Gmail Web Clips: Not Ready for Prime Time

Google’s Gmail service recently added a new feature: “Web Clips,” a built-in feed reader.

The good news is that Web Clips is a very user-friendly way for non-geeks to get familiar with reading feeds, whether RSS or other formats.

The bad news is that, so far, this system has a serious fundamental flaw that leads me to discourage anyone (even newcomers to feeds) from relying on Web Clips as a primary feed reader at this point.

What’s the problem with Web Clips?…

So far, Web Clips offers no way to import or export a list of feeds. In my opinion, this is a huge problem for any feed reader.

If you’re already using another feed reader, this means that you cannot import your existing subscription list. That’s right: If you want to transfer those subscriptions to Web Clips, you must enter all those feed URLs one at a time. If you have more than, say, five existing subscriptions, that’s pretty onerous.

Even worse, any feed reader that does not offer an easy option for exporting a list of feed subscriptions holds your data hostage. By that I mean it makes it needlessly difficult for you to switch to another feed reader later, since you’d have to manually re-enter all your feed URLs into the new software or service.

Feed reader software or services store feed subscriptions in a handy file format called OPML. I’ll bet that right now, buried somewhere in the innards of every Web Clips account, lies an OPML file containing that user’s subscription list. But Google’s not giving users access to that file. What a shame.

MY ADVICE: AVOID WEB CLIPS FOR NOW

In general, anyone who’s even mildly interested in feeds should completely avoid feed readers that don’t allow OPML import and export. This should be the first criteria on your list, even before considerations such as user interface or cost.

Right now, I recommend the free version of Newsgator if you’re just getting started using feeds. It’s an easy-to-use web-based service, and a good place to get started.

Feedlounge is another web-based service that’s slated to launch in Jan. 2006. It looks like a good one to watch, with a pretty good interface and robust set of features (yes, including OPML import/export). I’m not sure yet if this service will be free, however.

Trust me: Your feed list is of very little use to you if it’s not portable. Don’t ever commit to a tool or service that traps your data, especially if that data is important to you over the long term.

That’s a principle which applies to any kind of data or communication service, not just feed readers.

Maybe Google will change its mind later and add an OPML import/export feature to Web Clips. I hope so. The user interface isn’t bad – it’s not perfect, but it’s not geeky, either. If they added that feature, I’d be happy to recommend this service.

…And I’m glad Google didn’t use the awkward geeky acronym “RSS” in naming this service, too – considering the target market. That’s some consolation.

Keep trying, Google. You’re nearly there with Web Clips.

If you liked my post, feel free to subscribe to my rss feeds

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This entry was written by Amy Gahran and posted on December 14, 2005 at 3:38 pm and filed under Resources. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment(Latest is displayed first) or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

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4 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

I think I am going to have to make sure I watch this one a bit. On one hand, I agree with Matt in the sense that there is nothing wrong with a lightweight reader. On the other, Amy, as usual, makes a good point.

Google Web Clips is not doing much to promote the technology “geekily” coined RSS. I have read Amy’s take and other authors regarding the fact that many people do not have a clue about an OPML list or a RSS feed. This is unfortunate. Amy has also penned some good blog entries on the connection age and many, many post on why “RSS” is not the best term. (I am not even going to try and list them, use her search bar. Try “RSS” and also try “Webfeeds”… You will have an evening of good reading.)

There are also those like Dave Winer who do much to promote RSS and there are those that are trying to simplify things regarding OPML with reading lists. I think this is very important. Keeping in line with Matt’s analogy, how many people would even be aware of an optional trailer hitch if it were only known as, lets say, a RDAD (Rear Dragging Assist Device) or a TCA (Trailer Connecting Apparatus)? It is well and good that users can scale what they use but they need be aware of what they can scale.

I also see this being a problem with “podcasting”. My buddy and I do a podcast (radiostatic.am) and every time I say “podcast” I am responded to with “but I don’t have and iPod”. So then I try using term Internet radio and I get “what time is it on?” Then I mention RSS and I get the look of perplexed monkey and their head explodes.

Now if I say “It is like radio and a VCR combined. You get some software and it automatically gets your radio shows.”, then I get a look of enlightenment and “OHHH really… Kool! Where do I find that software?” This is why I agree with Amy on the use of the term webfeed or feeds vs. RSS.

In my opinion, the issue is not the size of the load you can tow. It is the fact that too many users do not even know that there is an option for a towing hitch. Too many think it is only an iPod thing or a Google thing. This and the failure to import/export rather defeats the whole concept of information sharing. We know that we can tow loads with a car or a truck and can purchase what we see fit. Too many people do not know what they can do with RSS and OPML.

I think I have to agree with Amy. Stay away from it and use something that can import/export. (I like bloglines and RSSowl.)

[Reply]

1. Lumpy on December 17th, 2005 at 4:38 am
I’ve been using Gmail’s webclips for months now, and I firmly believe that it does what it does perfectly. “What it does” is “not replace a feed reader”. Google already offers a full-featured feed reader (yes, it imports/exports via OPML). Check it out at http://www.google.com/reader/
IMHO, Webclips isn’t intended to be a feed reader, so there’s no reason for Google to make it easy for you to add hundreds of feeds en masse.

Here’s the part where I ask questions, then answer them myself
Why doesn’t a Ford Mustang come equipped with a tow hitch? Because it’s not a tow vehicle. Can it tow a things? Yes, if you add a hitch. Does that mean that Ford should equip each Mustang that comes off the line with a tow package? Nope. If you want to tow something, get a tow vehicle. Likewise, if you want access to a ton of RSS feeds, get a feed reader.
My $0.02…

Matt Jeppsen
http://www.FresHDV.com

[Reply]

2. Matthew Jeppsen on December 15th, 2005 at 9:03 pm
Yeah, it is lightweight, but for some people (especially folks who are new to feeds) lightweight is good enough. People who are new to feeds seem to do best with a tool that is free, lightweight, and simple. You and I may want a lot of features, but we’re on the geeky end of the spectrum.

So I think if Web Clips can add OPML import/export so users’ subscriptions aren’t trapped within that tool, it would be a fine place for non-geeks to dip their toes into the water of feeds.

OPML import/export is especially important in this case, however, since most of those people will probably want to move on to more sophisticated and flexible tools once they get used to feeds.

- Amy Gahran
Editor, Contentious

[Reply]

3. Amy Gahran on December 15th, 2005 at 10:35 am
I dunno, Amy. I looked at the service, signed up for a few RSS sites I like, and have assumed from the beginning that it was just a lightweight amusement, not any sort of replacement for a “real” RSS reader. Frankly, I’m surprised you thought otherwise…

[Reply]

4. Dave Taylor on December 15th, 2005 at 1:01 am