What an RSS Aggregator or RSS Reader?

I keep hearing about RSS, XML RSS feeds. I just barely have a clue what they are, but when people then start talking about RSS aggregators, what are they talking about why would I want one? Do you use an aggregator, if so, which one?

Ain't jargon fun? RSS Really Simple Syndication it's a simple data-only version of a Web page or, case a weblog, Web site. Why interesting? Because it's then easy write programs track this XML formatted data stream let you know when there's new material added site.

For example, if you were tracking Ask Dave Taylor RSS data stream then when this article "went live" my site, you'd receive notification be able read within minutes arriving. Maybe not so critical my tech business Q&A, I admit, but I also track a number different business newswires was reading about Proctor & Gamble acquisition Gillette at least a day prior my colleagues. How do I know that? Because they've told me was my own article on subject (P&G buys Gillette $57 billion, but how much human terms?) alerted them $54 billion transaction).

Helpful Hint: If you'd like track an RSS feed you have a browser with RSS support, you can click cute little XML button you find many different Web sites. If your browser doesn't know what do with instead shows you a cryptic page text, you'll need an RSS reader or aggregator. Keep reading, but remember you can also "right click" (or Ctrl-click you Mac folks) copy the link address your buffer, then paste into a 'subscribe' field your reader.

The problem is, I don't want check 100 RSS feeds any more than I want visit 100 Web sites every day, that's where aggregators come in. Whether they're standalone programs, plug-ins your favorite Web browser or email program, or Web-based services, RSS aggregators remember your subscription list, check each site a periodic basis, alert you any new articles have been published.

If you're not thinking "wow, very cool" then you are spending too much time visiting Web sites! To scan headlines just a dozen sites an hourly basis would probably be a full time job if you need keep abreast your industry, I do, then you wouldn't have any time actually do anything, which would obviously be deleterious your career long-term! :-)

So there are programs you can download that are RSS aggregators (or RSS readers, basically synonymous) Windows, Mac Linux/Unix systems. A few most popular are BlogExpress FeedReader Windows, NetNewsWire NewsFire for Macintosh Lifera Linux.

Don't like having yet another application running? You can graft RSS capabilities into your Web browser (or run Firefox or Safari / Tiger, both which have elegant built-in RSS capabilities) or your email program. Notable entries this category are NewsGator (grafts into Microsoft Outlook Windows), Pluck (grafts into Microsoft Internet Explorer Windows) Safari Menu (add-on Apple's Safari browser that includes some RSS support).

Finally, you can subscribe an RSS aggregator Web service which gives you a custom Web page that includes newest information from your hand-picked RSS feeds. The highest profile solution this My Yahoo, which recently announced support RSS feeds additional personal home page information sources, though just shows you a rolling 'latest five articles' from each source, so doesn't work me because I'd still be left trying remember which I'd read or not. Other possibilities include AmphetaDesk, Bloglines, Feedster.

Instead those, however, I use a great Web-based product called NewsGator Online, which gives me ability track many feeds I like (fellow blogger Robert Scoble tracks over 1200 his NewsGator Online account) along with flexibility keeping sync at home, my office road.

Whichever solution you choose, I promise you that once you start traveling down road RSS feeds RSS aggregators, you won't turn back. In fact, you'll find that every time you go a Web site that you like, you'll immediately start hunting the "syndicate" or "rss" or "xml" button. i certainly do, I'm more plugged now than I could ever have been past.

It's a rolling sea information out there, an RSS aggregator gives you a sail GPS navigation system. It might just save your life out there!

Dave Taylor has been involved with blogging community years widely respected an expert business blogging, among other areas.