About the Robertdot News Feed

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Where can I get your news feed?

If you have a browser that understands RSS news feeds, click the RSS feed button to get the complete Robertdot blog feed (varies by browser). If not, here are your options (right-click the link and copy the address):

• The complete Robertdot news feed is currently available.
• The podcast news feed is currently available (or iTunes podcast feed).
• The personal news feed for the non-geek readers is currently available.
• The geek-only news feed for readers who want just the facts is currently available.

Also, if you tend to like reading stuff that is tagged a particular way, you can go to the tag's page to find the RSS feed for any post with that tag (either through your browser's RSS button or by going to http://robertdot.org/feeds/tagname.rss).

What the hell is RSS?

This is a common question, according to usability guru Jakob Nielsen:

People who are in the field often use the term RSS to refer to news feeds because that's the name of the technology. But in one of our studies, 82% of those we surveyed did not know what RSS meant. It's not something that the general public knows about. So if you are targeting business executives, or even if you are doing something for the general public, they are not likely to understand that particular term. Even if they are actually using the technology. So one of the real strong recommendations is to stop calling it RSS and start calling it news feeds, because that explains what it does.

RSS, also generically referred to as web feeds or news feeds by some, is a standardized XML format for delivery of site content without the heft of images and design.

Why should I care about RSS / news feeds?

Frankly, because it's a lot easier to have an RSS reading program check my feed for updates than it is for you to open your browser and go to my site every half hour to see if I've updated. I'd really rather you came to my site, since I spent so much time creating it, but I wouldn't do it if I were you.

How do I use it?

You have a few options. The first is to download a web browser that supports it. Currently, I am aware that Safari, Firefox, Opera, and beta versions of Internet Explorer 7 support RSS. So, upgrade one of these browsers to the newest version and it should be built in (via either a blue RSS icon or an orange icon that looks like it has some transmission waves).

The second option is to find some other existing product that has integrated RSS, such as the e-mail client Thunderbird. You can do your own research for these.

Your third option is to download a dedicated RSS reader. According to the interviews I've read, dedicated readers are supposed to be much more useful and have advanced features that the previous options lack. I don't know what these features are. Safari does well enough that I haven't bothered looking for different solutions. If you can attest to the greatness of dedicated RSS readers, feel free to hit me up and I'll relay the info.

Your final option is to simply stick your head in the sand and forget you heard about RSS.

But I love Atom!

You are polishing brass on the Titanic, man. Even Google couldn't save Atom. Well, maybe not the Titanic, but you get my point. I don't have an Atom feed because I've never really used Atom. RSS was easy where Atom was confusing. I also heard of RSS before I'd heard of Atom. If enough people want it, I'll make an Atom feed. But I really don't want to.

I can't get to your news feed!

My access scripts probably don't know your feed reader exists. But, don't worry. An e-mail has already been sent to me asking me to update my logs so that you can get to my feed. If it's been a few days and you still can't get to it, e-mail me. Sometimes I need a little coaxing...