What are News Aggregators?

On the left side of my blog are links to news aggregators. I would like to explain what news aggregators are.

To make it simple, I have condensed from Wikipedia information about aggregators:

1. Aggregators reduce the time and effort needed to regularly check websites for updates, creating a unique information space or "personal newspaper."
2. 
   
3. The software applications used for aggregators are RSS readers, feed readers, feed aggregators, news readers or search aggregators
4. 
   
5. RSS is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, and podcasts in a standardized format
   
6. A feed is frequently updated content published by a website

Malaysia News Aggregator in my blog is just a name I put to describe Virtual Malaysia Content Syndication's website. In there are links that allow you to read feeds using RSS.

At the bottom of my blog too is a link that allows you to subscribe to my blog so that when I update my blog, you will be notified. The link looks like this:

Subscribe to: POSTS (ATOM).

When you click on POSTS (ATOM) you will then be taken to a page where you click Subscribe to this feed (please refer to picture at top). After that it will open a new window and then you click Subscribe again. The feed is then automatically added to your browser's Favourites / Bookmarks and your computer will check online for updates even when your browser is not open.

Also in Virtual Malaysia Content Syndication's website are instructions on how you can get and use an RSS reader. I have extracted the instructions from them for your easy reading:

RSS Feeds
RSS feeds bring automatically updated information straight to your desktop. You can monitor Virtual Malaysia news, destination, event and latest travel packages.
More and more sites offer feeds, which you can identify by a small button that says either RSS or XML. However, if you click one of these links, you will most likely get a page full of code in your browser.

To properly read the feed, you need an RSS reader.

Here's how to get and use one;

1. Websites summarize content in RSS feed.
2. Visitors download RSS readers (aka news aggregator). There are generally two different types of RSS readers. The first kind of feed reader is a self-contained programme, the second kind of feed reader use a web browser. Many of the programmes are free, but generally those that have a small fee are more
   robust.
3. Visitors select the content and summaries they wish to view in a news aggregator or RSS reader. (News aggregator and RSS reader are essentially interchangeable).
4. Content is added to the newsreader by entering the URL or web address. Sites that have an RSS feed available typically have an orange RSS or XML graphic. Clicking on the graphic will provide the URL of the feed. Some RSS readers will auto-detect an XML file on a site indicating that a feed is available. (Assistance for those wanting to subscribe to RSS feeds)
5. Each time the feed is updated the content being viewed in the RSS reader indicates that there is new content. This insures that the customer has current information related to the topics they choose.
6. Professionals estimate that RSS will soon rival e-mail’s popularity as a content delivery method

I hope that this blog is helpful. If you need further help, please post a comment and I will help in whatever way I can.