othing is more frustrating come in. This feature is referred
than being inundated with to as syndication, aggregation or
information from the simply subscribing. Most blog
blogging community when you are publishers use RSS format which
clueless as how to manage all stands for Really Simple
these content especially the ones Syndication format.
you are interested in. In this
regard, Google’s online feed The best way to subscribe to
reader application, Google feeds is to use a feed reader. A
Reader, can be of great help. feed reader is sometimes called a
Google Reader will keep track of news reader, news aggregator,
all these fresh contents (feeds) blog reader, RSS reader or RSS
making it easier to keep up with client. A feed reader is a type
your ever-increasing list of of software or program that
contents from across the retrieves syndicated content
blogosphere. supplied in the form of feed
published by blogs. A feed reader
Feeds, Feed Readers – Terms You maintains a list of blogs you are
Should Know subscribed to, check them for
updates at your determined
One way to manage blog updates is intervals and displays these
through the use of feeds. Feeds contents in a readable format.
are small files just like web There are basically two types of
pages. Blogs have links or these feed readers – application-based
orange buttons labeled XML, RSS and web-based.
or Atom. All these are feed
formats. They let you gather Application-based feed readers or
updates from a wide variety of installable desktop programs are
blogs and display these fresh simple software applications that
updates all in one place as they are installed on the computer.
Whenever you go online, they launched its online feed reader
check the RSS feeds for blogs you application, Google Reader Beta.
are subscribed to and display the This brings Google closer to
new posts into the reader on your becoming a one-stop portal for
computer. Feed Demon (Windows) your e-mail, hand-picked news and
and NetNewsWire (Mac OS X) are other information.
popular application-based feed
readers. Google Reader is a web-based feed
reader which aggregates feeds
If you prefer to use an online from blogs. It is capable of
service to track and manage your reading RSS and Atom feeds. It
feeds, then a web-based feed has a clean and easy interface
reader is the one for you. It that allows you to manage which
works in a web browser to collect content you have read, save them,
all the blogs to which you are organize them and categorize them
subscribed to in one place for future reference.
online. Any upgrade or new
features are added automatically. Instead of regularly visiting
What is more, you can check feeds individual blogs for updates,
from any computer. Google Reader Google Reader will do the job for
is one fine example of a you. Google Reader will keep you
web-based feed reader. updated about all the online
information you are interested
Google Reader – Fresh Content at in. They can be news blogs or
your Doorstep even your friends’ blogs.
As part of Google’s grand vision To avail of this service, you
to bring together personalized must have a Google account. If
web content to make information you have a registered account
more relevant to users, it has with Gmail, you can use your
username and password to sign in Read Items and Starred.
to Google Reader. If you don’t
have a Google Account, you can To search for feeds, you can use
access the reader by logging on the search box at the upper left
to href="http://www.google.com/reade content is easy, just type a
r." specific publication, name,
title="http://www.google.com/read author, or topic and click
er." target="_blank">color="#001000" Google Reader will retrieve up to
size="-2">http://www.google.com/r ten results. You can then
eader. To enjoy Google subscribe by clicking the
Reader’s amazing features, make subscribe button adjacent to each
sure you are using either one of search result. Google Reader will
these browsers – IE 6. Firefox monitor the blog for updates and
1.0+, Safari 1.3+, Netscape 7.2+ add them to your reading list.
and 1.7+. Google Reader has two panes, the
left displays the reading list
Google Reader Cool Features – A and the feeds you subscribe to
Quick Run Down and a preview pane on the right
that allows you to read the full
Google Reader is a complete feed feed content.
reader. It also adheres to
Google’s trademark simple, Content can be displayed by date
easy-to-use design principle. The or automatic sorting which
neat layout of Google Reader prioritizes content based on
makes it easy to search for and relevance to you. You can choose
scroll through feeds. Content is whether or not you like content
organized into four sections- you’ve already read to remain in
Home Page, Your Subscriptions, your reading list. However, you
can still view read items not in computers may be tagged
your reading list by clicking on “computers”, “electronics”,
the “Read Items” button at the “information technology”.
top of the Home Page. Google Similarly, you can also label an
Reader allows you to retrieve a item with a star. These starred
listing of read items. You might items are presented as a list of
want to look through the last 50 entries with feed URL, tags,
items to come up with trends or published and updated periods
enable you to complete a search. included. Google Reader treats
starred items as a special type
As mentioned earlier, when you of tag. Moreover, if you use the
find content you want to read on tagging/labeling feature of
a regular basis, you can Google Reader, you can share
subscribe to it and Google Reader them.
will monitor that blog for
updates and add them to your Google Reader allows you to share
reading list. You can also use what you read with friends. You
the “Edit Subscriptions” link to can send a list to your starred
edit or add to your subscription items in Google Reader. Anyone
list. The subscription link who clicks on this link is taken
displays a user’s current, past to a public version of Google
and deleted subscriptions. It Reader (no log-in required) that
allows you to view details such displays the content with your
as dates and specific tags used. shared label. If you have a Gmail
Current subscriptions can be account, you can click the “Send
found in the reading list. Email” button to automatically
compose an e-mail to go with the
You may also add tags or labels link. Another way you can share
to feeds you’ve read that are is to put a clip on your blog
somewhat connected. Feeds about with fresh content from your
reading list. A clip is a scan your reading list without
condensed list of current the hassle of moving your hand
headlines from contents with a back and forth between the
specific label that can be posted keyboard and the mouse.
on a blog. Any visitor can then Navigation becomes much easier.
view the latest headlines from a
label you are sharing. Give the Google Reader a test
drive and experience for yourself
Another cool feature of Google how easy it is to manage content
Reader is the keyboard shortcuts. overload from the blogosphere.
They save time by helping you
About the Author:
http://www.theinternetone.net
Read more articles by:
Danny Wirken
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