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RSS feeding frenzy - Time for a feed

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RSS feeding frenzy - Time for a feed

At the 49th we are naturally curious people who get genuine enjoyment from learning new techniques, software solutions and by striving to stay in touch with modern trends and standards. We pride ourselves on being a very adaptable design service provider and this philosophy has enabled us to benefit from working on richly varied set of projects in numerous fields, for which I am very grateful.

We were recently contacted by illustrator and designer extraordinaire @TrulyAceDesign from www.trulyace.com who I respect a massive amount to helpfully point out that when she tried to subscribe to our RSS feed, Google reader didn't like it at all. I must admit that I had totally forgotten there even was an RSS feed, let alone that someone might want to bother subscribing to it and it swiftly became apparent that despite always trying to be ahead of the game, I have to hold my hands up to the fact that my enthusiasm toward understanding and implementing RSS had left our own site a little behind the pack. For one reason or another (K2 I'm looking at you and your wonderful ability to be fantastically irritating on Mondays) it took me ages to get the feed working properly. Now that it is working I'd really appreciate it if as many of you reading this as possible would click the orange Lego brick on the right of the page and subscribe to make my endeavours worth the angst.

The thing is, I just have this little nagging feeling that there will be a lot of people (like me until recently) to whom at best RSS holds little appeal and at worst have no idea what it is or how to use it. I thought it might be useful to construct an easily palatable guide to RSS and why it's in actual fact really useful and not just a pretty little glassy button that started appearing a few years ago that potentially you have never clicked on due to technophobia.

What does RSS stand for?
RSS stands for 'Really Shiny Something' and this is why 98% of the RSS logos you see around are web 2.0 style shiny buttons

What is RSS?
It's the same magical stuff you see on a website, but simplified and frankly, a lot more ugly

Erm?
Yeah, well - they're designed for computers to read rather than people

But I'm not a computer - I'm a human being?
I know, funny old world isn't it, tut.

So, what do I need to use an RSS feed?
You just need a bowser like Internet explorer, Safari, Firefox or one of the other ones people just use to look tech-savvy.

If I'm using my web browser anyway, couldn't I just point it to the website?
Yes

You are rubbish at this
Look if it bothers you then use one of the web based news-readers. You could also use a desktop reader or mail software like Mac Mail. Just Google it, jeez it's not hard - man has flown to the Moon for God's sake.

I have decided to use Google Reader
Congratulations

Now what?
Subscribe to a feed

Which one?
My favourite is the 49th Floor blog feed: http://www.49thfloor.co.uk/component/obrss/2-graphic-design-blog-and-banter-from-49th-floor.html

It's the same stuff as what's on the site..
I know

But, you know - a bit uglier n that
Yes

So, what's the point then?
Once you have subscribed, you will be informed of the latest content automatically

But I don't really care what 49th Floor have to say
Don't be silly, it's an informative and amusing collection of opinions, facts and eye opening, design related bits and bobs

I have my own site though
Well, If you run your own website, you can display the latest headlines from other websites on your own site using RSS

Actually that's pretty clever
Yes, yes it is

And even though it's a bit ugly - because it's so simple I can read it the feed virtually anywhere even from my old Amstrad CPC464
Yes, it's a really simple syndication

You could have explained this a lot better you know
Visit the BBC if you want practical and technologically sound articles http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628494 I am the Live TV of RSS advice - now jog along.

Last modified on Tuesday, 06 December 2011 12:32
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Published in General Blog Posts
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David Smith

David Smith

Andy and I make up 49th Floor Design and Artworking. yeah, yeah this is great, but more importantly; I own the Mysterious Cities of Gold and Quincy DVD box sets.

Website: www.facebook.com/49thfloor

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