RSS Feedbag

RSS has come to mean “Really Simple Syndication,” but you don’t actually need to know that; the real meaning of these letters has very little significance to the average computer user. As is often the case in the world of technology, the acronym RSS is now a word in itself, evoking the image of little Web bots scouring selected Web sites and then delivering summary information of what’s new to the computer user.

If you’ve never heard of RSS, it’s simply a way to gather updates, news and headlines from all your favorite Web sites—without having to take the time to fire up your Internet browser, log on to each of those sites, and scan them to see if anything new has been added.

In other words, RSS is for you if you want the latest, updated information from your favorite Web sites without actually logging on and checking those sites with your browser.

The catch: The target Web sites must offer an RSS feed.

The RSS feed is similar to a Web page table of site contents, yet it’s not actually a Web page. If you tried to read it with your standard browser, you would get a cryptic-looking display surrounded by enigmatic code. (Click this button to see RSS feed code .)

To properly read the RSS feed file, a program called an “RSS feed reader,” or “RSS reader,” is needed. (The reading program may also be called an "aggregator" because it is used to gather the feeds from any number of sites.) This program runs in the background on your system and periodically visits your selected RSS feeds looking for changes (this is called a “feed check”). If changes (or updates) are found, the RSS reader notifies you with a pop-up from the menu bar or possibly an audible sound. After you call up the reader, by either clicking on the pop-up or the icon on the menu bar, the reader displays the site’s headlines and a summary of the new articles and, with merely the click of a mouse, you can be flown to the pertinent Web page.

Many RSS readers look like the following screen shot. Others, including Google and Yahoo! services, use your Web browser to display your RSS subscriptions, usually on a home page dedicated to your account.

While the reader program is running, the live updates will continue, even if you close the desktop window. The RSS reader icon will appear on your menu bar. The reader operates in a fashion similar to an e-mail program, although it cannot send or receive e-mail (therefore no mystery spam).

Screen Shot of FeedReader

There are a number of advantages to RSS, and it looks as though the Web-browsing world is embracing the technology.

First and foremost, with RSS it is possible for Web surfers to see what’s out there without opening a browser and enduring the associated horrors of long loading times, banner ads, pop-up windows and flashing graphics. (You will suffer that only if you decide that there is actually an article being offered that is worth reading, and you follow the link.)

In addition, the “feed checks” that deliver new content by the RSS reader are automatic, saving the tiring keystrokes and mouse clicks associated with heavy Web surfing.

Another plus: You won’t need to give out an e-mail address for a subscription to a site’s RSS feed. There is no fear of spam outside of what may be published in the feed. Nothing is sent to you via e-mail.

Lastly, it’s easy to delete any feeds you find boring or useless. No messy e-mail process--just a click of the mouse or keyboard, and the RSS feed is gone.

Is RSS for you? There is only one way to find out: Give it a try. If it’s not for you, uninstall the RSS reader, and you’re done. If you’re curious, follow these steps and enter the world of RSS.

1. Get an RSS feed reader.

This is the program that checks the Web sites you are interested in for changes and updates. It will periodically scan those sites and alert you to what’s new.

Some readers are separate software applications that need installation; others are Web-based programs, or perhaps are offered by major search sites such as Google and Yahoo!.

There are a number of free RSS feed-reader programs available, and other programs that offer a free trial version. The following three RSS readers are free and run under Windows. They are all similar in look and feel; however, there are differences that may make one program more suitable for you. The features offered vary slightly and usually affect search capabilities and display options. Follow the links to download these free programs.

Both Google (www.google.com/reader) and Yahoo! (http://my.yahoo.com), as well as many blogging services—like Bloglines (www.bloglines.com) and Newsgator (www.newsgator.com)--offer RSS feed-reading as part of their site’s services. Although they offer the same functionality as a free RSS feed-reading program, you must be logged into your account with the respective service. To access one of these services, you can use any computer system that has a browser, whereas a stand-alone RSS feed-reading program can be accessed only from the computer on which it is installed.

If you have an account with one of the RSS feed-reading services and, while browsing other Web sites, come across one of the following icons posted on the new site, you can sign up for that site's RSS feed by clicking on the logo for your account type (e.g., Google, Yahoo!, etc.). For example, clicking one of the buttons below will attempt to add the ComputorEdge Online RSS feed to your associated account.

While there seem to be many more readers for Windows, the Mac is not forgotten. In fact, the Safari browser has RSS feed-reading capabilities builtin. If Safari is directed to an RSS feed URL, it will recognize the page as RSS and convert the coding while labeling it as such. If added to the RSS bookmarks, it will periodically check the feed for the latest update. If you have Safari and want more information about subscribing to RSS feeds, go to www.apple.com/macosx/features/safari.

2. Find a site that offers an RSS Feed.

Alas, none of this is of any use unless the Web site you want to monitor offers an RSS feed. Many news and Web log (blog) sites offer an RSS feed, but there are many that don’t. The appearance of the image or indicates that RSS is available. These icons have become the standard flags.

The RSS feed file will have its own link or address; it will look similar to the link in the outlined box below.

The ComputorEdge Online RSS Feed is now available for subscribers with RSS-reading programs. Just select the edition you would like to receive, then cut and paste the URL below into your RSS reader:
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