RSS Feeds

What are RSS feeds?

You've probably seen these strange icons of various sizes on web sites before:

Basically, whenever you see this icon (or sometimes just the text "RSS") it means the site has a automated way of telling you about updates, without having to visit the site. RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication" and put simply, makes it easy for you to stay updated with your favorite web sites. Want to learn more? Read Wikipedia's RSS article.

How do I use RSS Feeds?

Like to figure out things on your own? Try clicking on any of the RSS icons (like the one above!) and see what happens. If you're using an old browser, you'll quickly find out that they don't know what to do with RSS feeds. But if you are using Firefox, Internet Explorer 7, or Safari, you have easy-access to RSS feeds.

Firefox

In Firefox, check the right-edge of the address bar for that orange icon. Click it to "subscribe" to the RSS feed. It will ask you where to save it, similar to saving a bookmark, but they call it a "live" bookmark. It's "live" because it can and will change when the site updates. After saving it, if you hover over it, it will show the latest updates. Clicking on one of those updates will take you directly to the page with the new information.

Internet Explorer 7

In Internet Explorer 7, look for the RSS icon betwen the Home and Print icons. It'll be grayed out unless you're on a site with a RSS feed. When you click it, you can then subscribe. IE 7's feeds are stored next to the Favorites (the "star" to the left of the tabs, under the "back" button). You can quickly access IE 7's feeds by pressing Ctrl-J.

Note:

RSS Feeds

What are RSS feeds?

How do I use RSS Feeds?

Firefox

Internet Explorer 7

Other ways of reading RSS

Google Reader

NewsGator