What is an RSS feed?

RSS is short for "Real Simple Syndication." It uses a technology called XML to deliver news headlines to a desktop RSS reader or directly to certain Web browsers.

When you have an RSS reader or a Web browser that is RSS-equipped, you can have headlines from all your favorite Web sites — including BusinessInsurance.com — automatically fed into a common online news feed. You can also use RSS feeds on your My Yahoo page.

What do I need to start?

You will likely need to download an RSS reader. Many are free of charge; some charge a small fee. We've included a list of popular RSS readers on this page.

Certain Web browsers — including Firefox and the Mac-based Safari — are RSS enabled. Also, new versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer scheduled for release in 2006 are likely to have an RSS reader built in.

How do I read RSS feeds?

If you want to collect and browse RSS feeds, you have many choices, but there are two primary categories of feed-reading applications: installable desktop programs and online services.

There are many desktop applications for Windows and Mac OS system users, but two favorites are Windows-based FeedDemon and NetNewsWire for Macs. Both entail a small purchase price, but they're easy to use and ship with dozens of feeds pre-loaded so you can immediately begin exploring the syndication "universe."

Free readers are available as well. One popular product is FeedReader. For a list of several other RSS readers — both free and paid — take a look at this directory from Google.

RSS Applications

FeedDemon 1.5

FeedBurner edition for Windows

NewsGator Outlook Edition

Windows

NetNewsWire

OS X

Pluck

IE or Firefox, PC

Pulp Fiction

OS X

Firefox

via "Live Bookmarks" feature

Safari

RSS support in Apple OS X "Tiger"