what's new
add/edit information
join the conversation
identify needsRSS (Really Simple Syndication)
+resources and best practices
+definitions
RSS (abbreviation for Really Simple Syndication) is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format.[2] An RSS document (which is called a "feed", "web feed",[3] or "channel") includes full or summarized text, plus metadata such as publishing dates and authorship. Web feeds benefit publishers by letting them syndicate content automatically. They benefit readers who want to subscribe to timely updates from favored websites or to aggregate feeds from many sites into one place. RSS feeds can be read using software called an "RSS reader", "feed reader", or "aggregator", which can be web-based, desktop-based, mobile device or any computerized Internet-connected device. A standardized XML file format allows the information to be published once and viewed by many different programs. The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed's URI (often referred to informally as a "URL" (uniform resource locater), although technically, those two terms are not exactly synonymous) into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The RSS reader checks the user's subscribed feeds regularly for new work, downloads any updates that it finds, and provides a user interface to monitor and read the feeds.
RSS formats are specified using XML, a generic specification for the creation of data formats. Although RSS formats have evolved since March 1999,[4] the RSS icon ("
") first gained widespread use between 2005 and 2006.[5]
from wikipedia.org 3/09
+standards in field
501 Tech Club notes: RSS
January 16, 2008 by Amy Sample Ward
Monday was the inaugural 501 Tech Club event here in Portland. Marshall Kirkpatrick helped us start the series with a bang with his presentation on using RSS. The notes certainly do not demonstrate accurately the amount of information Marshall presented and the incredible dynamics of RSS, but here are some highlights:
DEFINITION: RSS readers pull in new content from pages you have selected. Instead of you visiting many of your favorite sites and blogs all the time to see if there is anything new, your reader will frequently check those sites and pull back all of the new content for you to browse/read in one convenient place, either on your desktop or in a browser.
POPULAR READERS: Bloglines, Google Reader, Net News Wire, and more
IDENTIFICATION: When you see the RSS icon (orange, soundwave looking image) on a web page or in your browser address bar, you know you can subscribe to that page just by clicking on it. You can either choose your reader from the set of options when clicking on the RSS icon, or you can copy and paste the feed's subscribe link (that shows up in the browser when you click on it) into the reader of your choice. Different readers have different steps to add a subscription.
READING TIPS: RSS is not like email: you do NOT have to read everything. Just skim headlines for the important bits. Also, It can be helpful to use social bookmarking in partnership with RSS feeds. You can share news you found interesting. Popular social bookmarking sites include del.icio.us and ma.gnolia. (You can create a tag for yourself or your organization, then subscribe to the feed for the tag on the social bookmarking site to see what every else finds!)
REPUBLISHING: Social bookmarking also lets you create a newswire on your site or blog. Marshall publishes a "to share" feed on his blog at marshallk.com.
SEARCHING: Google blog search is like using Google News alerts with your email. You can subscribe to the RSS feed of search results from this and most other search sites.
I will be sure to let you know when February's 501 Tech Club meeting will take place and what the topic will be. You should be sure to come to learn and connect! Until then, join the Portland 501 Tech Club online. Here you will be able to connect with all the other local folks who are talking about technology in nonprofits.
