Ask HN: Could we decentralize RSS using email?
I've thought a bit on how we can avoid another Reader situation and still keep things free and open, and I had an idea: email.
Storage
Yes, you'd still need a service still to poll your list of feeds (Yahoo Pipes, Zapier, or custom servers could work). These services would then send you a specifically formatted email for each new post.
The title could be the subject, the post as the message. Perhaps the Blog, date and post link would be the first line. Extra information could be set in "X-" headers or in a signature. We'd need a standardized method for formatting these emails so that RSS readers could plug and play.
Finally you'd need to set up some filtering to avoid spamming yourself, or use a separate email address altogether.
Reading
Ok so maybe that would decentralize the storage of the posts. And you'd get some niceties like searching built in with your email provider. At first I assumed a read email would equal a read feed, which could work. But this would require readers to be able to access your email to mark them read.
Another thought would be for the RSS readers to support a forwarding address. Forward your feed emails to them, and they display it to you. To mark them read (without needing your email password) could they just email you back something?
Thoughts?