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RSS

RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

Description

RSS is a way of publishing or receiving newly updated information from websites via the internet. It turns (or syndicates) headlines, articles, pictures and even audio from many websites into a standard format that can be read in one place by a newsreader or aggregator (see picture above).

In order to receive an RSS feed you must 'subscribe' to it (for free!) - then new content can read without having to go back and visit the site again.

Once you have subscribed to an RSS feed, your newsreader checks all the RSS feeds you are subscribed to and automatically shows you the headline (or some or all) of any new items that have been posted. You can then choose to read or ignore the articles.

For the reader - it means that they get information as soon as it appears.

They are a great way of keeping up with Blogs as almost all blogs have an RSS feed automatically 'pushing' out the articles without the blogger having to do anything.

It not just news articles or blog postings, you can be updated about changes to a document, or even new posts in some discussion forums?

Best for

• Reading RSS feeds - Keeping track of new information from many websites without having to visit them
• Publishing on your website - Means your content can spread further, be read by more people and be used in oter websites

Advantages

• You can keep up to date with large numbers of websites quickly
• Reduces email overload - fewer email subscriptions

Disadvantages

• Not very user friendly to set-up

(if you click on an RSS feed you will often get a screen like this!)

• Can be another source of information overload if not carefully controlled

Real-life examples

RSS feeds

• xPRESS Digest - Digest of development news - links to around 15 new articles a day about regeneration and development
• VoluntaryNews - More Voluntary news delivered on a daily basis

What next?

• Try out some reading some RSS feeds in the Sandpit (password required)

Resources

About RSS

• Feedburner - quirky summming up of RSS
• BBC - Excellent primer from the BBC ** Update - This page now refers to 'RSS feeds' as 'News feeds' and the BBC have adopted the standard icon **
• Microsoft's take on RSS for beginners
• Another good primer on RSS from a student in America called Paul Stamatiou
• http://marshallk.com/teaching-rss-a-discussion More insight into how to 'get' RSS, with examples

Newsreaders

• Bloglines - An excellent web-based newsreader
• FeedReader - Windows only newsreader
• NetNewsWire - Mac only newsreader