FeedBlendr.com

I am in the process of moving over to a new set of internal code for FeedBlendr to help with future enhancements, so you might see some funkiness over the next few days (although hopefully not!). The new version introduces a few enhancements, including some slight changes to existing features:

• Internal APIs use Atom-based formats where possible now (OPML stuff is still there where it makes sense tho).
• Added a custom namespace (fv, for FeedVille) to the OPML output, and also some other outputs to provide additional information to users/developers.
• Added some new output format options (look for them on blend information pages soon).
• Added some customization options for output formats for restricting the number of entries displayed and limiting output to headlines only.
• LOTS of internal changes, but those shouldn’t affect you 🙂

Hopefully all servers will be switched over to the new code-base by the end of today, and some new documentation etc will be available to detail these changes.

UPDATE 2007-08-21: This code has been fully deployed on all servers as of 2007-08-17 and appears to be working successfully 🙂

A couple of days ago, I got an email with the subject “API User” and I thought wow, someone’s actually using that API that I spent so long writing, and I suppose this will be a problem that they’re having with it.

I was half right, it was indeed from someone using the FeedBlendr API, but I was wrong about the second part – he wasn’t having any problems with it, he just wanted to let me know that he was using it, and it was working! The email was from Toby, one of the developers of HubTag.com, a new service which allows you to create, track and promote a “hub tag”. According to their description, “a HubTag is a unique word on the internet used to tag your photos and videos that you have published on different web 2.0 tools”.

Their implementation appears to involve automated blending from a number of public Web2.0 properties, so that you can get a single feed containing everything that uses a certain, unique tag. Toby Beresford, co-founder said “in practice this means www.hubtag.com will promote using unique hubtags for specific purposes like events, projects and personal filing.”

Looks like the guys are still working on the site as it’s already started adding in extra features and tools since I first looked at it, so it could be one to keep an eye on in the future. According to Neil Johnston, the other co-founder, their vision for HubTag is “everyone using tags relevantly and seamlessly to maintain better connections online”.

Great stuff – if anyone else is using the API for anything I’d love to hear about it!

After many months of development (the complete engine was re-written from the ground up!), I’m very happy to announce that FeedBlendr 2.0 is now officially launched and available for use. I’ve mentioned in previous posts all the new features in this version, so I won’t repeat myself, but needless to say it’s a major upgrade.

I’ll be fine-tuning and tweaking over the coming weeks, but hopefully this will be a stable revision to the system and will open up some new options for people who couldn’t use FeedBlendr for something in particular in the past.

One glaring omission in this new version is user accounts, which a lot of you asked for. Rest assured that this feature is coming, but it’s part of a bigger picture, so has been left out intentionally for now to allow me to integrate future features into it better.

Please check it out and let me know how the new version goes!

PS: If you’re into that sort of thing, be sure to check out the new Developers page with information on more powerful ways of interacting with FeedBlendr

A new beta version of FeedBlendr is now online at http://beta.feedblendr.com so please check it out. This version adds/updates:

• Improved date-sorting
• OPML output (and improved OPML handling on import/blend creation)
• In-linking (allows you to pre-fill the Blendr homepage with details via a link)
• The integrated feed-reader now supports embedded media players for videos and audio!
• JSON output
• Improved handling of source feed errors
• Some good info on the Developers Page
• Lots of smaller bug fixes

Please try it out and again – let me know how it goes!

After a few emails from some FeedBlendr users pointed it out to me (thanks Roberta and Eric), I’ve fixed some problems on the OPML import tool on FB. You should now be able to import your blogroll from other online services such as Bloglines, OPMLManager.com and Blogrolling.com.

If there are any more problems with the service, please let me know and I’ll take care of them!

More News! FeedBlendr now supports OPML by allowing you to either upload a file from your computer or specify a URL if you have an OPML file available online somewhere (HINT: If you maintin a blog-roll through blogrolling.com then you can grab a URL direct to an OPML version of your blog-roll from their “Get Code” link).

Once you upload or link to your OPML file, FeedBlendr will read it and grab out all the tasty feeds you’ve listed, then go grab them all and blend them up for you. Just like before, you’ll get a single new feed to subscribe to which will now contain everything in your OPML file.

Please let me know using the comments or these contact details what you think of this!