To try it, follow the link to mytvrss here, and then go to the top of the page and click on the ‘RSS feeds’ link you find there.  They give simple directions for creating a feed consisting only of the shows you watch.  Once you check the shows you want to follow, scroll to the bottom and click on ‘>Create feed’.  Now go up to the url and copy the id.

Next bop on over to followshows.com and sign on up.  From any screen after you sign up, go to the drop down menu with your name and select settings.  Enter your mytvrss id in the box provided and click import.  From now on followshows can provide an rss feed or send you emails whenever a new show is coming on.  The mytvrss people claim the feed from followshows is even prettier than what we’re used to seeing from mytvrss. The main change is that a thumbnail has been added to the feed.

But I like the calendar view, so that is what I bookmarked.  I also like that I can import the calender using the address at the bottom into my Google or Rainlendar or Rainmeter calendars.  The ‘Queue’ lists your shows from the newest to the oldest with a little thumbnail and some episode info.  ’Home’ shows your recent activity.  ’Tracker’ lists the shows you follow in alphabetical order.

It is a little hard to figure out how to delete a show. Go to the followshows show page (not just an episode). There will be a button that says ‘Following’ or ‘Follow’. If you hover over the ‘Following’ button it becomes ‘Unfollow’. Click ‘Unfollow’ to remove the show from your feed. I prefer the selection page at mytvrss and hope followshows will improve this on their site.

Other than that, the interface is very straightforward. It reminds me of Clicker in that regard. However, it is extremely slow to respond. [UPDATE: I returned to their site 2012-04-30 and it was snappy. Not sure what happened the first day.] That really is my only gripe about an otherwise excellent free service.

I think I’ll make this my only RSS feed in XBMC.  Then I’ll have a list of new shows scrolling across the home screen when I settle in for some quality time with the boob tube.



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My Evernote bookmarklet is not working today.  So, I fall back on Read It Later to temporarily store some web pages.  Only when I go to the website, I’m redirected to getpocket.com. The website formerly known as Read It Later shall henceforward be known as Pocket. (You know, as in, “I’ll just stick this in my pocket until later.) With the new name, came a new, improved look.  It appears that Read It Later is following on the heels of Pinterest with regard to their new visual layout.  I think their grid (albeit more symmetrical than Pinterest) is a big improvement over the old interface.  So, now, when I’m having trouble with Evernote, I’ll have something a little prettier on which to fall back.  Well, done Read It Later, er, Pocket.

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I tried the Belkin Pro Tri Fold and Photive iPad cases on my new iPad, but the autowake feature didn’t work consistently on either one. Neither these nor the many other covers I’ve seen are nearly as attractive as the Yoobao cover. The top grain leather on the Yoobao cover from Pyrus Electronics is far and away the best material I’ve seen on an iPad cover. It looks and smells like the hunt seat saddles with which I used to ride horses as a kid. However, the feel is much softer. It is a slim case that looks professional and protects the iPad well.

All ports and switches are accessible. The autowake works perfectly every time. Unfortunately, I have to take my iPad out of the case to fit the camera kit onto the iPad. The opening in the leather isn’t quite big enough for that. I would highly recommend this cover. It works like Apple’s smart cover but provides better coverage and looks more professional.

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