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RSS feed information
Mar 24, 2009
What is RSS and how do I start using it?
What is RSS?
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, a fast-growing technology.
Keeping up to date with all the information you want from the web is becoming increasingly difficult as more and more websites are created each day. Navigating through them all can be time consuming, so why not have all the latest news and features you're interested in delivered directly to you?
RSS lets you see when your favourite websites have added new content, so you can access the most up to the minute content including headlines, articles, audio files, photos and video in one dedicated place.
RSS works via feeds which you can subscribe to and view via an RSS reader. Pro.sony.eu is just one of many websites offering RSS and currently uses RSS 2.0. RSS feeds are entirely free of charge.
RSS logo
How do I start?
First things first. In order to enjoy all the benefits of RSS, you will need a compatible news reader. Most web browsers now include support for RSS, including the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and many more. These browsers will allow you to view the feed within the browser or a related programme - for example, as a 'live bookmark' continually updated with a listing of new content. Alternatively, you could have your browser link into a web-based content aggreggator such as Google Reader or handle your feeds via a dedicated programme (there's a wide variety of excellent free and paid-for programs such as FeedDemon on PC and NetNewsWire on Mac).
Now you have chosen your news reader, you have to subscribe to the RSS feeds that you want to read. Most sites supporting RSS feature an orange RSS icon - simply clicking on the icon will bring up an option to subscribe to that feed. Some websites will have a single feed covering all updates while other sites, such as pro.sony.eu website features a wide range of feeds so you can choose exactly which information you want to be updated on.
Your news reader will check the RSS feeds every hour or so (you can choose how frequently) and as soon as something new is published, your reader will alert you and provide you with a summary and a link direct to the new content.
RSS really is as easy as that and it’s revolutionising the way people access content. It takes the hassle out of trawling through a variety of websites and means that you don’t have to seek out interesting content anymore. Instead, all the news and features you are interested in are delivered directly to you as soon as it is published.
