Are you getting
the news you want while avoiding information overload?
Steve Nichols of InfoTech Communications introduces
RSS – a new way of delivering news to the computer
desktop which promises to turbo-charge the way we gather
information.
Called RSS (Really Simple Syndication), it is a format
designed for sharing web content such as news and features.
An RSS service (also known as an RSS channel or feed)
consists of a list of items, each of which contains
a headline, description, and a link to a web page. RSS
can also include links to multimedia files, such as
MP3 "radio" programmes.
To use RSS, you need a special RSS newsreader or "aggregator"
that will allow you to collect and display RSS services.
The newsreader allows you to view the services you want,
all together in the same place. By automatically retrieving
updates it makes sure your content is always up to date.
For example, using the Awasu newsreader program on
your PC you could subscribe to feeds from Reuters, the
BBC, CNN, the FT and many others - including CiB! Then,
instead of surfing from one site to another you just
click on the service within the newsreader to get the
latest headlines. The sites can be scanned in seconds
rather than having to be laboriously loaded individually,
saving you having to surf around.
In an interview for the BBC, James Crabtree of The
Work Foundation said that there's growing belief in
the technology community that e-mail is a system close
to breakdown, thanks in part to spam, unread newsletters,
and the sheer weight of messages.
"At the moment, not many people really know about
using RSS. But if more people knew what it was, I think
they would use it. It's just a really handy way of getting
the information you want without having to surf around
for it," he said.
There are many different newsreaders available, many
for free. Most are applications that you download and
install. Others are web-based services that you can
sign-up for and view using your browser.
Once installed, you have to find the newsfeeds you
are interested in. This can be tricky as there are literally
thousands. One good source is http://w.moreover.com/categories/category_list_rss.html
that has industry specific feeds available. Another
is http://www.feed24.com/
that will let you search for all manner of information.
RSS is going to revolutionise the way we share corporate
information too. You can issue press releases via RSS
or share your corporate intranet content with the rest
of the planet. Or how about providing a corporate news
feed from London for your Singapore intranet?
Anything is possible as programmes are available to
convert an RSS feed into HTML for web pages.
Some answers
What is RSS?
It stands for Really Simple Syndication - a way of pushing
news and other material from a website direct to your
desktop. Alternatively, it is a way of sharing data
with other web sites or intranets - automatically.
What is so special about it?
With RSS you choose what you would like to subscribe
to. Then, the RSS newsreader or aggregator makes sure
that your news sources are updated on a regular basis.
How does it work?
RSS uses a format called XML (Extensible Mark-up Language).
XML is closely related to HTML and is a great format
for content that is shared between different platforms
such as web, print and databases.
Where do I get a newsreader program from?
There are lots available, but the most common for Windows
include NewzCrawler, FeedDemon and Awasu. For Macintosh
OSX the BBC recommends
Newsfire and NetNewsWire.
Do I have to use a newsreader?
No. You can sign-up to RSS newsfeed via a web-based
service like Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com/).
Most of these types of service are free.
How do I sign up to a newsfeed?
First you have to find a feed that interests you. There
are literally thousands to choose from and there are
web-based lists to help you. You can also look out for
the small "RSS" or "XML" image that
appears on some web sites - such as Reuters.co.uk. If
you see this symbol, click on it and it will display
a page of what looks like gibberish. This is the XML
code. All you then have to do is copy the URL of that
page (eg http://www.microsite.reuters.com/rss/uk/topNews)
into your newsreader or Bloglines account and you will
be able to read the latest news.
Is RSS just for text-based news?
Far from it. RSS can be used to deliver multimedia
to your desktop. Podcasting is the name given to audio
feeds that are delivered to your computer for downloading
to your iPod or MP3 player.
© Steve Nichols 2005. Steve Nichols specialises
in online communications and has acted as consultant
and trainer for many blue-chip companies including Aviva,
AWG, Shell, Standard Life, HBOS, BNFL, AstraZeneca,
Diageo, Accenture and Australia New Zealand Bank.
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