RSS is the way of the future for distributed content like newsletters, podcasts and such. in case you don't now anything about it here's some information, Also check out the Wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS. Rather than a separate program like Feedreader or Thunderbird to use as a Feed Aggregator I just use Google Reader in my browser. I find this the easiest to use and you can access it from any browser. http://www.google.com/reader/view/
RSS is a tool that lets you select the kind of information you need and have it displayed on your desktop – as soon as it appears. The most widespread use for this is to follow the latest news of your choosing. But in addition to news, RSS can be used to keep track of all kinds of useful things. If it’s information and it gets updated, it’s probably available via RSS.
First, an introduction: RSS is a family of web feed formats, and stands for Really Simple Syndication. It’s an XML-based tool that lets you to subscribe to feeds from your favourite websites and receive hot-off-the-press, customised information.
But it’s not just for news. Any information source that can be split into discrete items can be syndicated via RSS, and this is where it really shines. TV guides, auction items, job vacancies, flight schedules, product releases, blog updates and French lessons – the list is endless, and setting it up is as simple as adding the right feed to your aggregator.
Feeders, Aggregators & Co.
Programs known as feed readers or aggregators grab RSS feeds from various sites and display any recent articles they find.
With thousands of sites now RSS-enabled and with more on the way, RSS has become a visible success story. HP sees a real value in being able to deliver fresh content too. Press releases, feature stories and special offers can be sent directly to interested readers via RSS feeds.
Communication made personal with RSS
At HP.com, RSS feeds are identified with a small orange button that says either RSS or XML. Although RSS/XML readers will soon be part of every browser and e-mail client, for now you need a separate reader, or a browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer 7.0 (which both integrate RSS). A variety of RSS readers are available for different platforms. Some popular aggregators include Amphetadesk (Windows®, Linux®, Mac), FeedReader (Windows) and NewsGator (Windows – integrates with Outlook).
The benefits of RSS
The benefits of using RSS are relevance, speed, completeness, convenience and privacy.
Speed: RSS feeds send notifications whenever new material is available. There’s no need to trawl numerous websites in search of information you require, saving you time and effort.
Relevance: RSS content summaries contain summary information without overwhelming you with details. Simply click on the item in the feed to access more information.
Completeness: RSS ensures that you are always up to date on topics that interest you. Every new development is reported directly in your feed, and you don't miss a thing.
Convenience: With RSS, you control the flow of information by specifically selecting content. If the quality of the content declines, you simply remove the feed from your aggregator.
Privacy: RSS eliminates the risk of receiving spam and avoids the need to join each site's email newsletter.
Regardless of how obscure your interests or profession are, RSS is a fantastic time-saver and a convenient way to get the information you need, when you need it.
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