There are so many different ways that we receive information over the Internet. We read blogs, wikis, news feeds. We also watch videos and listen to podcasts. Truly, it can become overwhelming to read, watch and listen to all the things we want, and even need, to keep abreast of our field.
There is a solution to this overwhelming flow of information. It’s called RSS.
“RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content including, but not limited to, blog entries, news headlines, and podcasts.” (RSS, 2008)
RSS is actually fairly simple to set up:
- Choose a an aggregate (the RSS reader that you will use to compile your information).
- Find the RSS link.
- Add said link into the aggregate.
Don’t believe me? Check out this thorough but entertaining video explaining RSS:
You can also add RSS feeds to your Outlook 2007. This makes it extremely easy to get your blogs, news, etc. To set up a feed through Outlook 2007, do the following:
- Go to Tools>Account Settings.
- Choose the RSS Feeds tab. Click on New.
- Paste the URL of the feed into the dialog box.
- Click Add.
- Click OK.
Congrats! You just added a feed that will come directly to your Outlook.
But, what if I want an RSS feed but don’t have Outlook 2007 (or have an earlier version of Outlook)? Don’t worry. You have several options. My personal favorite, though, is Pageflakes.
Pageflakes is a personalized home page, a mashup if you will, that allows you access to all types of information from anywhere. It also has a very nifty RSS feature.
To add a RSS feed to your Pageflake, do the following:
- Sign up for a Pageflake, if you haven’t done so already.
- Click on the round button with a snowflake, typically located in the upper right of the page.
- The “add a flake” dialog opens.
- On the left hand side of the dialog towards the bottom, choose “add a RSS feed”.
- Paste or type in the URL for the feed.
- Click on Get Feed.
- The feed will show up as a flake (window) on your main page.
Easy as that! If, however, you prefer another aggregate, here is a list for you to check out:
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[...] RSS: Controlling the Flow of Information [...]