The Good Life... a weblog about life, technology, and the Opera Web browser

Just today, I installed a new version of Gallery that includes an RSS newsfeed. For those unfamiliar with it, RSS is a way of getting syndicated content or updates from web sites. So, now any time there's an update to my gallery, a new item is generated in the newsfeed. If you're subscribed to the newsfeed, you'll get notification of the changes.

I have a similar newsfeed set up for this web site, actually. There's a Syndicate link that points to this site's newsfeed. You'll often see links to newsfeeds as orange XML or RSS buttons. Now, the newsfeed is in XML, so you can't read it (easily) just by clicking on it. You need a feed reader. Fortunately for me, the mail program I use (Opera) also comes with a feed reader (or aggregator) built-in. I get a variety of stuff, from headlines at Wired.com, to comics (found at Feed of the Day), to blog updates. Instead of checking web sites for updates, I get them with my mail.

If you don't feel up to using Opera, you should be able to find a decent feed reader through Google. I've never used anything other than Opera, so I can't recommend one. In any case, I hope you've enjoyed this little lesson on one of the emerging technologies on the Web. Class dismissed.

PS: RSS actually has a very complicated history, best summarized by Mark Pilgrim:

There are 9 versions of RSS, all of which are incompatible with various other versions. RSS 0.90 is incompatible with Netscape’s RSS 0.91, Netscape’s RSS 0.91 is incompatible with Userland’s RSS 0.91, Netscape’s RSS 0.91 is incompatible with RSS 1.0, Userland’s RSS 0.91 is incompatible with RSS 0.92, RSS 0.92 is incompatible with RSS 0.93, RSS 0.93 is incompatible with RSS 0.94, RSS 0.94 is incompatible with RSS 2.0, and RSS 2.0 is incompatible with itself.

PPS: Sorry, I just really enjoy that quote.