February 16, 2009 46 Comments

My iPhone Reads Your Blog Posts

Pimp my NewsExcept for the fact that John Atkinson refuses to rename his company at my request, Pimp My News is a useful product. It lets one receive audio recitations of one’s RSS-enabled blog posts. I’m using it on my iPhone and occasionally let the thing read me some of Pete’s team’s rantings on Mashable and a few other “cant-miss” blogs. I like it because I can close my eyes and listen for a while.

The automated voice is actually getting pretty decent. I used the product almost a year ago, and it’s improved tons.

John has a video about how to get more out of the service:

Related posts:

  1. David Peralty on Organizing Blog Posts
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  3. You Think Blog Posts are Damaging
  4. Writing Effective Blog Posts
  5. Nine Ways to Promote Your Blog Posts

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  • http://smallbizbee.com/index/2009/02/11/85-absolutely-free-online-business/ Matt | Small Biz Bee

    What do you want to rename it to?

  • http://smallbizbee.com/index/2009/02/11/85-absolutely-free-online-business/ Matt | Small Biz Bee

    What do you want to rename it to?

  • http://www.GaryMcElwain.com Gary McElwain

    Damn, I want one of them, sans the Perez Hilton thing!

    Gary McElwain

  • http://www.GaryMcElwain.com Gary McElwain

    Damn, I want one of them, sans the Perez Hilton thing!

    Gary McElwain

  • http://www.jennifervangrove.com Jennifer Van Grove

    Wow that is a terrible name for a pretty cool app, one that I might actually pay for.

    Slightly disturbed that you might be listening to my posts via that creepy male robotic voice, but hey at least your reading/listening.

  • http://www.jennifervangrove.com Jennifer Van Grove

    Wow that is a terrible name for a pretty cool app, one that I might actually pay for.

    Slightly disturbed that you might be listening to my posts via that creepy male robotic voice, but hey at least your reading/listening.

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Chris – I’m laughing out loud because each time we talk, you ask, “When are you going to change the name?” David Meerman Scott said he loves it ;)

    We chose the name because a) PimpMyNews let’s you “personalize & improve” your news – similar to how “Pimp My Ride” personalizes & improves people’s cars, and b) we don’t take life too seriously.

    On a more serious note, thanks for sharing our new native iPhone / iPod touch app with everyone – it reflects a year’s worth of user feedback.

    The key value prop is that it lets you listen to your blogs while you get things done (i.e. driving, exercising, riding the train, etc). Users can create a playlist of their 10 favorite blogs and listen to, read, & share content on the go. (For the publisher, the value is in giving their audience a new way to engage with their content while they’re away from a computer)

    The app is $3.99 in The App Store: http://bit.ly/PMNiPhone Looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks – we act on feedback fast.

    Thanks!
    John
    Co-founder, PimpMyNews.com

  • http://PimpMyNews.com John Atkinson

    Chris – I’m laughing out loud because each time we talk, you ask, “When are you going to change the name?” David Meerman Scott said he loves it ;)

    We chose the name because a) PimpMyNews let’s you “personalize & improve” your news – similar to how “Pimp My Ride” personalizes & improves people’s cars, and b) we don’t take life too seriously.

    On a more serious note, thanks for sharing our new native iPhone / iPod touch app with everyone – it reflects a year’s worth of user feedback.

    The key value prop is that it lets you listen to your blogs while you get things done (i.e. driving, exercising, riding the train, etc). Users can create a playlist of their 10 favorite blogs and listen to, read, & share content on the go. (For the publisher, the value is in giving their audience a new way to engage with their content while they’re away from a computer)

    The app is $3.99 in The App Store: http://bit.ly/PMNiPhone Looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks – we act on feedback fast.

    Thanks!
    John
    Co-founder, PimpMyNews.com

  • http://gripfactor.wordpress.com Nakeva

    Now that’s a definite value app to have it read your news to you while you do other tasks! Too bad I don’t have an iPhone to do a test run. The name is a little questionable, however, I can see how it would catch on to a certain user market. It would be hilarious to see the reaction of your client or even CTO if they were to look over your shoulder and see you are reading something that starts with “pimp”.

    Amazing how John responded to your post with useful feedback.

  • http://gripfactor.wordpress.com Nakeva

    Now that’s a definite value app to have it read your news to you while you do other tasks! Too bad I don’t have an iPhone to do a test run. The name is a little questionable, however, I can see how it would catch on to a certain user market. It would be hilarious to see the reaction of your client or even CTO if they were to look over your shoulder and see you are reading something that starts with “pimp”.

    Amazing how John responded to your post with useful feedback.

  • http://thelocksmithcourses.com/the-cost-of-being-a-locksmith/ The locksmith

    I…
    Need…
    An…
    IPhone…
    Now…

    Very cool app, makes it even harder for me not to chose to buy an apple Iphone. Damn that phone is so cool. Could it just be a little bit easier for danes to get this phone.

  • http://thelocksmithcourses.com/the-cost-of-being-a-locksmith/ The locksmith

    I…
    Need…
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    Now…

    Very cool app, makes it even harder for me not to chose to buy an apple Iphone. Damn that phone is so cool. Could it just be a little bit easier for danes to get this phone.

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    @Nakeva & The locksmith: I appreciate the feedback. By the way, you can also use the service on your computer, a regular iPod, or any MP3 player here http://PimpMyNews.com/Signup.aspx

    @Jennifer – thanks for sharing your opinion – we also have a female voice. Many of our users say that after a few listens, their ability to focus on the content increases significantly (sort of like getting to know the foreign exchange student ;)

  • http://PimpMyNews.com John Atkinson

    @Nakeva & The locksmith: I appreciate the feedback. By the way, you can also use the service on your computer, a regular iPod, or any MP3 player here http://PimpMyNews.com/Signup.aspx

    @Jennifer – thanks for sharing your opinion – we also have a female voice. Many of our users say that after a few listens, their ability to focus on the content increases significantly (sort of like getting to know the foreign exchange student ;)

  • http://scottmoroney.typepad.com Scott Moroney

    This may be blasphemy, but will there be something for Blackberry?

  • http://scottmoroney.typepad.com Scott Moroney

    This may be blasphemy, but will there be something for Blackberry?

  • http://www.tumblemoose.com Tumblemoose

    I need to echo Locksmith here:

    I can’t wait to get Apple-ized. An iPhone is close to the top of the list, just under a Macbook. Hanging in there for them.

    Cheers

    George

  • http://www.tumblemoose.com Tumblemoose

    I need to echo Locksmith here:

    I can’t wait to get Apple-ized. An iPhone is close to the top of the list, just under a Macbook. Hanging in there for them.

    Cheers

    George

  • http://www.vbpoutsourcing.com KJ Rodgers

    That is a neat app. If I had an iPhone, I would buy it. I don’t mind the name, but it is easy to remember.

  • http://www.vbpoutsourcing.com KJ Rodgers

    That is a neat app. If I had an iPhone, I would buy it. I don’t mind the name, but it is easy to remember.

  • http://www.broadbandevolved.com Matt Howard

    any plans to support rim, windws mobile, android?

  • http://www.broadbandevolved.com Matt Howard

    any plans to support rim, windws mobile, android?

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    @Scott Moroney & Matt Howard – Thanks for asking – Yes – We’re spec’ing out the development for RIM/Blackberry, Windows Mobile & Android… RIM/Blackberry will likely come first.

  • http://PimpMyNews.com John Atkinson

    @Scott Moroney & Matt Howard – Thanks for asking – Yes – We’re spec’ing out the development for RIM/Blackberry, Windows Mobile & Android… RIM/Blackberry will likely come first.

  • http://donotreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com/ Nicholas Chase

    Chris,

    This is a cool product, and sometimes listening can be better than reading, especially after a long travel day or hectic conference schedule.

    I’m still using the Palm Model 770W PDA for my mobile smartphone/computer uses. Dragging a laptop around ended when I bought the Treo Model 600 predessor. Now with video-capability, web access, and email while on the phone, I can stay in touch with my home office when traveling.

    Thanks for the heads-up on this application. With the iPhone leading the way in mobile communications, I can see the writing on the wall.

    Can you consult with AT&T to see if they can improve their service? I see so many complaints in my web reading. You would think that Apple would want these issues addressed more rapidly?

    Respectfully,

    Nicholas Chase
    http://www.twitter.com/nachase

  • http://donotreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com/ Nicholas Chase

    Chris,

    This is a cool product, and sometimes listening can be better than reading, especially after a long travel day or hectic conference schedule.

    I’m still using the Palm Model 770W PDA for my mobile smartphone/computer uses. Dragging a laptop around ended when I bought the Treo Model 600 predessor. Now with video-capability, web access, and email while on the phone, I can stay in touch with my home office when traveling.

    Thanks for the heads-up on this application. With the iPhone leading the way in mobile communications, I can see the writing on the wall.

    Can you consult with AT&T to see if they can improve their service? I see so many complaints in my web reading. You would think that Apple would want these issues addressed more rapidly?

    Respectfully,

    Nicholas Chase
    http://www.twitter.com/nachase

  • http://www.marketingbyweb.co.uk Claire Jarrett

    Looks like a great product will definitely take a look. Even my 15 year old is nagging me for an iPhone these days.

  • http://www.marketingbyweb.co.uk Claire Jarrett

    Looks like a great product will definitely take a look. Even my 15 year old is nagging me for an iPhone these days.

  • http://www.madison-locksmith.com/ Madison Locksmith

    Superb post!! keep the goo work up dude.

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    In an amended 13D filing with the SEC, Chase Coleman's Tiger Global Management has disclosed a 17.7% ownership stake in Longtop Financial Technologies (LFT) with 8,951,065 aggregate amount of shares beneficially owned due to activity on March 9th, 2009. This is a slight decrease from their 10,083,165 shares that they owned as listed in their most recent 13F filing which http://www.chase.com disclosed shares held as of December 31st, 2008. So, in the past 3 months, they have decreased their position somewhat. The amened 13D lists a secondary sale of 1,132,100 shares on March 9th at a price of $17.69 a share. You can view the rest of Read more

  • stephenkruck

    In an efficient market, a 208% interest rate implies that it is certain that I will default on the loan. If that were the case, shouldn’t Chase be more worried about the other charges on my credit card, or about the mortgage and home equity line? That rate could be a sign that inflation is expected to make prices to chase.com double in the next year. If so, Chase should be paying a little more on one-year CDs than 1.75%. Or, the charge could indicate that the loan has high transaction costs, which is doubtful given that I used a Chase credit card in a Chase cash station.

  • stephenkruck

    ownership stake in Longtop Financial Technologies (LFT) with 8,951,065 aggregate amount of shares beneficially owned due to activity on March 9th, 2009. This is a slight decrease from their 10,083,165 shares that they http://www.chase.com owned as listed in their most recent 13F filing which disclosed shares held as of December 31st, 2008. So, in the past 3 months, they have decreased their position somewhat. The amened 13D lists a secondary sale of 1,132,100 shares on March 9th at a price of $17.69 a share.

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