Support & Help

Getting Started

Adding Feeds

There are several ways to add RSS feeds to Otus:

  • Auto-Discovery: Simply paste a website URL and Otus will automatically find available RSS feeds
  • Direct Feed URL: If you have an RSS feed URL, paste it directly
  • OPML Import: Import your feeds from other RSS readers using OPML files

Managing Categories

Organize your feeds with custom categories:

  1. Go to Feed Management
  2. Create a new category
  3. Assign feeds to categories
  4. Filter articles by category in the main view

Understanding Article Ranking

Otus uses a sophisticated ranking algorithm inspired by Hacker News to show you the most relevant articles:

  • Base Score: Every article starts with a neutral score (50)
  • Time Decay: Newer articles are ranked higher, but great content stays visible
  • Personalization: The app learns from your reading patterns
  • Source Quality: Feeds and domains you interact with more get boosted

Reading Articles

Clean Reading Mode

Otus automatically extracts article content for distraction-free reading. If the extraction isn't perfect, you can:

  • Tap to view the original web page
  • Report extraction issues (coming soon)

Article Actions

  • Read: Mark articles as read (affects ranking)
  • Bookmark: Save articles for later
  • Delete: Remove articles you're not interested in
  • Ignore: Hide similar content in the future

Managing Source Domains

You can boost or reduce the priority of specific news sources:

  1. Go to Settings → Source Domain Management
  2. Find a domain (e.g., "nikkei.com")
  3. Adjust the score modifier (-20 to +20)
  4. Articles from that domain will be ranked accordingly

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do feeds update?

Otus checks for new articles based on your refresh settings. You can also pull down to refresh manually.

Can I sync my feeds across devices?

Currently, Otus stores all data locally on your device for maximum privacy. Cloud sync may be added in future updates.

How do I export my feeds?

You can export your feed list as an OPML file from Feed Management → Export OPML.

Why are some articles not showing full content?

Some publishers only provide summaries in their RSS feeds. Tap the article to view the full content on their website.

How does the scoring system work?

Otus uses multiple signals to score articles:

  • Your reading history and preferences
  • Feed and domain scores you've set
  • Article freshness
  • Content similarity to articles you've enjoyed

Is my data private?

Yes! All your data stays on your device. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Troubleshooting

Feed Won't Load

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify the feed URL is correct and still active
  • Some websites block automated feed requests - try again later

Articles Not Ranking as Expected

  • The algorithm learns over time - keep reading and interacting
  • Check your source domain settings
  • Reset scores in Settings if needed

App Performance Issues

  • Try deleting old, read articles to free up space
  • Reduce the number of subscribed feeds if you have many
  • Restart the app

Contact Support

Can't find what you're looking for? We're here to help!

Email us at:

We typically respond within 24-48 hours.

Feature Requests

Have an idea for improving Otus? We'd love to hear it! Send your suggestions to: