Streamy, what were you thinking?

That’s a good question.  Well, let me try to clear some things up for you, Trevor.

Yes, Streamy absolutely positively looks web2.0ish in it’s current form.  But it’s theme-able so I expect that’s kind of subject to change, ya know?  Considering we live in a world where web2.0 pastel colored site with an obnoxious design can become one of the most used sites on the web, I don’t consider the colors a downside.

The sites interface is pretty much one of the single best things I have ever used in RSS readers, and it’s why Streamy has completely replaced GoogleReader for me. Everything is click-and-draggable and that makes for a fun time when reading your feeds.  Concerning the browser’s back button, I’ve been using Streamy for a good while now and I can tell you that I’ve never once been tempted to use the back button.

Now, I notice you’re ranting about the save-feature on the site.  Firstly, when I read your blog I can’t help but notice that the title says you’re a ‘web designer’.  Well, as a web designer maybe you could explain to me why I, as a user, would want my browser filled with bookmarks of articles?  If we’re going to go down that route, why not just eliminate RSS all together?  I mean, I could just bookmark all the pages right?  No, the save feature on this site is a feature, and not a usability issue.  Getting to your saves is very simple and very easy, and the home page was never designed for your saves or personal feeds.  If you want to bookmark an article you click the BIG, GREEN, link at the top of the story and hit ‘bookmark this link’.  That link goes straight to the article itself.

Oh, and why allow meebo-esque instant messaging in the page?  Because it adds to the effect, and helps me share faster.  Right now the site only supports the AIM protocol but I’ve added my AIM to the site and if I want to share a story with a friend all I do is click and drag the story to their name, or open up a chat window and click and drag it into the chat.  Now, you’re right, I could go through all the window changing, blah blah blah blah to give someone that same link, but this way is faster and more intuitive.

Having read your post it seems like all you’re really saying is “I’m upset because I’m a big important blogger and I didn’t get a streamy invite”.  Well, join the club, Pal.  A lot of people didn’t get Streamy invites because the designers are doing a lot of work on the site.  I’ve watched it evolve a lot since I first joined, and I can tell that the last thing they need as press coverage is people like you complaining every step of the way when a change is introduced.  Also, as of now, the screen-cast is a little out-dated.  Some UI changing have happened since it was placed on the web, and it’s an even better site now. 

For what it’s worth, Trevor, your grab at publicity worked.  Now we know you exist.

- Adam.