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RSS Feeds

What Is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It's an easy way for you to keep up with news and information that's important to you, and helps you avoid the conventional methods of browsing or searching for information on web sites. Now the content you want can be delivered directly to you. This content is called a "feed." Other names for RSS feeds are Web feeds, XML feeds, RSS channels, and syndicated content.


What Is an RSS Reader?

An RSS reader is a small software program that collects and displays RSS feeds. It allows you to scan headlines from a number of news sources in a central location. There are different versions of RSS Readers; some are accessed using a browser, and some are downloadable applications. Browser-based news readers let you catch up with your RSS feed subscriptions from any computer. Downloadable applications, on the other hand, let you store them on your main computer, in the same way that you either download your e-mail using Outlook, or keep it on a web-based service like Hotmail.


Where Can I Get an RSS Reader?

Some browsers, such as the current versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and Safari have built in RSS readers. They can automatically check for RSS feeds for you when you visit a web site, and display an icon when they find one. This can make subscribing to RSS feeds much easier. If you're using a browser that doesn't currently support RSS, there are a variety of RSS readers available on the web; some are free to download and others are available for purchase. You can also add your favorite RSS Feeds as subscriptions in Microsoft Outlook. There are several ways to add an RSS Feed. The links given below will help you find more information on RSS readers on the web. We do not recommend or endorse any reader in particular.


How Do I Use RSS Feeds?

The first step is to choose an RSS reader. Each reader has a slightly different way of adding a new feed, also called a “channel.” Please follow the directions for your specific reader.

 
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