Briefing-44
An Introduction
to RSS and Atom
UKOLN: Supporting The Cultural Heritage Sector
Briefing-44
An Introduction
to RSS and Atom
UKOLN: Supporting The Cultural Heritage Sector
About RSS and Atom
About RSS and Atom
RSS is defined in Wikipedia as “a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently
updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio and video—in a
standardized format” [1]. RSS and the related Atom standard can be used to provide
alerts and syndication of content. These lightweight standards play an important role in
a Web 2.0 environment in allowing content to be easily reused.
RSS is defined in Wikipedia as “a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently
updated works — such as blog entries, news headlines, audio and video — in a
standardized format” [1]. RSS and the related Atom standard can be used to provide
alerts and syndication of content. These lightweight standards play an important role in
a Web 2.0 environment in allowing content to be easily reused.
How RSS and Atom Are Being Used
How RSS and Atom Are Being Used
News feeds are an example of automated syndication. News feed technologies allow
information to be automatically provided and updated on Web sites, emailed to users,
etc. As the name implies news feeds are normally used to provide news; however the
technology can be used to syndicate a wide range of information.
News feeds are an example of automated syndication. News feed technologies allow
information to be automatically provided and updated on Web sites, emailed to users,
etc. As the name implies news feeds are normally used to provide news; however the
technology can be used to syndicate a wide range of information.
Examples of use of RSS on organisational Web sites include:
Examples of use of RSS on organisational Web sites include:
The Forestry Commission Scotland which provides RSS feeds for news and
information on trail conditions [2].
The Forestry Commission Scotland which provides RSS feeds for news and
information on trail conditions [2].
The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret which provides RSS feeds for
information on news, events, grants received and development plans [3].
The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret which provides RSS feeds for
information on news, events, grants received and development plans [3].
The Kids and Reading service which provides RSS feeds on latest articles and
news [4].
The Kids and Reading service which provides RSS feeds on latest articles and
news [4].
RSS and Atom are widely used by popular Web 2.0 services, allowing the content
provided by the services to be viewed without the user having to visit the service.
Examples include:
RSS and Atom are widely used by popular Web 2.0 services, allowing the content
provided by the services to be viewed without the user having to visit the service.
Examples include:
Amazon which provides RSS feeds on the availability of new products [5].
Amazon which provides RSS feeds on the availability of new products [5].
Flickr which provides a variety of customisable RSS feeds [6].
Flickr which provides a variety of customisable RSS feeds [6].
YouTube which provides a variety of RSS feeds about various categorised groups
of videos [7].
YouTube which provides a variety of RSS feeds about various categorised groups
of videos [7].
The BBC which provides a large numbers of RSS feeds covering the range of its
services [8].
The BBC which provides a large numbers of RSS feeds covering the range of its
services [8].
This document is available at:
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/briefing-44/>
This document is available at:
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/briefing-44/>
RSS Feeds Readers
RSS Feeds Readers
As described in [9] there are a large number of RSS reader / RSS aggregation tools
available. Examples of different types of RSS readers are summarised below.
As described in [9] there are a large number of RSS reader / RSS aggregation tools
available. Examples of different types of RSS readers are summarised below.
Google Reader: Google Reader [10] is an example of a popular Web-based RSS
reader.
Google Reader: Google Reader [10] is an example of a popular Web-based RSS
reader.
Newsgator and NetNewsWire: Netnewswire [11] is an RSS client for the
iPhone/iPod Touch mobile devices which is integrated with the Newsgator Webbased RSS client.
Newsgator and NetNewsWire: Netnewswire [11] is an RSS client for the
iPhone/iPod Touch mobile devices which is integrated with the Newsgator Webbased RSS client.
Netvibes and PageFlakes: Netvibes [12] and PageFlakes [13] are Web-based RSS
readers which provide a more graphical style of interface than Google Reader.
Netvibes and PageFlakes: Netvibes [12] and PageFlakes [13] are Web-based RSS
readers which provide a more graphical style of interface than Google Reader.
Feedreader: Feedbreader [14] is an RSS reader for the desktop.
Feedreader: Feedreader [14] is an RSS reader for the desktop.
Outlook 2007 Email Client: The Microsoft Outlook 12007 email client [15]
includes an RSS reader. This will enable you to read RSS feeds in a similar fashion
to reading email.
Outlook 2007 Email Client: The Microsoft Outlook 12007 email client [15]
includes an RSS reader. This will enable you to read RSS feeds in a similar fashion
to reading email.
References
References
1 RSS, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS>
2 Forestry Commission Scotland, <http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/INFD6ZGJZM>
3 The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret,
<http://www.thegarret.org.uk/rssfeed.htm>
4 Kids and Reading Service, <http://www.kidsandreading.co.uk/>
5 Product RSS Feeds, Amazon, <http://www.amazon.com/Product-RSSFeeds/b?ie=UTF8&node=390052011>
6 Flickr Services, Flickr, <http://www.flickr.com/services/feeds/>
7 About RSS, YouTube, <http://www.youtube.com/rssls>
8 News Feeds From The BBC, BBC, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3223484.stm>
9 Aggregator, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregator>
10 Google Reader, Google, <http://www.google.com/reader/view/>
11 Online News Reader, Newsgator, <http://www.newsgator.com/individuals/>
12 Netvibes, <http://www.netvibes.com/>
13 PageFlakes, <http://www.pageflakes.com/>
14 Feedreader, <http://www.feedreader.com/features.php>
15 Get Your RSS Feeds For Outlook, Microsoft, <http://office.microsoft.com/enus/help/HA102148541033.aspx>
Produced by UKOLN: a national centre of expertise in digital information management
For further information see <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/>
Apr 2009
1 RSS, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS>
2 Forestry Commission Scotland, <http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/INFD6ZGJZM>
3 The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret,
<http://www.thegarret.org.uk/rssfeed.htm>
4 Kids and Reading Service, <http://www.kidsandreading.co.uk/>
5 Product RSS Feeds, Amazon, <http://www.amazon.com/Product-RSSFeeds/b?ie=UTF8&node=390052011>
6 Flickr Services, Flickr, <http://www.flickr.com/services/feeds/>
7 About RSS, YouTube, <http://www.youtube.com/rssls>
8 News Feeds From The BBC, BBC, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3223484.stm>
9 Aggregator, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregator>
10 Google Reader, Google, <http://www.google.com/reader/view/>
11 Online news Reader, Newsgator, <http://www.newsgator.com/individuals/>
12 Netvibes, <http://www.netvibes.com/>
13 PageFlakes, <http://www.pageflakes.com/>
14 Feedreader, <http://www.feedreader.com/features.php>
15 Get Your RSS Feeds For Outlook, Microsoft, http://office.microsoft.com/enus/help/HA102148541033.aspx
Produced by UKOLN: a national centre of expertise in digital information management
For further information see <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/>
Apr 2009