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So the idea is that you add a link, it watches for changes to the article's content and alerts you if a change. Sounds good, but it seems rare for sites to upda

by dvcc 12y ago

So the idea is that you add a link, it watches for changes to the article's content and alerts you if a change. Sounds good, but it seems rare for sites to update existing articles, when another could be posted. Ever thought about watching the parent site for updates with similar content?

danielweber 12y ago
I had a friend who really really wanted a way of following a specific news story, such that he could register and then even years later if something developed he would get an email.
- Hates_ 12y ago
  I worked on something that did just that: http://www.newstrapper.com/ http://www.newstrapper.com/
  - danvesma 12y ago
    that's very pretty
x1798DE 12y ago
Yeah, I'd second this. If it's really targeted at following news stories, watching a given page change is not as useful as some sort of tag-based or curated per-topic subscription. One thing I'd find this useful for would be when you're waiting for something to be released - point this at an author's website (or a subpage related to a book you're looking forward to) to be automatically notified when the page changes. Similarly, I think that Overdrive (e-book and audiobook lending through public libraries) has a page where it lists the libraries carrying a given book. If you're hoping that your library starts carrying a given book, you could imagine following a page like that. Another feature suggestion - maybe put in an option for a reminder to check back even if the page hasn't changed either on some interval or after some period of time. I could see using that as a tool to try to keep kickstarters and the like honest ("You said there'd be an update after 14 days, it's been 18 days, no update...").
- mazuhl 12y ago
  An alternate take on this would be for websites/services that have a splash page but no signup form/RSS feed or a non-news/blog site such as a bakery, local restaurant, etc. From the name/HN prompt, I thought it'd be something that gave you updates as a story was developed. For example, you hear about a criminal being captured, but you don't always hear about the trial/sentencing. A few months later you're asking "What ever happened to that guy who..."
danvesma 12y ago
Its great feedback, thank you. The thought really was for one to be able to watch a specific news outlets' coverage of a storey to see how it changes over time. If you start watching an article from someone like the BBC when it first breaks, seeing what they add in (and more excitingly take out) as it develops is fascinating. I had the idea when I was obsessively following MH370 and i'd refresh a page a couple of hours after reading it and try to work out what had happened in the time between. If it gains any sort of traction and interest I'll absolutely expand its reach to offer watching a single storey across multiple articles and outlets.

by dvcc 12y ago

danielweber 12y ago

I had a friend who really really wanted a way of following a specific news story, such that he could register and then even years later if something developed he would get an email.

Hates_ 12y ago
I worked on something that did just that: http://www.newstrapper.com/ http://www.newstrapper.com/
- danvesma 12y ago
  that's very pretty

x1798DE 12y ago

Yeah, I'd second this. If it's really targeted at following news stories, watching a given page change is not as useful as some sort of tag-based or curated per-topic subscription. One thing I'd find this useful for would be when you're waiting for something to be released - point this at an author's website (or a subpage related to a book you're looking forward to) to be automatically notified when the page changes. Similarly, I think that Overdrive (e-book and audiobook lending through public libraries) has a page where it lists the libraries carrying a given book. If you're hoping that your library starts carrying a given book, you could imagine following a page like that. Another feature suggestion - maybe put in an option for a reminder to check back even if the page hasn't changed either on some interval or after some period of time. I could see using that as a tool to try to keep kickstarters and the like honest ("You said there'd be an update after 14 days, it's been 18 days, no update...").

mazuhl 12y ago
An alternate take on this would be for websites/services that have a splash page but no signup form/RSS feed or a non-news/blog site such as a bakery, local restaurant, etc. From the name/HN prompt, I thought it'd be something that gave you updates as a story was developed. For example, you hear about a criminal being captured, but you don't always hear about the trial/sentencing. A few months later you're asking "What ever happened to that guy who..."

danvesma 12y ago

Its great feedback, thank you. The thought really was for one to be able to watch a specific news outlets' coverage of a storey to see how it changes over time. If you start watching an article from someone like the BBC when it first breaks, seeing what they add in (and more excitingly take out) as it develops is fascinating. I had the idea when I was obsessively following MH370 and i'd refresh a page a couple of hours after reading it and try to work out what had happened in the time between. If it gains any sort of traction and interest I'll absolutely expand its reach to offer watching a single storey across multiple articles and outlets.