Computer Articles

What is RSS?
What is a RSS Feed?

Using RSS,or Really Simple Syndication, is a way for you to keep up-to-date with frequently updated content at your favorite blogs and websites. RSS uses an XML code and it will constantly scan the content of blogs and websites you wish keep track of. RSS feeds are most popular with blogs, news sites and podcasts, although any website can use it.

RSS content is read using software program called an news aggregator, which is a RSS reader. These are available online; many are free. RSS feeds can also be read on PDAs and cell phones. The file-name extension is .rss and .xml.

To subscribe to RSS you can either enter the feed's link into the reader or click an RSS or XML button (icon graphic pictured above) which is usually located on their homepage. With some news aggregators, you click and you are instantly subscribed. With others, you will have to copy and paste the URL into the program.

When you subscribe to a website, it is then monitored. When a change is found, an update is sent to RSS subscribers that includes a headline and a summary.  If you are interested, you can click a link to read the full text of the article or post.

If you ever wish to cancel a subscription, simply delete the feed or URL from your aggregator.

RSS feeds are popular because they are convenient. There is no waiting for newsletters (in fact there is no need to subsctibe to newsletters), no waiting for emails, and no worry they will get tangled in your spam filter. There is no need to visit a list of websites looking for new content, and no need to visit a list of blogs to read recent posts. You simply subscribe and any new content is delivered to you automatically.

RSS is clearly a better way of obtaining new content as it becomes available.

While there are a variety of news aggregator software available, we recommend you download one of the following:

For Windows: http://www.rssreader.com.

For Mac: http://www.rssreader.com.

After you have downloaded the news aggregator, you may add (subscribe to) your favorite blogs, rews sites, and websites. To do that, go to that blog, news site, or website and click their orange RSS or XML button, usually on their homepage. That's it.

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