Web Feeds

Web feeds are like newsletters, but different. :-) You "subscribe" to a website's newsletter by giving them your email address. You "subscribe" to web feeds by adding feed addresses to your feed reader. It's "pull", not "push". You only need to read what interests you. There's nothing left to clutter your inbox. And you can subscribe or unsubscribe with a couple of clicks. :-) [more on feeds] [why subscribe?]

Example at NewsGator: In the left column you see a collection of feed folders. In the right column you see the content of the feeds in the "Software" folder. Each item has a synopsis, and a link to the rest of the item. (Links are not live in this screenshot. They are though at Original Signal.)

Subscribe to the HTCC (CyberCoyote) web feed

Start with HTCC Episodic feed to find out what web feeds are, and what the process is all about. It's a good way be notified when there's a new issue of CyberCoyote! That way you don't need to subscribe by email.

  1. First, you'll need a feed reader. ;-) Go get one, then come back here. Unless you'd rather just subscribe by email.
  2. Now use one of two alternatives: Either left-click this orange badge -- Feed icon. -- and follow instructions, or right-click it and select "Copy link location" [Firefox] or "Copy shortcut" [IE] from the context menu.
  3. If you used the second alternative, paste the URL you just copied in your feed reader's subscription dialog box.
    4. The process may be a little different for the feed reader you have selected. These instructions are the general idea. Your Web-based or PC-based feed reader should give you more explicit instruction along the same line.
 Alternative: You could subscribe to this combined feed, which includes HTCC Episodic items and interesting items that I find on the Web.

Subscribing to other feeds

The generic process will be similar to the one for CyberCoyote. Look for the RSS badge -- Feed icon., or or other link -- somewhere on the website. [more]

Sometimes you'll see "RSS 0.9", "RSS 2.0" or "Atom" links. Some feed readers, like FeedDemon, can use any of them. (I'd pick Atom or RSS 2.0.) Some readers can only use one of the formats. Pick the one that works for you.

If you see one or more of these -- , or -- and you are using one of the related sites as your feed reader you can simply left-click the badge, and if all goes well, the feed will automagically be added to your subscriptions. Sometimes you'll just see the link in text, for example "rss", "feed" or "syndicate".

The majority of feeds bring you news, technology or politics. However, there are blogs/feeds for all kinds of personal topics, and there are feeds for weather, traffic conditions, and just about anything else you can imagine.

Searching or browsing is one of the best ways to find feeds.

  1. NewsGator: search for blogs and web feeds
  2. Feedster: search for blogs and web feeds
  3. Comic Alert: get your favorite comics

More on the Web

  1. NewsGator, a leader in RSS readers, has the best RSS information I've found, starting with the overview in their RSS Learning Center.
  2. Stephanie Quilao explains RSS the Oprah way. :-)
  3. All About RSS: Fagan Finder
  4. Tim Yang Wiki: everything you want to know about RSS and feeds.
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