Start.io delivers a customizable start page engine
Start.io is an engine for creating customized start pages, with the added bonus of letting you know when your favorite sites have updated. It comes equipped with a drag-and-droppable interface for adjusting and grouping your links, and several nice-looking preloaded layouts to choose from. On top of that, the CSS is entirely customizable, so you can modify existing layouts, or build your own from scratch.
The first thing I wondered about Start.io was why it just lets you know that one of your links has updated, instead of using RSS to show you exactly what the updates were. The answer (explained on the about page) makes a lot of sense: you don't come to your start page when you want to read a bunch of RSS feeds. You go there when you want to click through to the sites themselves, not Google Reader or your standalone RSS app. If you want an RSS reader as your start page, there are other services you can check out, but I haven't see a complete start page engine like Start.io anywhere else.
What's your start page? Do you like Start.io, or do you have a better alternative? Let us know in the comments.
The first thing I wondered about Start.io was why it just lets you know that one of your links has updated, instead of using RSS to show you exactly what the updates were. The answer (explained on the about page) makes a lot of sense: you don't come to your start page when you want to read a bunch of RSS feeds. You go there when you want to click through to the sites themselves, not Google Reader or your standalone RSS app. If you want an RSS reader as your start page, there are other services you can check out, but I haven't see a complete start page engine like Start.io anywhere else.
What's your start page? Do you like Start.io, or do you have a better alternative? Let us know in the comments.













Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsvladMar 24th 2009 1:09PM
Have you noticed the counter that resets at 600.359 something like that each time you refresh the page?:)) what is that some kind of marketing solution?
khoafishMar 24th 2009 1:10PM
My start page is about:blank.
HawkMar 24th 2009 1:21PM
I haven't checked it out, but is this really a bigger benefit than my iGoogle home page which I've customized?
Shane CowherdMar 24th 2009 2:06PM
Lol first thing i did was check the source code, that counter is faux!!!
WarlockerMar 24th 2009 5:18PM
Nice!
I use symbaloo.com for this, its not too simple but let me use icon for my favorite sites.
burnblueMar 24th 2009 6:27PM
"makes a lot of sense: you don't come to your start page when you want to read a bunch of RSS feeds"
That's not true, I love seeing what the actual updates are on my start page. I don't want to click through to the site unless it's worth my time.. that's why the feeds are on my start page
Jay HathawayMar 25th 2009 3:36AM
Yeah, but Google Reader already exists. Start.io seems to be focused more on customizable appearance than entering the competitive arena of RSS products. I definitely don't think it's for everyone, but it's interesting.
RobertMar 25th 2009 9:52AM
protopage.com
I also disagree with the concept that no RSS feeds should be on my homepage. I WANT to see some...