I know we were all excited about RSS when it came out year ago, but I think it’s turned into a bad thing for the web.
Ok, maybe not ALL of you. Some are still wondering what RSS even is.
Either way, getting our news and updates from RSS readers and Facebook notes (I’m sure some of you are even reading this in a Note!) erodes the design aspect of the web. There are some visually stunning websites out there, but you never see it because you’re stuck in your RSS reader. Here’s an example:
Neil Patrick Harris from How I Met You Mother, or as you know him, Doogie Howser, mentioned on Twitter one of his favorite websites was Uncrate.com. When I visited, I loved not only the unique products they highlight, but the amazing website. I visited a few days in a row, finally subscribing to their RSS feed. That’s where the fun died. Look at the difference-
OR……
Seriously, which one you rather look at? One is compelling, captivating, visually engaging. The other is informative and truthful, but boring as all get out. No more RSS for Uncrate.com!
Other websites, like this one and this one, are also visually compelling, but are probably not consumed in the way they were designed. So I say “Less RSS, more site visits!” Let’s get back to the good stuff!
Are there other beautifully designed sites you love to visit to, well, just look at?
#1 by Kevin Switzer on January 13, 2010 - 9:05 am
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You’re missing the entire point of RSS feeds though. I subscribe to a lot of site feeds. If I had to visit all of those sites, I’d undoubtedly forget some, possibly forgetting the most recent news, blogs, comics, etc.
I think what Uncrate is doing is a great way to engage users. They give you a little snippet, and if you want to read more, you click the link to read the full post. If you’re not interested, skip it.
#2 by Clayton Bell on January 13, 2010 - 9:28 am
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No, I get RSS; I’m the guy who was once subscribed to over 100 feeds and was a huge RSS evangelist. My point is that we can become such content consumers that we stop being content enjoyers.
You can get all of your vitamins and minerals from pills and shakes, which is more efficient, or you can get it from fresh and delicious food, which takes time to prepare and present. They both may have the same results, but the experience of taking them is vastly different. We need to get back to real food
#3 by Jen Herrick on January 13, 2010 - 10:41 am
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I don’t think I’ve visited this site since it’s had this design. And I only did today since I happened to click the link in your tweet rather than just reading in my rss reader.
#4 by Kevin Switzer on January 13, 2010 - 4:37 pm
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I understand we need to get back to real food. Imagine it like a food court. You can drive all over town to a bunch of different restaurants, or you can go to shopping mall that has a lot of choices. You won’t want to eat at ALL of them, but as you walk by, you catch a glimpse of what’s offered. If you’re interested, you actually go to the restaurant and eat.
The RSS reader is the food court. If the feed provider is doing it right, they give you a glimpse (or a tasty sample) of what they have to eat. If you’re interested, you click to read more (or eat there).
I’m not saying that all content should be in the RSS feed (the pill). That would be like eating only samples from the food court vendors. While it may give you a variety, it won’t fill you up. You actually have to decide what you want to read (or eat).
#5 by Terrace Crawford on January 13, 2010 - 11:49 pm
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I totally agree with you. I’ve always hated that about RSS…
–Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
#6 by Dave Hess on January 29, 2010 - 10:58 pm
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I’d never heard of Uncrate.com before, so thanks for the info.
Also, speaking of site design, I am also a fan of your blog’s new look!