Feeds Explained

The short version: Feeds are a way to monitor a web site automatically for new material. Unit 9 News has a feed you can subscribe to.

Common Questions

What's a site feed?
A site feed (sometimes called an RSS feed or news feed) is a way to automatically monitor a web site for updates, so that you don't have to keep visiting the site to check. You "subscribe" to a feed, then your feed reader automatically checks the site and downloads updates for you to read at your convenience.
Do I need special software?
No. Most web browsers, including Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer 7 (IE7), know how to handle feeds. You can also use a web-based feed reader service such as Google Reader or Yahoo; these allow you to set up your feeds once and read them from anywhere.
What does it look like in my browser?
Here's an example of how the Unit 9 News feed looks in Firefox. We used Firefox's "Live Bookmarks" and saved it in the Bookmarks Toolbar. That way you get a pull-down menu at the top of your browser window, with a list of Unit 9 News headlines. You can pick and choose which stories to read, without having to wade through stuff you don't care about.
How do I subscribe to Unit 9 News?
Use this link to subscribe to Unit 9 News. Your browser will walk you through setting up the feed.
Can I get Unit 9 News in my email instead?
Sure! Just put your into this form (a popup window will open):

You'll get one email message per day, with the previous day's Unit 9 News articles.
Ack. Brain full. Do I have to understand this to use it?
Nah. After all, how much do you know about the http protocol the web runs on, or the guts of a mail server? Probably not much, and you use them all the time. This is the same way. Follow the link to subscribe to Unit 9 News, and see what happens.
Do I have to use this feed thingy to read Unit 9 News?
Nope. You can always read Unit 9 News in the usual way. You'll get the same articles.

Additional Information

If you'd like to learn more, either Feed 101 from FeedBurner or the NewsGator RSS Learning Center should help.

Need help with IE7?


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Updated 27 March 2009