What is RSS and why should I use it?

RSS is often known as Really Simple Syndication. It is an easy way to subscribe to a website and have any new information delivered directly to you without having to subscribe using email.

To use RSS you need an RSS 'reader', technically known as an aggregator. This assembles the RSS feeds you have subscribed to on a single page so you can view all the information you are interested in together in one place.

The advantages, apart from the convenience, are that the information comes to you instead of you having to visit one or many websites to obtain it and you don't have to give your name and email.

Unsubscribing is even easier as you just delete the feed in your reader and do not have to rely on an email unsubscribe system.

RSS feeds are usually indicated by an orange XML or RSS buttons like the one at the start of this sentence but they can come in various other shapes and sizes but are all easily recognisable. This video from YouTube will help you get to grips with RSS.

The Google reader is possibly the most convenient to use, especially if you are also a Gmail user. An online reader enables you to read your feeds from any interent connection without being dependent on having access to your own computer.