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As I roll back in here after three weeks of a project-induced/work-laden exile we know as “Implementation”, it occurred to me that of all hundreds of mobile apps I have used, tried out, evangelized and criticized, I have never posted a single iota about the one that I probably use the most. It’s true. I probably use mDigger mobile RSS system 5 times a day or more. I love it!  I call it a system because really, it’s more than an app. It’s a great solution for your feeds. It’s been around for a while, but I just had to say something about it. This seems like the right time.

mDigger is a great and efficient integrated system for delivering your feeds to your device. It works like this:

1. Create and account at mDigger.com

2. At that web site, go to the RSS menu where you can add up to 30 feeds initially ( you can request more if needed).

3. Go to downloads, and grab the cab file for Windows Mobile (I had to type in the cab URL for OTA install… I don’t recall a mobile site for install). For iPhone, navigate to iPhone.mDigger.net in Safari Mobile, for a mobile browser-based version of your feeds. No install necessary.

4. Sync your feeds

5. Begin consuming.

What’s great about mDigger is that you enter your feed addresses at the traditional web site and they are synced to your mobile device, which means you don’t have to type in gigantic URL strings on your device. Lots of mobile feed sites do this but there is just something nice and clean about the way mDigger does it.  Plus, the layout of the feeds, as displayed in the app or mobile web pages, is very clean and organized. Truncation and enclosures are just handled very nicely. (One of the big beefs I always had with Viigo was that the interface and display of data always seemed kind of cluttered to me) and lack of clutter is extremely important when viewing data on a mobile device. I know, I know… Duh. Another good thing is that  the syncs are super fast over 3G, even with a ton of feeds.

I used the SmartPhone cab for months and recently started using the iPhone browser-based version, which I think is just as good. Supposedly a new version will be in the Apple app store soon.

One thing that mDigger does not do, however, is allow import and export of OPML files so you can take your whole feed list with you to a desktop reader or import your list from another app… and that kinda sucks. Consequently, my mobile feeds and desktop feeds get out of sync from time to time. Hopefully that functionality will be added and would make mDigger much more valuable.

Bottom line:

It’s still a great, mostly hassle-free way to keep up with all your RSS feeds when on the go. Recommended.

Jay Donovan (50 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook