Hi, SMS, An RSS feed is basically a list of "headlines" that you make available to anyone who wants them - along with a link to the underlying content. So we could for example, make the names of the most recently created threads on MN (or threads in particular topics) available as a "news feed".
Different software packages use these feeds in various ways. For example Firefox has a nice feature called "Live bookmarks" that lets you click a menu and see all the headlines, then click on one to see the whole item. I use the RSS feed on BBC news in that way, so I can scan down the list of headlines in one go and click any that interest me witout going to a page.
MegB's husband: we are about to start looking at a list of talk enhancements (once we iron out the wrinkles in the new reviews section) and RSS is on the list of stuff we are discussing.
Cheers,
Tech
For them as is interested in what an RSS feed looks like "under the hood" I've pasted the header and the first few items of the current bbc news headlines below. The header describes the feed itself, and then each section is a single headline. Your browser will normally display it prettified, and tell you what it can do with it. The full version of this document is at newsrss.bbc.co.uk/rss/newsonline_world_edition/front_page/rss.xml
BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition
news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/default.stm
Visit BBC News for up-to-the-minute news, breaking news, video, audio and feature stories. BBC News provides trusted World and UK news as well as local and regional perspectives. Also entertainment, business, science, technology and health news.
en-gb
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:33:35 GMT
Copyright: (C) British Broadcasting Corporation, see news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/help/rss/4498287.stm for terms and conditions of reuse
www.bbc.co.uk/syndication/
15
BBC News
news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/bbc_news_120x60.gif
news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/default.stm
Crisis warning on Iraq refugees
The flood of refugees from Iraq to neighbouring countries is causing a humanitarian crisis, a summit hears.
news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/middle_east/6916791.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6916791.stm
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:22:30 GMT
Middle East
Fidel absent as Cuba celebrates
Cuba's acting president Raul Castro leads revolution day celebrations, a year after his brother's last public event.
news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/americas/6916923.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6916923.stm
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:52:16 GMT
Americas
Huge Chinese piracy ring tackled
Pirated software worth $500m has been seized in raids against a world-spanning Chinese software gang.
news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/technology/6917127.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6917127.stm
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:45:15 GMT
Technology