What Is RSS & How Why You Should Use It Here

Did you know you can automatically be notified when I’ve posted a new article?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts. An RSS document, which is called a “feed,” “web feed,” or “channel,” contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that’s easier than checking them manually.

RSS content can be read using software called an “RSS reader”, “feed reader” or an “aggregator”. The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed’s link into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The reader checks the user’s subscribed feeds regularly for new content, downloading any updates that it finds.

How to Read RSS in Firefox with Live Bookmarks

If you don’t have Firefox, get it immediately.

Subscribing to an RSS web feed is as simple as creating a so called Live Bookmark. And to make life even easier Firefox can auto detect some feeds, and provide a shortcut for subscribing.

When you visit a site and you see the orange icon in the right most part of the address bar.

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Subscribing to an RSS feed (1.5 and later)

You can add the feed(s) by clicking the orange icon and subscribing to one.

The Add Bookmark (Add Live Bookmark for 1.5 and newer) dialog appears and you can add the Live Bookmark.
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Multiple RSS feeds (1.5 and later)

Then…

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Adding a Live Bookmark

I prefer to add the Live bookmarks to the Bookmarks Toolbar Folder, normally shown under the navigation toolbar, so I can have a quick peek at recent events with just one mouse click.

You can also subscribe to OTHER RSS readers, not just through Firefox. (Eg. Google)
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Then you can see what the latest articles are, and click on them when you want to see them.

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Live Bookmarks added to the Toolbar Folder

Manually subscribing to an RSS feed

If a site has an RSS feed, but the orange icon doesn’t show up, you can add the feed manually. Select “New Live Bookmark…” in the Bookmarks Manager and enter the URL (http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheAttractionChroniclesBlog) and other information of the feed.

This way you can get updates and new articles easily.

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