ABC/GRR > RSS: Defined and Explained

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RSS - What Is It? What Can It Do for Me?

 

RSS is short for "Really Simple Syndication" or - depending upon who you read - "Rich Site Summary".

First, let's explore what RSS is. It is similar to e-mail and is found through web pages. It is a method of giving you the newest information that has been posted on a web site.

 

Second, here is what it does. Instead of your having to open your web browser and look carefully at a web site for any new stories or information, a News Reader for RSS "feeds" new stories/articles it has found on a web site to you by opening the code above in readable format. Clicking on a title of a new story will open the summary or entire short article for you to read. If there is more, there will be a link to the article that has been posted on the web site. ( A News Reader is also referred to as an "aggregator" (from "aggregate" - "to gather diverse objects together in one common place or form.")

 

In fact, the special software that will open up the information in readable form is similar to your e-mail program's screen. Take a look at the SharpReader (free download at http://www.sharpreader.net/ ) screen shot below and you will find three smaller windows that remind you of an e-mail program such as Outlook. (You must have a News Reader to get a nice format or you will only be able to view the XML programming code like that above.

 

Browsers now support RSS. What is it to "subscribe?"

 

• Click on the RSS or XML button (the orange; now sometimes green).

 

• Follow the prompts of your browser to - in Firefox's description "Subscribe to this fee using..." Choose Live Bookmarks. Internet Explorer will also open the file in a readable format.

 

What you will see is a short description/summary of what has been newly published. If you want to read more, just click on the summary or the link provided (sometimes in the form of an image or logo).

 

If you decide that you like this process, try out a News Reader such as SharpReader (free download). In a News Reader (or aggregator) you can subscribe to may different web site's and blog's RSS Feed. The Reader/Aggregator lists the ones you have subscribed to and searches - behind the scenes (when you have this program running) for recently added materials. It then lists these summaries for your use to either click to read the full story or be satisfied with the summary.

 

View an online video description of RSS

 

Suscribe to one of the GRR's

RSS "feeds"

 

Current Thoughts by Dwight Stinnett

 

ABC-GRR.Org Feed

 

 

 

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