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pragnanzer · 08-22-06, 03:55 PM

My feeling of the upgrade is mixed. It has some additional features. But one thing that bothers me is that when a RSS feed displays a list of items, tapping the item with my stylus does not open the item. Instead, it only expands the item from a single-spaced format to a double-spaced format (some, but not most, items have text that cannot be displayed on one line). To "open" the item, I have to either press the hard Select button (the center button of the 5-way), or to tap-and-hold to display a context menu. There are more steps to operate in comparison with a previous version. It seems, this upgrade assumes users to use the 5-way more often and the stylus less. But this assumption cannot be applied consistently anyway, as some actions clearly still require using the stylus and perhaps ONLY the stylus (e.g., downloading a MP3 enclosure).

Also, in previous versions, I can display and select the feeds within a folder from a "pop-up side menu" and, if I change my mind--without closing any window with an additional tap or key press--I can tap on another folder to display and select its feeds. Now, the contents of a folder are displayed in full screen instead of the pop-up side menu, and I have to exit this screen before I can look into another folder. It takes more steps now.

I can name other places where I consider a regression in usability.... But the great thing about Egress is that the author provides us free lifetime upgrade; we can choose the version we like.

One great feature in the future is to provide a list of audio podcasts which has already been downloaded (those that are downloaded automatically and manually, and sorted by default in reverse chronological order) so that users don't have to go back to each individual feed to listen to their favorite podcasts.

One of the aximsite members asks whether Egress will display the entire stories or just the snippets. This is not decided by the RSS reader but by the websites that provide the RSS feeds. But if you like technology, those feeds from Gizmodo, Engadget, Pocketnow, Pocket PC thoughts... are very good in providing full or almost full stories with pictures. You just have to identify those websites which are more generous in providing full contents without requiring you to launch the browser to their websites. Egress is one of my everyday indispensable applications.

08-22-06, 03:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
pragnanzer Aximsite Minor League Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 109 Device: Treo 650 (Palm) Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My feeling of the upgrade is mixed. It has some additional features. But one thing that bothers me is that when a RSS feed displays a list of items, tapping the item with my stylus does not open the item. Instead, it only expands the item from a single-spaced format to a double-spaced format (some, but not most, items have text that cannot be displayed on one line). To "open" the item, I have to either press the hard Select button (the center button of the 5-way), or to tap-and-hold to display a context menu. There are more steps to operate in comparison with a previous version. It seems, this upgrade assumes users to use the 5-way more often and the stylus less. But this assumption cannot be applied consistently anyway, as some actions clearly still require using the stylus and perhaps ONLY the stylus (e.g., downloading a MP3 enclosure). Also, in previous versions, I can display and select the feeds within a folder from a "pop-up side menu" and, if I change my mind--without closing any window with an additional tap or key press--I can tap on another folder to display and select its feeds. Now, the contents of a folder are displayed in full screen instead of the pop-up side menu, and I have to exit this screen before I can look into another folder. It takes more steps now. I can name other places where I consider a regression in usability.... But the great thing about Egress is that the author provides us free lifetime upgrade; we can choose the version we like. One great feature in the future is to provide a list of audio podcasts which has already been downloaded (those that are downloaded automatically and manually, and sorted by default in reverse chronological order) so that users don't have to go back to each individual feed to listen to their favorite podcasts. One of the aximsite members asks whether Egress will display the entire stories or just the snippets. This is not decided by the RSS reader but by the websites that provide the RSS feeds. But if you like technology, those feeds from Gizmodo, Engadget, Pocketnow, Pocket PC thoughts... are very good in providing full or almost full stories with pictures. You just have to identify those websites which are more generous in providing full contents without requiring you to launch the browser to their websites. Egress is one of my everyday indispensable applications.