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PSP adds podcast support in new firmware (2.6)

After a few rounds of Sony simply updating the PSP firmware to thwart software developers, it’s a nice surprise to see a firmware update with some new functionality. Version 2.6 adds a rootkit RSS Channel feature which allows subscribing to RSS 2.0 feeds with audio enclosures. Interestingly enough, the RSS application does not allow reading RSS feeds (ie., the ‘descriptions’), nor caching the enclosures. However, it can stream podcast audio over the PSP’s wifi connection.

At first glance, adding direct podcast subscriptions is a nice feature; However, it doesn’t really add up for me. Using the wifi connection to fetch the audio payload is certainly unique (meaning that the iPod can’t do that, yet), but it may also be less useful. With an iPod, you can cache the audio and take it with you (ie., it’s portable.) But with the PSP’s approach, you need to be in range of an open wifi network. And if you’re going to limit the functionality by requiring a net connection, why not differentiate from the iPod and support streaming audio as well? Support for Shoutcast streams is actually one of the features I’m looking forward to with the Nokia 770.

For more on the firmware update, see:

• Playstation System Update (Official)
• PSP Update 2.6: Podcasting (RSS) and WMA Music Support! (russellbeattie.com)
• PSP Firmware v2.60 Released (MAKE blog)
• Get RSS on your PSP with new firmware (joystiq)
• PSP Firmware 2.6 supports RSS and WMA (Engadget)

NewsGator acquires NetNewsWire

It’s official (although Ranchero has no mention of it), NewsGator has acquired NetNewsWire. We can only speculate what impact this will have on NetNewsWire (NNW), but then again, speculation is fun, so here goes:

First, I’m guessing that Bloglines synching will be removed. Personally that’s how I use NNW, but then again, I have no personal attachment to Bloglines. All I’m looking for is a way to read my news with Mac OS X gum-drops while I’m on my Mac, and a decent enough web interface for when I’m away (and using my phone or PSP.)

Second, hopefully NNW can now automate subscription handling so that I no longer have to jump through hoops to keep my online and NNW subscription rolls in sync. I’m thinking that the Subscribe and Unsubscribe buttons should automatically perform the same action on NewsGator Online.

Next question: What happens to MarsEdit? I’m using MarsEdit right now. Please don’t kill it — I like it! (Although it’s quite good as is… so I don’t necessarily need an update.)

Now for the business angle… What I find particularly exciting is that NewsGator recognized the user need for multiple interfaces to subscriptions and is doing something about it. And even though I haven’t ever used NewsGator (since I’m already using Bloglines), it does sound like they’re creating business opportunities that Bloglines never found. First of all, their basic service is free (just like Bloglines), but they also have subscription upgrade paths that add extra features (although I think the mobile edition should be free.) The upgrade path also includes “premium” content, which is an interesting differentiator. Not to be out-done in netiquette, NewsGator also offers a web-API to developers.

Interestingly as well, if the feature set is comparable, NewsGator just found a way to convert a possibly large set of users over from Bloglines. Furthermore, since they also acquired FeedDemon for Windows, they now control the two leading desktop aggregator clients, which means they not only have compelling commercial desktop applications, but an online data synchronization service with an upgrade path for commercial content services.

Software updates through RSS + enclosures

I love this! Macromates is now offering an RSS feed for the TextMate changelog that includes a link to the latest build as an enclosure! I’ve read about this idea many times, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen it used for a piece of software I use. Thanks Macromates!

Applying RSS to daily tasks

I don’t use .NET, SourceSafe, or any computing platform that would allow me to run this, but over on Greg Reinacker’s weblog, he’s posted the source code for an application to generate RSS feeds for Visual SourceSafe activity. You can find more info on his post, “RSS and SourceSafe.”

This is another great example of using RSS to increase one’s productivity with simple tools and automation; And even though I don’t use SourceSafe, I do use CVS and Subversion, and RSS feed generators are available for both of those version control systems as well.

Since I’m on the topic of development productivity, Better Software Magazine has an article up titled, “7 Simple Ways to Add a Little Agile without Going to Extremes” which intends to explain 7 simple steps for applying Agile techniques to existing Waterfall, or other development methodologies. (Found via The Farm.) If you’re familiar with the Agile approach, there isn’t anything new to learn in this article; However, it does present things in a clear enough manner to make it suitable for sharing with management-types who aren’t so familiar.

The seven points made in the article are definitely good ones, but if I were to pick two favorites they would be:

4. Plan and deliver in short iterations and small releases
5. Identify and collaborate with your customer

These two are less focused on low level development tasks, and more on feature and release planning. Even a waterfall project can benefit from collaborating with customers (ie., deriving feature requirements from listening to the people who actually buy your software), but introducing short release cycles will take some dedicated planning. In the end, both of these are intended to increase customer satisfation, so selling them to upper management should be fairly easy.

If you’re intersted in learning more about Agile development, I’ll suggest the book “Agile Project Management : Creating Innovative Products” as a fairly easy starting point that focuses on how Agile techniques are used to reduce development costs and produce better products.

GMail Atom URL

Thanks to the post GMail Atom Feed, I finally have NetNewsWire monitoring my GMail account. I found the link after doing a quick Google for a GMail notification app for OS X (which I didn’t find.) However, integrating with an existing tool that I already use is even better then a stand-alone solution anyway. Once again I have to give Google credit for using simple API’s to increase the usefulness of their services.

For the record, the link is:
https://gmail.google.com/gmail/feed/atom