RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” – it’s a format for distributing and gathering content from sources across the Web, including newspapers, magazines, and blogs. With RSS you can quickly and easily get the latest updates from all your favourite websites in one place, rather than having to visiting them one by one. To do this you use an RSS reader that automatically checks for news and updates.
How can you tell if a website has an RSS feed?
Often you will see a small orange feed icon 
saying ‘RSS’, ’subscribe’ or ‘feed’ next to it. Usually you just copy and paste the feed link into your RSS reader. Another great thing about RSS feeds: No spam and complete user control; Unsubscribing to RSS feeds are as easy as it can get – delete it, and it’s gone. Period.
Choosing an RSS reader
There are many different ‘feed readers’ (also known as RSS readers, RSS aggregators or simply newsreaders) to choose from, but they can be divided into two main types: web-based and application based. Web-based readers have the benefit that you can check your feeds from any computer, while the stand-alone applications often have more features and greater flexibility. Browsers such as Internet Explorer 7, Firefox and Safari also have built-in RSS readers, although these are not as flexible and versatile as using a separate application.
Web Based RSS Readers
All you have to do is to sign up for an account and you can add as many feeds as you want. Below are a few of the most popular; some sites will have buttons that allow you to add it to these RSS readers automatically. Otherwise, just copy and paste the RSS feed link into your reader and you’re up and running.
Locally installed RSS Readers
If you prefer, you can download an RSS reader and install it on your computer, below are links to a few of the most popular. Some of these are freeware/open source, others charge a licence fee:
- FeedReader [Freeware]
- Attensa
- Lektora [Win, Mac & Linux]
- Klipfolio
- FeedIt [Open-source]
- Blogbot for Outlook
- Vienna [Mac OS X, freeware]
- NewsFire [Mac OS X]
Less technical readers may find it easier and more familiar to subscribe to an RSS feed via email, with each post arriving in their inbox like a regular message. You can add this to your blog quite easily by using a service such as Feedblitz or Feedburner. I use Feedblitz - you can see it in action on my blog site “The Official ideas4writers Blog” at http://ideas4writers.wordpress.com
When I’m subscribing to feeds myself (including this one) I use Newsgator.
Left by Dave Haslett on July 18th, 2008