RSS/XML news feed subscriptions are a new, convenient way to keep up with the latest content on the internet. You can subscribe through a RSS reader or even receive RSS subscriptions by email.
Learn more about RSS/XML news feeds...
RSS/XML news feeds
available from TransFaith include:
What is a RSS/XML news feed?
News feeds allow you to see when websites have added new content. You can get the latest updates from many different websites all in one place, as soon as its published.
Feeds are sometimes labeled as RSS, XML, ATOM, or OPML. In order to make use of a news feed, you will need to subscribe to it using a feed reader (a.k.a. feed aggregator).
How do I get started?
1 - Decide what kind of news feed reader you want to use.
2 - Choose which news feed you want to start with.
3 - Subscribe to the selected news feed using your preferred news feed reader.
What news feed reader should I use?
There are several different flavors of news feed readers...
Browser-based: Several popular websites will give you a username/password and let you subscribe to news feeds through their website. Examples: Google, Yahoo, Bloglines, NewsGator, NetVibes, PageFlakes, AOL, Rojo, MSN, etc.
Desktop Applications: There are also programs that you can download which include news feed reading capabilities. Examples: Thunderbird (email client with news feed reader built-in), FeedReader (Win), FeedDemon (Win), NetNewsWire (Mac), GreatNews (Win), BlogBridge (Win/Mac/*nix), RSSOwl (Win/Mac/*nix), etc.
Email subscriptions: Finally, there are some web services that will convert news feeds to email for you. Examples: FeedBlitz, BlogAlert, RSSFwd, RMail, Blogarithm, Squeet, etc.
How to decide: If you want to access your news feeds from different locations, a browser-based option might be useful. Some people just prefer email and so email subscriptions may work best for you. Some programs you already use may include news feed readers that will be convenient for you. And over time, you may find that you are interested in specific features that will help you narrow down your options. In the end, you will probably want to try out a couple of different options to see what works best for you. Since many of these options are free, feel free to experiment a little. It's really up to you!
How do I find news feeds that will interest me?
Just go to your favorite websites and look for any of the following words: RSS, XML, OPML, XML, ATOM, or Subscribe. You may also find orange images like those displayed to the right. The icons/buttons are usually at least a little bit orange, but not always.
Unfortunately, there is no 100% standard way to let a website visitor know about news feeds that are available. But if you find one of these (or something that looks like a similar variation), that means there is at least one news feed available for that website.
How do I subscribe to a news feed?
Manual: In general, you need to find the URL (web page address) of the news feed and tell your news feed reader that you want to subscribe to it. Look for the words Subscribe, RSS, Atom, XML, or OPML on your favorite web pages (or the common orange news feed image). Usually, clicking on such an image/link will lead you to the relevant URL information. Copy that URL and paste it into your preferred news feed reader.
One-Click Subscriptions: Several news feed readers provide easier ways to subscribe if the news feed provider/publisher sets up a convenient button for you.
Feed-aware browser: If you are using a modern browser, it may be "feed-aware" -- automatically providing you with a simplified way to subscribe. Look for this symbol in your browser tool bar. Examples: Firefox, Opera, Safari, Internet Explorer 7.
Does this have anything to do with podcasting?
Yes! Podcasts are actually just special news feeds that include MP3 audio files. Some news feed readers are podcast-capable -- but some are not. You don't actually need an iPod or special MP3 player to enjoy podcasts, if you find a convenient tool to listen to the podcast.
What if I'm overwhelmed by all this, not ready to try it, or just not interested?
You can still sign-up to join the TransFaith e-mail update list. We'll send you an ocassional note to let you know when the site is updated.
