RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It is the most effective and easy way to stay up-to-date with the information that is important to you. RSS eliminates the need to continually visit a website for updates. Using RSS, new web content is delivered directly to you the moment it is published. You can also receive Podcasts, images and video content through RSS.
Inside your reader you will see a button that says ‘subscribe,’ ‘add feed’ or something similar. There will be a box for you to input a URL. Many News Readers will allow you to simply enter the main URL of the website. However, certain News Readers will ask for the URL of the website’s RSS feed. To find the RSS feed’s URL simply look for the RSS button on the website’s homepage (usually an orange button) and click on it, then copy and paste the URL into your News Reader. Once you have entered the URL into your News Reader you are subscribed to that website’s RSS feed and you will begin to receive updates immediately.
To use RSS you will need a News Reader, also called an ‘aggregator’. This will allow you to subscribe to the RSS feed from your chosen websites. Your RSS feeds will flow directly into your News Reader, making the information you need available in one central and convenient location. When reading your RSS feeds, you always have the option of clicking through to the original website.
Most modern browsers, including Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer (above version 7), Safari and Chrome automatically check for feeds when you visit a website, and display the orange RSS icon when they find one. Many of them allow you to add RSS feeds as a browser favourite or bookmark folder, automatically updating them with the latest content.
Web-based news readers such as Bloglines, Feedzilla, Google Reader and Microsoft Live check feeds and displays any new articles that have been added. They let you catch up with your RSS feed subscriptions from any computer, making this option useful if you want to access the feeds from multiple computers or devices.
Some email software such as Feed Demon and Apple Mail allows you to read RSS feeds. In addition, there is dedicated news reader software available that you can download and install on your computer.
