What is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS files provide news updates from a website in a simple form for your computer.Web publishers use RSS to easily create and distribute news feeds that include links, headlines, and summaries. NPR, CNN, and CNET News are among the many sites that now deliver updated online content via RSS.

RSS files are read in a program called an aggregator. The aggregator collects news from various sources and provides it to you in a simple form. Thunderbird, your desktop e-mail application, can be used to access websites that make content available through RSS feeds. With Thunderbird you can view RSS content in a way that is very similar to reading email: the RSS feeds that you subscribe to will be listed in the folders pane, the individual article titles or "headlines" will be displayed in the message-list pane, and when you click on a title the article content will be displayed in the message preview pane.

Occasionally, Desktop & Instructional Resources (DIR) will need to pass on to campus computer users important computer use information. This information may include details about computer viruses, computer security vulnerabilities or desktop computer updates. Previously this information was disseminated via e-mail, Bboard and/or RoyalNews. Thunderbird's RSS feed feature will allow DIR to stream this information into your e-mail application without adding additional clutter to your inbox.

Additional information about Desktop & Instructional Resources is available at the DIR website.