RSS stands for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication and allows users to subscribe to content from a website. While RSS really got its start on blogs, it has expanded to news sites and all kinds of other web applications.
RSS allows you to stay informed of your favorite web content without actually having to go to the website. You can set up a page full of “subscriptions” from different places and keep tabs on all your content in one place. You can also stay informed without giving up any privacy. RSS puts the same information you find on the site in a place that is convenient for you to read.
The exact instructions are a little different for each feed reader, or aggregator, but generally you copy a site’s RSS feed address (usually located by clicking the orange RSS symbol on the page). The feed itself may just look like a bunch of code. Paste the URL into your aggregator. After that, it should be easy to see at a glance if there is new content in your feeds. (Unsubscribing will also vary per your feed reader. Please use your feed reader’s help documentation to learn how to unsubscribe.)
Finally, find a feed reader that’s right for you. Some of them are web-based, so if you use multiple computers, that might be a good place to start. Some people prefer readers that are standalone computer applications. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Web-Based Feed Readers:
- igoogle.com
- google.com/reader
- my.yahoo.com
- netvibes.com
- bloglines.com
