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Iliumsoft,
I can't disagree more with your reasoning here. I appreciate the desire to be 'appropriate' in the industry but I think it is misplaced here. First, many PC RSS readers already have this feature with MS Outlook 2007 (beta) introducing it as well. PocketRSS has this feature as well for the Pocket PC. HubDog comes close. The consumer wants (demands?) this feature. Many people are still not connected 24/7 - or don't wish to be even when it is available. I won't purchase any reader that doesn't allow me, the consumer, to make the choice. I don't want the software maker or the provider to decide what I would enjoy for me. I'm intelligent let me decide. I won't subscribe to a feed if I can't get the details for offline viewing.
As a feed provider, I can hardly object with that. If I don't support offline viewing, then I lose that customer completely. If I do support it, then I gain another customer. If I have any business sense I'll get them to my site in many other ways and I will build brand as the 'place to be' dedicated to my topic of interest. Therefore let them download my product completely, ackowledge my site as the owner, and I'll deal with my content so the customer knows there is more where that came from.
I always get sad when companies make decisions for the customer on what their experience should be. Sony is king at that. (You must have Beta, not VHS! Memory Stick, not Compact Flash! iLink not FireWire! etc). If enough consumers want complete offline viewing you will be left cold. It will get done (already is done) and the providers will adjust with little concern. Those that embrace the consumers will be hailed as industry leaders setting the standard, those that push the customer aside in favor of the provider "status quo" are in real danger of being forgotten. Your eWallet software is great and I have used it since I had a Jornada 430. It would be great to see your NewsBreak reach the same level of convenience to the consumer with the features that we demand.
Chris
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