One small step for simpler news feeds

Metacentric Internet Limited today launched a major update to the Web Feed Generator service at http://www.metacentric.net/ that further simplifies the creation of low maintenance RSS news feeds. This update removes several steps from the feed creation process so that customers can quickly set up news feeds and move on.

The latest release of the Web Feed Generator automatically prepares site profiles to organise news feeds, so that customers do not need to register their site first. New customers go straight to the feed creation screen to test their feed, then it is just one small step to make news feed buttons and auto-discovery links for their site.

This update also introduces the option to move a feed directory to a different site profile, and many other usability enhancements:

• Automatic insertion of recently used feed URLs
• Automatic selection of recently used site profiles
• Clearer presentation of site profile and feed directory changes
• Context sensitive navigation to related feed management tasks
• Simpler email verification process

The Web Feed Generator enables site owners to be a part of a new growth area for the Internet without making major commitments up front. Metacentric managing director Philip Shaw said: "We are always looking for ways to help customers produce news feeds more easily."

These service enhancements highlight another advantage of the Web Feed Generator: no installation required. Mr Shaw said, "We manage all the changes on the Metacentric server and customers get the benefits of the service upgrade immediately."

This simplification of the Web Feed Generator service is the biggest in a series of incremental enhancements directed by customer research. In December 2005, the company switched to a flat rate fee to simplify the service price structure.

Notes for editors

Metacentric Internet Limited is a British company based in Norwich, England. A media kit with high resolution graphics, illustrations, screen shots and further background information is available at http://www.metacentric.net/about/MediaKit.jsp

News feed technology has been adopted by commercial Internet services like Amazon and PC World, and traditional news publishers like the BBC and Reuters. Feed readers are built in to many Web browsers and email programs, including the forthcoming version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Feed readers check news feeds while you are looking at other Web sites or reading your email and alert you to new items. News feeds use a plain text format, so cannot carry the viruses and worms that have made people so suspicious of email notification. Each news item includes summary text and a link back to the Web site to read the "full story".

Please contact Philip Shaw for further questions and quotes on 01603 506486 (UK) or +44 1603 506486 (International). Email philip.shaw@metacentric.net