtering topic. And that perspective has changed dramatically since we launched Feed Rinse.
I see filtering as a feature, a small component of feed consumption. I agree with Cory Doctorow. All readers should have it.
I’m a lot more interested lately in using filtering to discover content. Clear up attention by filtering clutter. Then refocus the functionality to discover what’s relevant. That’s where our focus has been lately.
Now, if only we could free up some time…