The client’s main function is to format and display RSS (Really Simple Syndication ) as well as Atom (www.AtomEnabled.org) internet news/information streams. The format of the RSS stream consists of multiple ITEMs with a TITLE, DESCRIPTION and LINK for each ITEM in a feed. So, a single feed file may have multiple ITEMS that are basically mini versions of articles. The title is the basic name of the article, the description is usually approximately 1-2 paragraphs and the link is the http: link to the underlying web-based full text and graphics article. A visual sample of this in the RSS News application is below:
Figure 1
The client software consists of a Microsoft SmartPhone Homescreen plug-in as well as a separate stand-alone news reader (RSS News). The client can be configured via the web to display multiple content feeds of your choice. For example, you might choose an ESPN feed, a CNN feed and a New York Times feed. You can sign up for different feeds and services at http://www.rsshome.com/RSSUsers/SignIn.aspx.
The Homescreen plug-in displays the article titles on the homescreen in an expandable interface. The photo below shows the collapsed state of the homescreen with a Windows Mobile RSS branding.
Figure 2
When you navigate down to the Windows Mobile RSS logo, the logo expands and begins to display the titles in the expanded area via a marquee mechanism.
Figure 3
When you want to read further about a particular title displayed, the Action key is pressed on the SmartPhone and the RSS News reader is launched (See figure 1 above). If you are then interested in reading the full on-line article in the Pocket Internet Explorer browser, you can choose the Menu option and Read Article.
Figure 4
Pocket IE is then launched and the link attached to the ITEM is opened.
The client uses the internet as an underlying transport layer to talk to the RSSHome internet server. All feeds chosen by subscribers are first validated on the RSSHome server. They are cached locally on the server and pruned of extraneous data to reduce over-the-air data to the phone. This is done to reduce air-time data charges.
Since the client is a particular and specific implementation, the user
experience on the SmartPhone is very simple and
direct. Instead of using the Pocket IE
browser and trying to navigate non-friendly formatted web sites, the custom
built client gives you a simple way to navigate vast amounts of information
without the overhead of the standard internet user interface.
Saving Data Bytes
The client has a Reduce Data mode that reduces data even further by having the server transmit only the titles and links of the articles instead of including the full description text. In place of the description, the server transmits a small text summary of the number of characters in the description. If the subscriber wishes to retrieve the full description of a particular item, he may choose the Menu option of Read Description. The server then transmits only that particular article’s description to the client.
Figure 5
All data is transmitted in XML format for a standards-based transfer method. The XML is parsed on the client and displayed as described above.
Menu Options in RSS News
Menu->Read Article
Read the full article for the currently displayed feed’s article. This will open Pocket IE and transfer to the provider’s web site. (e.g. http://www.espn.com).
Menu->Read Description
This is enabled if Reduce Data mode is checked in Setup (see below). Select this option to retrieve the Description text from the given article.
Menu->Categories
RSS feeds are sometimes provided with a category attribute. You may filter which feeds are displayed by selecting this option and checking or unchecking those categories that you would like to have displayed/not displayed.
Menu->Refresh
Feeds
This menu item will clear the local cache of feed data and go over the wire to retrieve the new feeds. The feeds are only retrieved when accessed on the SmartPhone. If you would like to refresh all feeds and cache them locally on the device, choose this option, then choose Menu->Cache Feeds.
Menu->Cache Feeds
This menu item will allow you to cache all feeds locally to the device. The fastest way to synchronize your SmartPhone is to plug it into the sync cable and choose this option. All feeds will be downloaded over your computer’s connection instead of the wireless connection of the phone.
Menu->Get Web
Profile
This menu item will first try to connect to the internet, then access your account on the RSSHOme server to display the Profiles that you and your carrier have setup for your use. You may Activate or View the profiles. Activating the profile will download it to your phone and change which feeds are displayed on the phone.
Menu->Version Info
This menu item will display your phone number and the
current version of the software that is installed on your phone. To see the latest available version that is
posted on the RSSHome web site, select Menu->Get web version and the dialog
will display the current web version. If
it is newer than your version, the Menu->Update
from Web option will be enabled. You
may choose this to update your client software over the air. If you have not setup your personal password,
or you reset your password, the Menu->Get
temp password option will retrieve your temporary password from the
internet. You should log in to http://www.rsshome.com/rssusers/signin.aspx
and change your password to something that you will remember. Be sure to enter your name, email and
security question so you will be able to access your profile and be reminded of
your password.
Menu->Setup
Configuration options are set when using the RSS News application. Choosing Menu->Setup will display the following settings:
Reduce data: This setting reduces the amount of data transferred from the server to the client to reduce over-the-air charges. This setting is disabled by default and can be set in the configuration application.
Warn Data: This setting prompts the user in reduce-data mode if the action being selected will possibly incur data charges from the carrier. (data charges are independent of the application and controlled by the subscriber’s carrier).
Image feeds: This setting will allow RSS feeds that contain Image tags in their Items to display the images as if they were articles. When selected in the homescreen plug-in, the RSS Image viewer is launched.
Show logos: This setting will enable or disable the background display of feed logos when viewing a feed. To reduce data overhead, you should uncheck the checkbox. To display logo images while viewing feeds, check the Show logos checkbox.
Display lines: This setting determines the number of text lines displayed on the homscreen plug-in. The default is 3.
Font Size: This setting controls the size of the font on the homscreen plug-in. The default is 0 – which means to select the default system font. If changed, the setting is in pixels.
Refresh-rate : controls the amount of time that elapses between caching of the feed information on the client. So, if the subscriber wants to update their feed information every hour, he can set the refresh-rate to 3600 seconds. All settings are in seconds. The default setting is 3600 seconds (one hour). NOTE: If you choose the offline viewing option under the Menu -> Cache Feeds dialog, the automatic refresh will be disabled. To re-enable automatic refresh, go to the Menu-> Setup screen and set the Refresh rate to 3600.
Item rate: This setting controls the amount of display time between marquee switches on the home-screen plug-in. The default for the setting is 3 seconds.
RSSSETUP.XML
These settings are saved in a file named rsssetup.xml in the \Application Data\Home\RSS directory. The corresponding entries in the rsssetup.xml file for the above properties are described below. If you are familiar with XML, you may modify these settings with a text editor:
Reduce data = reduce-data=”0” or “1” – “0” means do not reduce data, “1” means reduce data.
Warn Data = warn-data=”0” or “1” – “0” means do not warn when retrieving data, “1” means warn when retrieving data.
Image feeds = image-feeds=”1” or “0” – “1” means show images if they are in modified RSS feeds, “0” means do not show them.
Refresh rate = refresh-rate=”n” where “n” is in seconds. N=0 means do not refresh.
Item rate = refresh-rate-items=”n” where “n” is in seconds.
Show logos = show-logos=”1” or “0” – “1” means to show feed logos while displaying feeds, “0” means do not show logos.