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In this article: What is RSS? | What software do I need? | How do I subscribe to a feed?

What is RSS?

RSS feeds are a great way for you keep up to date with what's new on the Mindset Learn website. Instead of having to remember to visit the website, any new updates are sent to your desktop. The following RSS feeds are available:

  • New resources
  • Top rated resources
  • News

Most sources define RSS as an acronym standing for Really Simple Syndication; other sources say the acronym derives from Rich Site Summary or RDF Site Summary. In fact, all may be correct.

Whatever the letters stand for, RSS is a light-weight XML format for distributing headlines, links brief descriptions of web-based content as well as actual media as in teh case of podcasts. Web content providers develop and serve RSS "feeds," or streams of content designed to be accessed by news aggregator or RSS reader client software. An RSS reader lets you peruse headlines, read summaries, and click links to specific stories or media to open them right on their original web sites in your default web browser. Some software, like Apple iTunes or Juice, manages the download of media referenced in the feed. For more information, use the links below.

In this article: What is RSS? | What software do I need? | How do I subscribe to a feed?

What Software do I need?

The latest versions of the major browsers (Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2.0 or 3.0, Opera and Safari) all support RSS. However there are loads of free RSS readers that you can use. Readers are available in several varieties. They can be
web-based services, standalone client software, or plug-ins for
existing web browsers or eMail packages.

Here's a short list of RSS readers/aggregators you might like to try:

  • FeedDemon - full-featured Windows news aggregator
  • Bloglines - free web-based aggregator
  • SharpReader - simple, well designed, reads RSS and Atom
  • NewsGator - plug-in for Outlook 2000 and newer
  • NetNewsWire - well-thought-of Mac RSS reader
  • NewsMonster - Mozilla browser plug-in supports Linux, Windows
  • Google Search: News Aggregators
  • Juice - free standalone client able to download and manage media from podcast feeds
  • Apple iTunes - free standalone client for PC or Linux. Required to use an iPod.

    • In this article: What is RSS? | What software do I need? | How do I subscribe to a feed?

    How do I subscribe to a feed?

    Look out for the RSS icon icon. It indicates an RSS feed. Simply click on the icon to subscribe. If your current browser can handle RSS feeds a feed page will open with a Subscribe to this feed link at the top (e.g. Internet Explorer) or a bookmark will be created (e.g. Firefox).

    If your browser cannot handle RSS feeds, point your chosen RSS reader at the URL of the feed. You can find this by right clicking on the RSS icon and selecting Properties from the menu.

    Click here for help on using the Video feeds to download videos.

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