Canadian startup AideRSS is taking the ranking algorithm in its feed reader, PostRank, and turning it into an API for other developers to integrate into their own apps. At the same time, it is releasing an extension for Google Reader built on that API that shows the ranking of each post and feed within Google Reader.
PostRank measures different ways that readers engage with a post. The ranking is based on how many times a particular post has been linked to, voted up on Digg, commented on, Twittered about, or bookmarked on del.icio.us. Starting today, PostRank also takes into account how many times a post has been viewed and clicked on in feed readers like AideRSS and now Google Reader that take advantage of the API. (Basically, whoever uses a PostRank-powered feed reader contributes to the overall ranking). PostRank also now measures activity on Ma.gnolia and Pownce as well.
AideRSS co-founder and chief architect Ilya Grigorick says:
Any developer can now integrate PostRank into his/her application to take advantage of our social engagement analysis. We see PostRank as the de facto engagement ranking platform.
More efforts like these are needed to help reduce the noise being created by the proliferation of information sources and communications services on the Web. The Google Reader extension, for instance, lets you sort by all, good, great, and best posts and feeds. You can also see rankings for entire feeds, folders, and collections.
All of the ranking is based on passive user behavior. The idea is that you and everyone else using a PostRank reader is already ranking each item based on how you consume and share it. There is no way to explicitly rank a story or feed by marking it good, great, or poor (which should be an option for those so inclined to rate every item).
PostRank is also a one-size-fits all solution. Everyone sees the same rankings. It doesn’t take into account your personal reading preferences, historical consumption patterns, or the engagement patterns of your specific social network. But that’s what APIS are for. Anyone can now make PostRank better.
Here’s a video below showing what PostRank can do on Google Reader (and how to install it either as a Fireefox add-on or a Greasemonkey script):
Very cool…ROI for RSS!
Great service guys. Keep up the hard work!
AideRSS is awesome, and this makes it even more awesome!
Debating applying to this company. Currently working for another well funded company based out of waterloo at the moment.
Nice addon - I’ll try it out. Ironically enough, this post gets 2.4/10..
Please let us know how you’re using the PostRank API. We love hearing about cool applications.
@4 If you feel like it check out http://aiderss.standoutjobs.com/
Cheers
Awesome service! Can’t wait to try it out
I wonder when feedburner will be doing this?
Looks rather interesting. I know my rss feed is sooo overbloated, that I only get to about a fraction of what I should.
-bt
This sounds like an awesome service… you guys should check this out http://www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?RTA=web2
Their API looks great and could be very useful…. but their license agreement says it can only be used for non-commercial apps and services. That definitely limits the usefulness and uptake.
very good idea guys, this will def help
Nath
http://www.themostpowerfulcompany.com
@11 Thanks Nova. We’re int he process of pulling together our commercial use agreement but you an expect it to be in the spirit of similar service in this space.
Basically we love developers building stuff on the API which is why we shipped it. We’re also very interested to talk with larger partners that see value in the API but getting the break points right is taking some thought.
Love to here your thoughts on this.
Check the License Page for Commercial Use clarification over the next several days:
http://postrank.com/developers/api_agreement.html
I am an avid user of Google Reader and look forward to having add ons for it to help me sort through everything. This program looks as if it has much promise; I test drove it all day (slow day, only read about 600 articles). I had one complaint though, and it was a dealbreaker, I had to uninstall it. The best part about reader is its speed with which I can move throughout the interface, and this add-on made the whole program rather sluggish. Keep up the great work though, I will check in on you guys in a bit to see if you have resolved the sluggishness, and when you do I will be your biggest fan.
Aaron, thanks for the feedback. Speed of the extension is definitely top of mind, and we’ll do our best to address this. Firefox 3 specifically has brought native support for a number of possible improvements which we will be looking at in the course of the coming weeks.
In the meantime, please let us know of any other thoughts or ideas.
PostRank C# library: http://spaetzel.com/postranksharp/
PostRank Python library: http://newthink.net/blog/2008/.....ython-api/
Speed is a total dealbreaker for me too. PostRank absolutely squashes Greader usability