INTRODUCING...EZ-RSS Reader!
Software you can use to AUTOMATICALLY keep track of our Great Email Experiment Blog at http://www.greatemailexperiment.com.
MARCH 25, 2008:
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY (they are also included in the .zip version of the software and as an unzipped text file) then download EZ RSS Reader, here:
Download EZ RSS Reader ZIPPED (includes these instructions)
Download EZ RSS Reader UNZIPPED
Download EZ RSS Reader Instructions UNZIPPED
EZ RSS READER INSTRUCTIONS
NOTE: This program is in BETA. It is tested on XP and Vista operating systems -- and very little testing has been done on Macintosh -- but it is designed to work on any computer running Java.
Java is pre-installed on most computers sold today. If your computer reports that you are not currently running Java when you attempt to install this software, or if you are running an outdated version of Java, you can download the latest version for your computer free of charge here:
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
EZ RSS Reader is a small RSS reader application designed to "attach" itself to one blog and one blog only. This makes it very easy to download and install ... then ignore it until it's needed.
EZ RSS Reader will install a tiny icon in your computer's system tray on PC compatibles and on your desktop on Macintosh computers. The icon will notify you whenever the blog it's "attached" to has been updated. Currently, it pops up a notification telling you when the blog has been updated. In its final version, it will blink whenever the blog it's associated with has been updated.
When you click on the icon after notification, a window will pop open that shows you everything currently on the blog, sorted by date -- posts and comments. It is designed to work even when you're offline but it naturally won't update information posted to a blog until you have gone online.
Updating, once online, is automatic. Anything new posted to the blog attached to the Reader will automatically notify your computer.
The REAL purpose of this software is to connect blog readers to their blogs in a simple way that removes the need to constantly check those blogs. It utilizes RSS to accomplish this, bypassing all Email filters and other "gates" put up by email service providers and notifying you automatically whenever there is a new post or comment on a blog.
Unlike most RSS "readers" and "aggregators," the function of this software has been limited to ONE blog and ONE blog only, to simplify reading and using RSS to access a blog.
For anyone with a blog or email newsletter, EZ RSS Reader provides a simple way to tell readers whenever a new post or newsletter issue has been released without using unreliable email to accomplish this task, relying on readers to re-visit your blog on their own and without requiring a large, cumbersome "RSS Aggregator" program.
STEP ONE: Download the ZIP file that contains the software.
STEP TWO: Save the ZIP file in a "temp" folder on your computer. Run ZIP to extract the program installer to the same "temp" folder.
NOTE: If you don't currently have ZIP installed on your computer, you can download and install the free trial version of WINZIP, which will do the job nicely on PCs, here:
http://www.winzip.com/prod_down.htm
You can also download the UNCOMPRESSED version of EZ RSS READER from the site. It's a bit larger and will take a little longer to download, but it won't require unzipping if that poses a problem for you.
STEP THREE: Double-click the installer software, answer the couple of questions it asks (use the pre-selected answers whenever you're not sure), and hit FINISH when you get to that point.
At this point, the icon should be in your system tray or, on Macintosh computers, on your desktop.
That's all you do. It's now running and whenever the blog it's attached to is updated, it will notify you so you can see what's been posted to the blog.
NOTE: In THIS particular instance, of course, the software is already pre-configured to work with www.GreatEmailExperiment.com.
SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember -- this is BETA software. Very raw and young. But -- it's so simple, I don't anticipate a lot of problems running it. We need help with Macintosh users telling us their experiences and any trouble reports or reports of bizarre behavior on the part of the software that anyone might have. If it DOESN'T work on your Mac, we need to know that as well.
While the software has been tested and should be perfectly safe in every way, also understand that by installing this software on your computer you are assuming all risk for any problems that might be caused by using this early beta version. BBS Press Service, Inc. cannot and will not be responsible for any results -- but we will gladly work with anyone who has reports of bugs and needed fixes. And we believe you will be pleased with the results.
Also remember -- we are NOT looking for "new features" reports. The entire idea of this software is KISS -- Keep It Simple, Stupid. Features add complexity. One of the major problems with today's RSS readers and aggregators is that they try to connect you to everything RSS everywhere on the Web and, thus, they've become overly bloated and harder to figure out and use.
To report bugs and undesirable behavior with this software, please send email to:
marketquest@sysop.com
In the subject line put, "EZ READER BUG REPORT" in all-caps so we'll see it come in and can get to it as quickly as possible. Include your computer type, operating system, current version of Java that is running and your name and phone number.
Bookmark the Website http://www.SaveOurEmailNow.com/reader often for updates to the software as we correct minor bugs and other issues. We'll release new versions there as they become available.
IMPORTANT FINAL NOTE: This software and The Great Email Experiment are CONFIDENTIAL. This software is being provided ONLY to participants in the Experiment. Please do NOT pass around the software or make the URL where it can be downloaded available to anyone outside of the Experiment.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: We just discovered that the software as currently configured does NOT automatically install in your computer's STARTUP folder, so if you EXIT the software after installation into your system tray, then re-boot your computer, you will need to RE-run the installer to place the icon back in. Best bet: don't EXIT the software at any time after you get it installed -- at least not for the next two weeks!
We will eventually release this software in a version that can be modified to work with ANY single blog.
Alan R. Bechtold
BBS Press Service, Inc.
10915 Bonita Beach Road
Suite 1122
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-992-0397
marketquest@sysop.com
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