RSS news feeds and audio Podcasts are the newest ways to obtain news over the Internet. Quick News enables your Palm Powered™ handheld to locate, download, and present RSS news feeds and audio Podcasts. Get started with a default subscription list containing many popular news sources. Use a variety of tools to customize, categorize, and share your subscription list.

1.1. Included Files

The archive includes the following files and folders:

File/Folder	Purpose
Readme.txt	Explains how to register and order the software.
Quick News.prc	Installs Quick News on your Palm Powered handheld.
quick_news_x_conduit.dmg	Mac OS X only. Installs the conduit on desktop organizers.
Order.html	Automatically establishes link with Stand Alone, Inc. website. Places Quick News in your shopping cart. (If this does not happen automatically, click the Click to order link to go to our website.)
License.txt	Contains the software license agreement. Please read this before using the software. By installing, copying, or otherwise using this software, you agree to be bound by the terms of the license agreement.
Manual	Contains the HTML version of this manual. The images subfolder contains the graphics for this manual.

Table 1: Quick News Files and Folders

1.2. System Requirements

Palm OS version 4.0 or later is required. Visit http://www.standalone.com/palmos/ to obtain an updated list of supported Palm Powered devices. This manual refers to any compatible device as a “Palm Powered handheld.”

1.3. Purchasing Quick News

Quick News is shareware, software that you can download and try for free. After 30 days, the software will only work with a valid registration code. There are several ways to order the registration code:

Order online at our website. This is the easiest way to register. The online shopping cart uses security features that are supported by current Netscape or Internet Explorer browsers (version 4.0 or higher).
E-mail your registration information to sales@standalone.com. We will send the registration code.
Fax your order to us at (773) 477-2579. Please include an e-mail address with your fax.

The registered version of Quick News includes all of the features available in the demo version. Your purchase includes free upgrades to any future version of Quick News.

1.3.1. Necessary Information

Have the following information ready before you register:

Your exact name as it is entered in your Palm Powered handheld, including spaces.
The complete list of programs that you wish to register.
Payment information. We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover and personal checks. To pay with a credit card, provide the card number, the expiration date, and the type of card.
Contact information. Please provide an e-mail date, mailing date, and phone number.

1.3.2. Entering the Registration Code

To enter the registration code before the 30 day evaluation period has expired:

Open Quick News from the Applications menu.
Select Options → Enter Registration Code from the menu. The Enter Reg Code screen containing a numerical keypad appears. The Name field shows your name as it is entered into your Palm Powered handheld.
Tap the numerical keypad to enter the registration code.
Tap the Register button.

To enter the registration code after the 30-day evaluation period has expired:

Open Quick News from the Applications menu. The registration information screen appears.
Tap Enter Registration. The Enter Reg Code screen containing a numerical keypad appears. The Name field shows your name as it is entered into your Palm Powered handheld.
Tap the numerical keypad to enter the registration code.
Tap the Register button.

If you have any questions about registration or our registration policy, please feel free to e-mail us at sales@standalone.com.

1.4. Contacting Stand Alone, Inc.

There are several ways to get in touch with us. E-mail is preferred. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

1.4.1. E-mail

Internet: info@standalone.com

1.4.2. Fax

Fax: (773) 477-2579

1.4.3. Regular Mail

Stand Alone, Inc.
550 N. Kingsbury, Suite 210

Chicago IL, 60610
USA

1.4.4. World Wide Web

http://www.standalone.com

1.5. Customer Support

Please e-mail us at techsupport@standalone.com if you have problems using Quick News. Include the following information to help us isolate the problem:

The type of Palm Powered handheld that you are using (example: Palm IIIx)
The software name and version number. Select Options → About Quick News from the menu to view the software name and version number (example: Quick News for Palm OS®, version 1.0b1).
Any error messages that accompany the problem.
A brief description of how we can recreate the error.
Your name and e-mail date.

1.6. Installing the Conduit

The conduit is a software application for your desktop computer which automatically refreshes your subscriptions at each HotSync.

On a Windows machine, the QuickNews.exe installer automatically installs the conduit in the process of loading the Quick News application. Leave the Quick News Conduit checkbox checked when using the installation wizard.

On a Mac OS X machine, double click the quick_news_x_conduit.dmg from our web site and then double click the installer file. The installer will then walk you the rest of the installation. The Quick News Mac OS X conduit works with both HotSync and MissingSync.

2. Overview

This section gives an overview of RSS, Podcasts, aggregator software, and subscription lists. If you are already familiar with these topics, please skip ahead to Section 3, Navigating the Main Screens.

2.1. Understanding RSS

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a method of distributing feeds of story headlines to online subscribers. An RSS feed entry gives a brief summary of an article and a link to a web page containing the full article. In Quick News, article refers to the feed entry. (Figure 1)

Figure 1 A Quick News Article

Commercial websites such as CNN and Yahoo include links to their own RSS news feeds. Independently produced feeds can be found on websites such as www.syndic8.com. Feeds may also link to classified ads, job postings, and web logs.

Many sites offer podcasting feeds. A podcasting feed links to .mp3 audio files rather than to text and pictures.

An aggregator is a software application for managing and viewing feeds. Unlike a web browser, an aggregator allows you to stay current with different news sources without navigating to different websites. Quick News is a powerful mobile aggregator for Palm Powered handhelds. Quick News can update news feeds via a wireless Internet connection or via a conduit running on your desktop computer. Quick News can also coordinate its subscription list with most third-party desktop aggregators, allowing you to easily maintain the same subscription list on your handheld and desktop computer.

2.2. Subscribing to Feeds

A URL identifies an RSS feed on the Internet. For example, CNN offers an RSS feed devoted to health articles at the following URL:

http://rss.cnn.com/rss/cnn_health.rss

CNN also offers a Podcast feed devoted to business talk radio:

http://www.cnn.com/services/podcasting/marketplace/rss.xml

Subscribe to a feed by entering its RSS URL into Quick News or a desktop aggregator. This adds the URL to your subscription list.

2.3. Coordinating Subscriptions via OPML Files

An Outline Processor Markup Language (OPML) file is a text file containing a subscription list--a list of RSS URLs. Update your Quick News subscription list by importing OPML files from your desktop aggregator or a website. Section 4.4, Adding Feeds via OPML Import, explains how to work with OPML files on Windows and Mac OS X platforms.

3. Navigating the Main Screens

Three main screens make up Quick News: Setup Feeds, Available Feeds, and Articles. Some procedures in this manual require going to the Available Feeds or Articles screen as the first step.

3.1. Setup Feeds Screen

The Setup Feeds screen walks you through the process of creating a subscription list. (Figure 2)

Figure 2 Setup Feeds Screen

Starting Quick News for the first time launches the Setup Feeds screen. To show the Setup Feeds window afterwards, select Options→Setup Feeds from the menu of the Available Feeds screen.

The Setup Feeds screen provides shortcuts to the following task screens:

Add Default Feeds (read Section 4.1, Adding and Removing Default Feeds)
Feed Search (read Section 4.2, Adding a Feed via Search)
OPML Import (read Section 4.4, Adding Feeds via OPML Import)

After becoming familiar with Quick News, you can discontinue using the Setup Feeds screen and access the same features from the menus of the Available Feeds and Articles screens.

3.2. Available Feeds Screen

The Available Feeds screen shows your subscription list.(Figure 3)

Figure 3 Available Feeds Screen

Access the menu by tapping the Menu softkey or the menu bar at the top of the screen. Tap any of the feed listings, such as CBS Software in Figure 3 to jump to the articles screen. Section 7, Using the Available Feeds Screen, explains all of the screen icons and menu options.

3.3. Articles Screen

The articles screen shows the articles available from a feed.(Figure 4)

Figure 4 Articles Screen

Access the menu by tapping the Menu softkey or the QN icon in the menu bar.

Jump back to the Available Feeds screen by tapping the icon in the menu bar.

Jump to a different feed by tapping the feed selector in the upper right corner of the screen. In Figure 4 the feed selector shows the current feed, CBS Software.

Section 8, Using the Articles Screen, explains all of the menu icons and options.

4. Setting up a Subscription List

This section explains the different methods of setting up and modifying a subscription list.

4.1. Adding and Removing Default Feeds

Quick News provides a default subscription list containing popular RSS feeds. To use the default subscription list, select Options→Add Default Feeds from the menu of the Available Feeds screen. To remove the default subscription list, select Options→Remove Default Feeds from the menu of the Available Feeds screen.

4.2. Adding a Feed via Search

To search for a feed and add it to the subscription list:

Go to the Available Feeds screen.
Select Options→Search for Feeds from the menu or enter F in the graffiti area. The Feed Search screen appears.
Enter a search term in the Search for field.
Tap Search. Quick News searches www.syndic8.com for feeds that match the search term. A checklist of relevant feeds appears.
Check the checkboxes of desired feeds. For example, Karate Talk. (Figure 5)
Tap Done. The new feeds appear on the Available Feeds screen. (Figure 6)

Figure 5 Feed Search Results

Figure 6 New Feed in Available Feeds

Some feeds cannot be found via Feed Search. The next section explains how to subscribe to these feeds by directly entering the RSS URL.

4.3. Adding a Feed Directly

RSS feeds not available via the Syndic8 search service must be entered directly. Do the following steps:

Use a web browser to locate the RSS URL of the desired feed.
Go to the Available Feeds screen.
Tap Add Feed at the bottom of the screen. The Edit Feed screen appears.
Enter the Name of the feed.
Enter the RSS URL of the feed. It is not necessary to type http:// before the URL. (Figure 7)
Tap Done. The feed appears in the subscription list. (Figure 8)
Tap the icon to update the feed and verify that the URL is correct.

Figure 7 Entering Feed via Edit Feed Screen

Figure 8 Newly Entered Feed

Some RSS feeds are password protected. To enter a password-protected feed, put the user name and password in front of the RSS URL. Use the following format:

username:password@regularfeedurl

For example, a password protected URL could be entered as follows:

billclark:4123hde7@testfeedurl.com/rss.xml

4.4. Adding Feeds via OPML Import

Import an OPML file in order to incorporate feeds from a desktop aggregator or a website.

4.4.1. Importing an OPML File from Windows

To incorporate feeds from a Windows desktop aggregator:

Export an OPML file from your desktop aggregator. Consult the documentation for your particular desktop aggregator.
Open your desktop organizer software, such as the Palm Desktop.
Run Quick Install on the Palm Desktop. A window appears where you can drag files for installation to the handheld.
Drag the OPML file to the Expansion Card section of this window.
Perform a HotSync.
Open Quick News on the handheld.
Go to the Available Feeds screen.
Select Options→Import OPML Files from the menu or enter O on the graffiti pad. The OPML Import screen appears with the OPML file appearing as a checklist item. (Figure 9)
Tap the Card pushbutton.
Check the checkbox of the OPML file.
Tap Import. Quick News incorporates feeds from the OPML file to the subscription list.

Figure 9 OPML Import of Desktop Aggregator Subscription List

4.4.2. Importing an OPML File from Mac OS X Computer

To incorporate feeds from a Mac OS X desktop aggregator:

Export an OPML file from your desktop aggregator. Consult the documentation for your particular desktop aggregator.
Open your desktop organizer software, such as the Palm Desktop.
Open the Quick News Conduit window.(Figure 10)
Tap the OPML button.
Select the exported OPML file created in step 1.
Perform a HotSync. Quick News incorporates feeds from the OPML file to its subscription list.

Figure 10 Quick News Conduit on Mac Desktop Organizer

4.4.3. Importing an OPML File from a Website

With Quick News, a wireless handheld can import OPML files from a website. If you can upload files to the web, this feature allows you to import OPML files from your computer without performing a HotSync. Many websites also provide OPML files as a way of promoting groups of feeds.

To import an OPML file from a website:

Go to the Available Feeds screen.
Select Options→Import OPML Files from the menu, or enter O on graffiti pad. The OPML Import screen appears.
Tap the Web Page pushbutton.
Enter the URL where the OPML file is located. It is not necessary to type in http:// before the URL.
Tap Import. Quick News downloads the OPML and incorporates the feeds to the subscription list.

Figure 11 Importing an OPML File from a Website

4.5. Importing from Hand RSS

Subscribers to Hand/RSS software receive a free upgrade to Quick News. To import the Hand/RSS subscription list into Quick News, do the following:

Go to the Available Feeds screen.
Select Options→Import Hand/RSS Feeds from the menu. If Hand/RSS is installed, Quick News locates its subscription list and imports it. A dialog box shows how many feeds were incorporated, and prompts you to remove the Hand/RSS software.(Figure 12)
If desired, tap Remove to remove Hand/RSS from your handheld.

Figure 12 Hand/RSS Import Complete Message

5. Updating Feeds

This section explains how to update feeds.

5.1. Updating Feeds Directly from the Internet

A wireless handheld can update feeds directly from the Internet. To update a feed, do the following steps:

Go to the Available Feeds screen.
Tap the desired feed. The Articles screen appears.
Tap the icon in the menu bar. Quick News updates the feed.

Tap the icon to the left of the feed on the Available Feeds screen in order to update the feed without opening the articles screen.

5.2. Updating Feeds via HotSync

The Quick News conduit installed on your desktop computer automatically updates feeds each time you HotSync. To update a feed:

Go to the Available Feeds screen.
Select Set All→Update at HotSync or enter H on the graffiti pad. This instructs Quick News to update all feeds when performing a HotSync.
Perform a HotSync. Quick News updates all feeds on the subscription list.

Individual feeds can be disabled in order to reduce the time it takes to run the conduit. See Section 7.1.3, Data Transfer.

5.3. Editing Feeds

To use the Edit Feed screen, open a feed and then select Feed→Edit Feed from the menu. (Figure 13)

Figure 13 Edit Feed Screen

Table 1 Edit Feed Screen Controls

Screen Item	Description	Comments
Category selector	Selects the category of the feed.	Select Edit Categories to create a new category. Read Section 9.1.1, Creating a Feed Category.
Name	The name of the feed.	Change the name of a feed as desired.
URL	The RSS URL of the feed.	Changing this may break the link to the feed. Do not change this unless you know the RSS URL. Some URLs are password-protected. Read Section 4.3, Adding a Feed Directly, for instructions to enter a password-protected URL.
Frequency selector	The frequency at which Quick News automatically checks the feed.	The Update All command and the auto-update routine skip any feeds that were checked more recently than the last check as defined in this field. For example, if a feed’s frequency is one day, but you refreshed the feed two hours ago, Update All takes no action on the feed since the feed was checked less than one day ago. This setting only applies to automatic updates. Manually update a feed at any time by tapping its icon.
Auto-download Podcasts checkbox	Automatically download Podcasts when updating the feed.
Auto-download images checkbox	Automatically download images when updating the feed.
Last Updated	The date and time of the most recent entry as supplied by the provider of the feed, OR the last time Quick News checked the feed.	Some feeds provide the timestamp (usually in GMT) of the most recent entry. If this timestamp has not changed since the last update, no update occurs and Quick News shows the timestamp in this field. If no timestamp is provided, Quick News updates this field each time it checks the source of the feed.
	All Feeds button. Applies the setting to all feeds in the subscription list.

6. Reading Articles

To read an article:

Open a feed in the articles screen.
Tap the title of an article. A pull-down menu appears.
Tap Open Link. The web browser application associated with Quick News opens the article for viewing.

Use the Preferences screen to specify the web browser you wish to use. The preferences also include shortcuts to automatically jump back to Quick News from the web browser. Read Section 10, Configuring Preferences.

7. Using the Available Feeds Screen

This section explains the icons and menus of the Available Feeds screen. (Figure 14)

Figure 14 Available Feeds Screen

To jump to the Available Feeds screen from the articles screen, tap the icon.

7.1. Using Icons

The Available Feeds screen shows feed icons, unread article icons, and data transfer icons.

7.1.1. Feed Icons

The feed icon shows a feed’s update status. Tap this icon to quickly update the feed. (Table 2)

Table 2 Feed Icons

Icon	Name	Description
	Update Now	Indicates that the feed has not been updated. Tap to update the feed.
Feed Icon	Feed Icon	Quick News downloads the Feed Icon, if available.
	Unsuccessful Update	Indicates that there was a problem updating the feed. Check that the correct URL was entered.

7.1.2. New Article Icons

The red icons to the right of each feed show if new articles are available. Tap to open the feed. (Table 3)

Table 3 New Article Icons

Icon	Name	Description
, , etc.	Unread Feeds	Indicates the number of articles that have not been read.
	Unread Feeds	Plus sign indicates that more than nine articles have not been read.

7.1.3. Data Transfer Icons

Disabling unused feeds before running Update All or a HotSync can reduce the amount of time it takes to update the subscription list. The data transfer icons allow you to disable or enable individual feeds. (Table 4)

Table 4 Data Transfer Icons

Icon	Name	Description
	Updates Enabled	Indicates that the feed gets updated directly from the Internet when Update All is selected. Tap to disable.
	Updates Disabled	Indicates that the feed does not get updated directly from the Internet when Update All is selected. Tap to go back to “Updates Enabled.”
	HotSync Enabled	Indicates that the feed gets updated via the Quick News conduit during a HotSync. Tap to disable.
	HotSync Disabled	Indicates that the feed does not get updated via the Quick News conduit during a HotSync. Tap to go back to “HotSync Enabled.”

7.2. Using the Menu

The Available Feeds screen has three menus Update, Set All, and Options.

7.2.1. Update Menu

The Update menu allows you to update feeds.(Figure 15, Table 5)

Figure 15 Update Menu

Table 5 Update Menu

Menu Item	Description
Update All	Updates all feeds on the subscription list.
Update Category	Updates only the feeds in the currently selected category. Use the category selector in the upper right corner of the screen to select the category. Read Section 9.1, Using Feed Categories.