Yahoo Adds RSS Feeds into Web Mail

By Nate Mook | Published November 30, 2005, 11:57 AM

Taking a different approach than Google, which launched a separate Web RSS reader last month, Yahoo on Wednesday rolled out an update to its Yahoo! Mail Beta that integrates RSS feeds directly below e-mail folders. Feeds can be synched from My Yahoo! or added manually.

Full posts from RSS feeds show up like an e-mail message, and can be forwarded, printed or saved for later viewing. An "All Feeds" feature creates an aggregate list of updates from the feeds, order chronologically.

"We're expanding upon Yahoo's significant leadership in RSS by integrating it right into the world's most popular Web mail service," said Ethan Diamond, director of product development for Yahoo! Mail. "By adding feeds to Yahoo! Mail, we will introduce RSS technology to a more expansive consumer base than ever before."

The addition was demoed Tuesday evening at a special dinner event for bloggers, press and other influentials in San Francisco.

"Yahoo clearly took the lead for best email application this evening. The ability to 'pop in' other email accounts, the ajax functionality and, now, the integrated RSS reader are absolutely stunning features," said venture capitalist Michael Arrington, who attended the dinner.

Beyond integrating RSS into Mail, Yahoo launched a beta of Yahoo! Alerts, which notifies users when RSS feeds are updated. Alerts can be sent via SMS, e-mail or Yahoo! Messenger. Anything that has an RSS feed, from shopping wish lists to classified ads and fantasy football leagues, can be setup to pop-up an alert.

"There are a few other features which still need to be added, but Yahoo Mail is just an incredibly awesome product," concluded Arrington.

Comments

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I see the PDF and word document preview features. I also see the snippet feature in the "what's new" section, but I do not see it in my account. Maybe they haven't rolled it out to all accounts yet? http://mail.google.com/m...elp/about_whatsnew.html

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The only thing I found out about signing up..

http://whatsnew.mail.yahoo.com/

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Yeah, I've been waiting on the beta list for a long time. I've found that it doesn't pay to be a paying Yahoo customer. I've got an account with "Plus" status that gets no betas and no tech support on the couple occasions when I needed it. It is too bad so many people know my yahoo address or I'd give it up and quit paying. I've had much better success with an alternate Yahoo account that doesn't pay anything.

The link to get on the list is in your Yahoo mail account. Click the text link "What's New" which is near the "Options" link in the upper right hand corner. You'll see your personal link to the beta there. I've been on the list for months with no word from Yahoo.

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I have SBC Yahoo Super DSL, right? So I call their tech support..and the fellow doesn't even know there IS a new beta mail. Doesn't know about PhotoMail either, which is STILL not avail. Pay more..get less.

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How in the world does one get on the dang test list for Yahoo! Mail Beta?

I've been waiting for months for a response from JunkHoo and still nothing.

Right now I actually prefer Windows Live Mail (beta) to any other webmail setup.

Thanks JunkHoo!

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I'm just trying to get an invitation to the Windows Live Mail (beta).

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