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[starlagurl]

The term "RSS feed" looks scary, and very technical, it really is not. If you can use email, you can use an RSS feed! Here is a conversation between Reluctant RSS Feed User and Enthusiastic Convert:

Reluctant User: I've been hearing a lot about these new-fangled doohickies, RSS feeds. What in tarnation is an RSS feed for?

Enthusiastic Convert: RSS feeds are for reading blogs, news and frequently updated websites, such as www.travelpod.com

R: Why do I need RSS feeds if I can just visit each website individually? I have all the websites bookmarked in my browser already, it's easy!

E: Because it's faster and even easier than bookmarks! An RSS feed reader collects all of your favourite blogs and websites into one place, and with a single glance, you can tell which ones have been updated in the past day, week, month or whenever. The format is very similar to an email browser such as Thunderbird or Outlook. On TravelPod, every blogger has an RSS feed, even if they haven't started their blog yet. By adding your RSS feed, your friends can stay updated on your travels without getting a bazillion emails every time you leave town.

R: OK, sounds interesting, how do I get started?

E: Good! My favourite RSS feed browser (and the most popular one on the web) is FeedDemon, you can find it at this website. Download the software, and sign up for an account. Then you can start transferring your "oh-so-2005" bookmarks to your RSS feed browser.

R: Wait! Not so fast, how do I know if my favourite sites even have RSS feeds?!

E: Calm down, you can subscribe to any site that has a logo that looks like this: RSS feed logo Usually, you can just click on the little orange logo, and it will auto-magically open FeedDemon. Then, you're only a few clicks away from subscribing to updates. As I said before, every blog on TravelPod has its own RSS feed. Try adding some of our most popular blogs to FeedDemon by clicking on this orange logo next time you are reading one of them.

R: OK, I checked, and my favourite non-TravelPod site doesn't have an RSS Feed! Arg!

E: I hate to break it to you, but if your favourite site doesn't have an RSS feed yet, it's probably not a website you should get your daily news from. Chances are, the site is out of date, and it isn't updated very regularly.

R: But I know this site is updated all the time!

E: If you know for a fact that the site is updated regularly, you should contact the administrators and ask them if they have an RSS feed. Perhaps they will create one after you ask for it. Chances are, you aren't the first person to ask.

R: Thank you Enthusiastic Convert, for liberating me from the confines of web browser bookmarks!

E: You are more than welcome, no-longer-reluctant RSS Feed User!

(Cue big cheesy smiles, bear hug, freeze frame and cheap synth music. End scene.)

[starlagurl]

Does anybody use RSS feeds on TravelPod? It's way easier than getting updates from the writer. Plus, you can check the status of the blog, even if the writer forgets to send out the email update!

I love it, I have about 50 or so in my feed reader.

[sianeth]

I have a few RSS feeds, don't want too many otherwise I'll never look at them:

BBC News - Health
BBC News - Sport
CricInfo Live Cricket Scores
jobs in Sports Science
STA Travel Flight specials

and then a few message board ones.

I added the RSS feed for my travelpod onto my parents computer... I think the technology confused them a bit but it worked out easier eventually, bless 'em!

I'm a big fan of RSS, I think people definately need to become more aware of them - especially if you use Firefox aswell, they're really easy to co-ordinate.

Thumbs up on the RSS front!

[wakingdream]

I have a few RSS feeds, don't want too many otherwise I'll never look at them

Argh. Have too many, always forget to catch up on them.

[starlagurl]

Haha, funny Sianeth...

What do you mean you can co-ordinate them with Firefox?

[sianeth]

I mean they confuse me in internet explorer! I generally just find Firefox better for everything... mine's all customised and I know where to find everything so I end up checking the RSS feeds more than I do in IE.

[starlagurl]

Weird, I don't really get it... I use Firefox, but I have no idea where the RSS feeds appear...

[wakingdream]

Weird, I don't really get it... I use Firefox, but I have no idea where the RSS feeds appear...

I think you can download one of the extra Firefox tools for feeds....?

[starlagurl]

Oh I see, please tell me which one you use sianeth...

[sianeth]

Ooh, I'm not really sure. I just searched all the add-ons one day and added all the ones I liked. In the top right hand corner of my browser it flashes up all my pictures.

All my RSS feeds just run across the top below the search box.

I even have a facebook toolbar... that makes me feel sad!

[starlagurl]

Aw, why does that make you sad? It's OK...

[sianeth]

I'm trying to convince myself I'm not addicted when I evidently am!

[darrenstravels]

I have tons of RSS feeds, and they run in their own section in my bookmarks in Firefox.

Surprised more people don't use them - so easy to select what I want without wading through stuff, especially in expensive internet cafes or whatnot.

Most of my feeds though are for Formula 1, but have loads of travel websites, especially those with decent articles etc.

Well worth it.

[ScottWoz]

I use Feed Demon (by Newsgator), the main purpose for reading stuff I want to offline. Still haven't found one that works quite how I want it to yet, but it's not bad..

[starlagurl]

Yay FeedDemon...I like Feed Demon too, but it also doesn't work how I want it to work either. It always gets rid of old posts that I have read, I want to keep them in there!

[ericlussier]

I can highly recommend Google Reader now that you're on the google bandwagon, Scott.

It also keeps all the old posts handy but hidden once they've been read.

[starlagurl]

Is that a separate download? Where do I get it? Do I have to import all my old feeds manually?

[ericlussier]

Google Reader is a web based feed reader. All you need is a Google Account which you can get here: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

If you have a Gmail account, you already have a google account.

Google Reader has an import feature that takes in a standard OPML file which FeedDemon should be able to export.

You can organize all your feeds, easily mark posts as favourites and best of all, quickly share posts with your friends.

[starlagurl]

Hahaha, OK, I figured it out, nevermind.

Eric is the greatest, thank you for your detailed instructions. I will try this newfangled Google Reader for myself. I am still skeptical however.

[ScottWoz]

I can highly recommend Google Reader now that you're on the google bandwagon, Scott.

It also keeps all the old posts handy but hidden once they've been read.

For a minute there I thought you might be getting commission from Google there Eric. Already tried it. Hmmm. Ok. It's the offline bit that I need. There never seems to be anything to cater for us long-termers on the road, much like how Facebook's getting, which is why I can see a cancellation of my account coming into play (sorely sorely sorely hoping this doesn't happen with Travelpod!)

Don't suppose you can you help put my mind at rest with this?