This post will explain the basics of RSS, the benefits of RSS, how to use them, details of the various feeds available on the site and finally, a promise to all readers.
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. Put simply, information is sent to you rather than you visiting websites.
If you had a choice between visiting your favourite shops and looking for new items or having each shop visit you and show you what’s new, which would you choose? The shops visiting you of course! Well, that’s exactly what RSS is. The headlines (or full content) are sent to you. You choose who sends you what and you can stop at any time and you never have to share personal information. (Using RSS Feeds doesn’t mean you can’t visit your shops if you want to!)
Let me give you two examples.
Example 1
You are only interested in Half-LIfe 2: Episode Two maps and mods because that’s the only game you have. Everyday you visit my site in the hope of finding something you can play. It’s not a good use of your time. Well, with RSS you simply subscribe to the HL2: EP2 Feed and everytime I post a map for that game you get notified.
Example 2
You have all the Half-Life games but are only interested in maps and mods with new content. As in the example above you simply subscribe to the New Content feed and everytime I post something that is tagged with New Content you get notified.
and is a great way of having information sent to you instead of you visiting a website or forum. Perhaps you just want to read the latest PlanetPhillip titles before deciding whether to visit the site. This system allow you to do that without wasting time.
Firstly, you save a lot of time. Whatever system you use you really only have to visit one screen/window/page to see the content that interests you. No more visiting all your favourite websites each day and searching, it’a all delivered right to your screen.
As part of the time saving benefit, you also get the benefit of being able to easily filter out content you don’t want. By selecting only specific feeds you can receive content based on that criteria. There are perfect two examples above.
Unlike newsletters or other email based subscription services you don’t ever need to enter personal details. Subscription can be created and deleted in seconds.
Firstly, you have three choices.
- 1: Use a client/application/program installed on your computer. These are normally fully-featured and give you plenty of control on how the feeds display.
- 2: Use a web-based service. I useGoogle Reader because it allows me to view the feeds from any computer connected to the internet via a web browser.
- 3: Use your browser. To my knowledge all up to date major browsers (except Chrome ) have built in feed readers. I actually really like how Safari and internet Explorer 8 display feeds.
- Why not follow these comments via RSS?
- Get your own GRAvatar.
- Don't forget that Feedback should be honest, fair AND useful.
- Please read the Comments Guide if you are new to commenting.
I can’t give instruction for each and every client, web service or browser but there are some simple principles involved.
Firstly, you need to find the link for the RSS Feed you want to subscribe to.
Next, either click it or copy it.
Lastly, add the subscribtion to your system.
In the case of IE8, click an RSS Feed will display the results, along with a clear link for subscribing.
You can subscribe to as many feeds as you want and you may be able to orgainize them, just like files and folders on your computer, depending on which system you use.
WOW! What a choice you have.
EVERYTHING
Let’s start with the basic options.
By using either of the above you will receive ALL the posts or comments. Nothing filtered. Perfect if you want to a general overview.
CATEGORIES
I won’t list them here, but every post category has an RSS feed. Click any game from the Maps and Mods menu and the first box will list the game and have the feed for that game. Once you subscribe, every time I add a amp or mod for that game, and that game alone, you will receive an update. The same is true for all the categories; games, poll questions articles etc.
TAGS
Again, I won’t list them here, but every tag has an RSS feed. When you click a link to a tag the top box will display the name of that tag and the RSS Feed for it.
Tags can be found via the Browse menu and at the bottom of the post for all maps and mods.
I truly believe that RSS Feeds are incredibly useful and also believe that once you have used them you will wonder how you ever lived without them.
In support of that belief I promise to help each and every PP reader who requests assistance using my RSS Feeds.
As I said above I really can’t provide instructions on how to use every single client, browser and service, but as long as the system you use is free I will help you.
Simply contact me with the details and I’ll do my best to help.
A more detailed explanation, along with links to free reader software can be found at Wikipedia: RSS Feeds.
3rd September 2006
First thing I did when visiting this site was add its RSS feed to my reader. One of the best web technologies ever invented I say. And in case anyone is wondering, I use Feed Reader from http://www.feedreader.com for all my RSS needs. Brilliant little program that sits in your system tray and tells you when there is new stuff to read.
3rd September 2006
Out of curiosity, which feed did you subscribe to? I’m guessing posts, did you consider any of the others?
I’m trying to gage the usefullness of the others.
TIA
3rd September 2006
Hmmm I have Opera 9.01 web browser and there’s a build-in rss feed reader in it so it automatically checks for rss feeds and no additional programs needed.
3rd September 2006
There’s no doubt there are plenty of options available. There are live bookmarks in Firefox, a Google feed reader and plenty of downlaodable clients.
3rd September 2006
I’ve only subscribed to the posts atm, I never really bother with comments, links feeds etc on sites.
24th July 2007
rss. hmmmmmm ive never thought about using it but im going to give it a shot.
19th November 2007
Is the RSS feed for the posts broken? The forum feed seems okay. I used live bookmarkss in Firefox.
20th November 2007
It’s working for me. Is it okay now?
20th November 2007
Afraid not. The RSS feed for the Forum is fine — as are the feeds for other sites I have in my Firefox toolbar — but the Posts feed merely says “Live bookmark failed to load.”
…Okay, I’ve just added the feed for Comments to see if that’s okay and it is. I should add that the Posts feed stopped working for me about 3 weeks ago. I thought it might be a temporary thing due to the site being overhauled.
22nd November 2007
A-ha! Interesting…I have solved my problem. Creating a feed to the POsts page using the link above failed, but clicking on the feed icon that appears automatically in the address bar has successfully created a live feed. So maybe there’s a problem with the link?