What's this RSS Stuff?

New to RSS?

Here is how you can use RSS to simplify the way you read frequently updated content. RSS lets you keep track of new articles, headlines, product specials, and announcements exactly as you want them and when you want them.

The XML Feed button (and some variations with RSS on the button) that you see more and more on the world wide web denotes that the site provides a data link to which you can subscribe. This data link or data feed is called an RSS feed (The XML refers to the type of file that provides the data for the feed).

RSS

is an acronym (some say) for Really Simple Syndication. It is what it claims to be: a quick and easy way to create and use "syndicated content" such as news headlines, product information and announcements. Some web sites use RSS to deliver upcoming events, announcements, product previews and specials to readers who are simply too busy to browse to our site and look up the content they are interested in. RSS can be used to alert readers to just about any kind of current content. Users do not have to provide an e-mail address and/or go through opt-in or opt-out processes to receive or quit receiving your information. Users choose which feed they want to receive, and can merely delete the feed from a list in their newsreader if they no longer wish to receive it. No hassle!

Step 1: Get a Reader!

The easiest way to experience RSS is through an RSS "newsreader" or "aggregator" for your desktop computer. This will fetch and organize recent content and provide simple ways to read it.

Below is a list of RSS clients (some free, some commercial) for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms. Choose and install the one that sounds like the best fit for you, and go to the next step.

WINDOWS

FeedDemon RSS Reader was written by Nick Bradbury, creator of TopStyle and HomeSite. FeedDemon makes RSS as easy to access as your email. Free demo, and cost is $29.95. FeedDemon is head and shoulders above the rapidly growing crowd of RSS readers. Highly recommended!

Pluck is a free RSS reader that has much of the functionality of leading RSS readers. It integrates with your browser and delivers feeds directly. Some features include automatic syncronization, bookmark manager, and an integrated RSS directory.

Awasu is another free RSS reader. It runs in the background of your computer and continously monitors your RSS feeds.

MACINTOSH

Safari RSS is Apples own RSS reader built into its Safari web browser.

NetNewsWire Lite for Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) or later, freeware. While not as powerful as its big brother, this is the cleanest and most elegant RSS reader for the Mac platform. A strong sense of usability and sophistication are sure to satisfy the most devoted Mac users.

LINUX

Lifera for Linux with Gnome 2. While not for the beginners, Lifera is so far the best (if not only) RSS reader on Linux with a simple, clean, and effective interface and sophisticated aggregation features.

K.R.S.S. is another RSS reader for LINUX that was developed using KDE 2.2.

WEB-BASED

NewsIsFree is a web-based aggregator that offers basic free service, which, among other things, allows you to create custom pages with your own choice of news sources, arrange them in boxes or lists. There are two subscription levels that offer more advanced features.

BLOGLINES is a free Web-based tool that lets you read and keep up with all your news feeds and blogs from one central page. Simply subscribe to the blogs you're interested in, and Bloglines will tell you when there are new articles available to read.

Step 2: Grab the feeds!

On some pages of this site, you will see XML Feed buttons. Click on these to accesses the feed information. You don't need to understand all of the code only the address (URL) in the browser address field. Copy and paste the URL into the appropriate section of your RSS reader. Some RSS newsreaders and/or aggregators will "auto discover" the RSS feeds on sites you browse, so no cutting and pasting is necessary! Please consult the documentation for your RSS reader for more information.

Step 3: Read the feeds!

You don't have to go to a site to preview the information that interests you. You will quickly see in your newsreader when there is new information in the feeds. You can add RSS feeds from your favorite sites, blogs, and stores that offer feeds.

Want more info?

RSS Lockergnome: http://rss.lockergnome.com/
(All levels and types of discussion, and resource links, from one of the leading proponents of RSS, Chris Pirillo.)

RSS Specifications: http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-readers.htm
(Another very comprehensive source for RSS information including its history.)