About Those Orange RSS/XML Icons

No need to constantly check for updates to the website.

"Save time and simplify your online life."

RSS is the "next big thing."

Just what is this orange "RSS" icon I see appearing on your website and have started to see on other websites as well?

The answer as to what this orange RSS icon (sometimes seen as an orange XML icon) is does not have a one sentence answer! So we'll try to answer in such a way that it makes sense and so you will benefit from it.

Let's begin by saying you like this website and would like to read new content as it is added. To find out if any new content has been added, you would bookmark this site and periodically come back for a visit to see if there are any new updates.

But now there's a better way to be automatically informed about updates without having to waste a lot of time by visiting the website and browsing through all the pages to see if anything new has been added or changed.

With the use of a "reader" you can be automatically informed of changes and updates to the website. A headline and short summary, known as a news feed (or RSS feed), is sent to your reader. If the news feed sounds of interest, then you follow the link to the website to see the new or changed content, and likewise, if you are not interested in the news feed, simply ignore it.

RSS means Really Simple Syndication. It is basically a tool by which content can be syndicated across the Internet to interested participants in minutes. You sometimes see the orange XML icon because that is the format of the file containing the syndicated content. So when you see an orange RSS or an orange XML icon, it means the same thing.

Of course you can subscribe to as many RSS feeds as you want to. And what this means for you, is that you can get "hot off the presses" updates, news and announcements from selected sources.

RSS is "the next big thing" - you can use it to get news feeds from news sources, the latest posts from your favorite discussion forum, the newest products available from your favorite specialty store, blog updates, or simply get notices when you favorite websites are updated.

Once you get started, it's like having your favorite parts of the Web come to you. There is no need to go out and check for updates all the time...

You can keep up with all the updates and changes to Front Range Frenzy without having to check the site every week to see what's new. Whenever a page is changed or added, we release an RSS feed.

And if you no longer wish to receive an RSS feed from a source, simply delete the feed.

So, how do you get started using a reader and RSS?

You will need to begin by getting a reader. There are quite a few of RSS readers to choose from. Some you download and install, some are free while others have a nominal fee, and some are online web-based.

1) Download RSS feeder software sources...

BlogExpress is a solid reader and is "free" (donate through PayPal if you like it)

http://www.usablelabs.com/productBlogExpress.html

RssReader is pretty popular and has a good following

http://www.rssreader.com

The MultiNewsReader supports many types of media feeds

http://www.widgetgallery.com/view.php?widget=36039

And if want to try several other readers...

http://www.2rss.com/readers.php

If you are a Mac user, you may want to checkout NetNewsWire

http://ranchero.com/netnewswire

2) Online RSS feeders (using your Web browser)

Bloglines is a free online service for searching and subscribing to news feeds, blogs, and rich web content. Access from any Web enabled computer.

http://www.bloglines.com

Pluck also provides easy online management of RSS feeds. They also have an Internet Explorer add-on providing a more robust feature set.

http://www.pluck.com

If you use My Yahoo!, you can add RSS headlines to your Yahoo! home page very easily. Just click on the "add content" link inside your home page, or click on the icon when you see it displayed.

http://my.yahoo.com

My Yahoo! Is our favorite for adding and keeping track of RSS feeds. It is very simple to use. If you are new to RSS feeds, My Yahoo! provides an easy and excellent entry into this fabulous world and allows you to become familiar with all that RSS and news feeds has to offer.

I have my reader, now what?

Once you're setup with a reader, here's all you have to do...

Right-click on any orange RSS (or XML) button on a website, blog, or news source that interests you (start by right-clicking on the orange button below). Then...

Select "Copy Shortcut" and paste the URL into your RSS reader.

Once you've pasted the URL into the RSS reader, you're subscribed!

Right-click and get started.

If you are using My Yahoo! and the website, blog or news source also has a or similar icon, simply press it to add the RSS feed - no need to copy and paste using the orange icon (though that will still work).

Are there any other benefits to RSS?

People are starting to turn to Feed Readers by the thousands as email is becoming completely inundated with unwanted messages. Seems like for every one email you actually want to read, there are 2 or 3 more cluttering up your inbox.

Unlike email, there is no spam. You add the feeds you are interested in to your feed reader, and remove them anytime you choose. It is completely anonymous, and the content provider has no way of knowing who is subscribing to the feed. There is no subscriber contact information given out.

Feed readers help you to escape viruses and offensive junk mail found in your email inbox and can save you a lot of time online. Instead of sitting in front of your computer for hours every day visiting your favorite websites, news services, blogs, forums, etc. in order to get updated, now you can just open your Feed Reader and check out any new headlines and be updated in no time without spending a lot of time surfing the Web.