Desktop feed reader how to#
Desktop feed reader update#
Desktop feed reader software#

Desktop feed reader update#

On Twitter or Facebook, you follow a site's update feed, but you may not see all of its content - that depends on the algorithm. How is this different from Twitter or Facebook pages that I can follow for updates? It is theoretically usable, but not easy on the eyes. Without an RSS reader, you will just see the XML RSS document.

has a list of over 200 RSS readers that you can sort by platform, features, and license. Pay attention to the column that says when the feed was last updated, as it will help you when choosing what to use.

Desktop feed reader software#

You can find an incomplete list of RSS reading software on Wikipedia - which includes some familiar tools like the Safari web browser and some email clients. They save time and help you get to the content that matters. Feed readers also make it easy to just see a list of what's happening on your favorite web sites without having to scroll past giant pictures or click the Next Page button. Many feed readers are standalone web sites or integrated directly into email programs (such as Outlook and Thunderbird). Why should I use a feed reader? Can I use RSS without one?Īn RSS reader, feed reader, or RSS aggregator is essential to using RSS actively. An RSS reader checks your subscribed feeds regularly for new arrivals, downloads updates, and provides a human-readable interface for you to enjoy. Many websites - such as news agency pages - use RSS in the backend without users ever knowing that that's how the update feed is set up.įortunately, we can use RSS feeds without looking at the XML file by using software to subscribe to feeds from all over the web. You will rarely ever see the 'raw' file, which is encoded in XML and looks similar to what you see when you view a web page's source code. It is a file with a unique URL that contains data describing a site's most recent changes. RSS feeds are a protocol that lets the Internet know that content on a site changes frequently. Once you know the basics of RSS, it is easy. In the context of RSS adoption, many people call it Really Simple Syndication. Mouse over the RSS Readers tab to view the subpage on Adding a Subscription to an RSS Reader.RSS stands for Rich or RDF Site Summary. These instructions are located on a subpage under this tab.

Desktop feed reader how to#

Instructions in this guide will use Microsoft Outlook and Google Reader as two examples for how to add subscriptions to an RSS Reader. There are certainly many more out there, so go ahead look for another one if none of these tickle your fancy! To the left is a selection of readers that appear in each category. If you are uncertain as to your preferences, one can always try a variety until one determines a preference. The decision to use one feed reader over another is a question of personal preference. In the end, they will all read the feeds you put into them, but some will allow for additional features such as sharing of posts between friends or replying or commenting on the information within the post. Some feed readers are freely available, others require purchase or subscription. They often appear as widgets along the right sidebar of your computer screen. Online these are usually websites that require you to create an account, and upon login, your feeds can be accessed from anywhere.ĭesktop these are usually programs downloaded to an individual computer. There are a variety of feed readers out there, most falling into two categories. Its coding must be parsed by a feed reader to make any sense.

An RSS feed opened in a regular web page will probably look pretty strange.