While I usually devote this blog to the latest developments in my life, I wanted to take a moment and discuss something relevant to anyone who checks certain blogs on a regular basis. For those of you already familiar with RSS feeds, you need not read on. For those as yet unfamialiar, you'll probably find this quick discussion very useful.
What is an RSS Feed?
Long story short, an RSS feed is a tool that allows you to "subscribe" to your favourite blogs. If you have a certain set of blogs you like to check on a regular basis, it can be extremely useful. Rather than spend an inordinate amount of time hopping around the web to the sites of the blogs you like to read (and sometimes only to find that your time was wasted since no new update has been posted), RSS feeds can be used to collect blog updates and funnel them directly to you. Because you're "subscribing" these blogs, RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication."
Is it complicated to set up and use?
Nope. In fact, you can learn how to set it up in just a few seconds. For example, suppose you wanted to recieve automatic updates whenever I post a new entry here. If you're using the latest version of Internet Explorer, look in the upper right corner of your browser. You should see the orange symbol up there. If the symbol is grayed out, it means that no feeds are available for you to use to subscribe to the page. If the symbol is orange, click on it. it will take you to a simpler version of the webpage, showing only the portion of the website which is updated or changed. Toward the top of the page, you will see a link labeled "Subscribe to this Feed." In the window that pops up, enter a name for the subscription that will be easy for you to remember, then hit "subscribe." There! You're done.
How do I see the updates?
With the latest version of Internet Explorer open, click on the star symbol in the upper left. This is your favorites center. Click on feeds. With your cursor over the name of the feed, click on the two green arrows to the right of the feed name. This will refresh the feed and bolden the feed name if a new entry has been made. Click it, and presto, the latest entry will appear before your eyes.
What should I do with it?
Simple. Subscribe to my blog!
