RSS Feeds. You see their little logos all over the web (hey there's one right here, down and to the right!!) but perhaps you are still unsure of what those are and how you might benefit from them. I've put together some info on the topic that I hope will convince you to give it a try and report back on your successes. I've used several RSS aggregators (or programs) over the years: both the "on the web" format where you have to remember to visit a page to see all your combined news and a version that sends updates directly into a folder in my Microsoft Outlook.
First, what is RSS? RSS (which stands for "Real Simple Syndication") allows you to collect and read news about any topic you might choose in one, centralized location. It's almost like setting up a personalized newspaper or news channel. With RSS feeds, you subscribe to almost any type of content you can imagine, from news stories to blog posts to site updates. The updates are downloaded automatically to the RSS reader you've chosen.
What is an RSS reader? It's a specialized program that does the hard work of trolling the web on your instructions, getting the content you are interested in and setting up in a format that is convenient for you to review. You get to read it where, when and how you like. And you can customize like mad, until you get things just the way you like them.
Examples of popular readers include Google's Reader, NewsGator, or Bloglines.
Why is an RSS helpful? If you've been spending time trying to stay up-to-date on a topic (maybe you're eagerly awaiting the new Sex in the City movie and want to know the latest gossip about the stars) you will find it much easier to aggregate all that juicy news into a single location.
Getting started is pretty simple, with just a few steps:
1. Pick your RSS reader. A good one to start with is the Google Reader, which is web-based and there's nothing to download or install. You will have to be online to visit your newly created RSS site though. You can also choose NewsGator which is desktop based, giving you flexibility to read your news offline, while on an airplace or whenever is convenient for you.
I've used both and the nice thing about the NewsGator version I'm trying right now is that it sends the updates into neat little Outlook folders. Outlook is where I spend much of my workday so it's highly convenient. Ultimately the reader you select is a matter of personal preference.
2. Subscribe to content. Start by visiting your favorite web sites and find their section on RSS feeds and subscriptions. You'll just need to find the orange colored RSS or Atom icon and click on it. Some pages make it easy and have the icon right next to the column, blog or article while other sites require you to visit a special RSS feeds page. You'll soon get the hang of it though.
3. Now that you're subscribed, open up your RSS reader and you'll see it updating itself with the latest information from the subscribed sites.
And you are good to go. Adding new subscriptions is as easy as changing your preferences in a program. I hope you add the RSS feed page on this page as your very first one. That way you will never miss a Marian post!
Original posting date: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 | 1:00 PM |