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Technology Information:

Reading RSS Feeds With An RSS Aggregator

More Information About RSS Feeds

An aggregator works by scanning the worldwide web with latest postings based on the RSS code (containing the website's URL) provided or added by the user. When it finds a new posting, news, or update, it will publish the RSS feed on your home page containing the title of the posting, which also serves as a clickable link to the website source. This RSS feed may or may not contain the whole article, a summary, and photos, depending on what RSS aggregator you are using.

Aggregators come in two types: the downloadable program or desktop-type and the online or web-based type. The desktop aggregator usually charges a certain amount for its services; this would include regular updating in the form of upgrades or patches to the original version. This type of RSS reader allows more customization of RSS feeds as well as page format or design over its on-line counterparts. But of course, price can be a drawback.

On-line or web-based aggregators are free of charge. All you need to do is register an account with them then you can start enjoying their services. Depending on the "brand" of the aggregator, customization is more limited. Some even do not allow you to customize at all.

Product and service advertisers are realizing the potential of RSS aggregators in internet marketing. In fact, several submit RSS codes to several popular web-based aggregators to reach the growing technophile and internet-based market. My Yahoo has been instrumental in popularizing RSS technology to both users and website owners and advertisers.

At present, there are many aggregators to choose from and newer versions of the same aggregator are constantly developed by its programmers.

Below are some of these desktop and online aggregators:
  1. Desktop Aggregators:

    1. AmphetaDesk
      1. Advantages:
        1. free
        2. supports Linux, Mac, and Windows
        3. easy addition of RSS feeds
      2. Disadvantages:
        1. not maximized use of screen display
        2. few options for customizing
    2. FeedDemon
      1. Advantages:
        1. user friendly
        2. free trial version
        3. contains prepared popular feeds
        4. allows filtering of RSS feeds
        5. configurable "watch list" to manage junk RSS feeds
        6. search channel feature that incorporates other RSS services e.g. Feedster
        7. allows feed storage for future use
        8. tabbed browsers for channel navigation
        9. built-in podcast receiver
      2. Disadvantages:
        1. supports only Internet Explorer (embedded)
        2. paid software ($29.95)

  2. Online Aggregators:

    1. Bloglines
      1. Advantages:
        1. all major browsers supported (e.g. Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, Firefox)
        2. user-friendly especially for beginners
        3. free, web-based aggregator
        4. easy registration
        5. no advertisements
        6. contains its own directory of RSS feeds of thousands of websites
        7. personal email account for subscribing to newsletter emails (optional)
        8. allows privacy adjustments for personal blogs
        9. allows saved searches
        10. mobile version available
        11. 10 languages supported
        12. Additional add-on tools for automated blogrolls and subscription buttons
    2. NewsGator
      1. Advantages:
        1. free (consumer-standard version)
        2. provides personalized news channel
        3. allows translation of RSS articles into email format
        4. synchronization of feeds in several devices possible
        5. browse and search feed capabilities save time on surfing
        6. allows keyword filtering
        7. blog headlines
        8. button-click automatic subscription to news feeds
      2. Disadvantages:
        1. Outlook-based thus limited to Windows
    3. MyYahoo
      1. Advantages:
        1. Free web-based aggregator
        2. user-friendly
        3. customizable home page design
        4. button-click subscription to RSS feeds
        5. built-in directory and search tool for feeds
        6. wide variety of feeds e.g. news (science, technology, local), weather
        7. connects to all Yahoo features and services
      2. Disadvantages:
        1. banner advertisements

  3. Browser-Based Aggregators:

    4. (There are also lightweight RSS aggregator extensions which are plug-ins for existing internet browsers.)
    1. Sage Aggregator
      1. Advantages:
        1. free of charge
        2. beginner-friendly
        3. reeds both RSS and Atom feeds
        4. allows feed discovery
        5. can be assimilated to Firefox bookmark (storage and live)
        6. allows OPML feed lists imports and exports
        7. customizable style sheets
        8. supports a wide range of locales e.g. Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Slovenian, etc.
        9. easy installation
      2. Disadvantages:
        1. good for about 12 RSS feeds
        2. limited use to Mozilla-Firefox and Mozilla-Firefox supported browsers
RSS developers promise better features in future versions of their aggregators. Microsoft is planning to include a built-in aggregator in their next Windows version. These developments are definitely something to look forward to by all internet aficionados.

Jeremiah Patton



Suggested Reading:
The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists +DVD [AUDIOBOOK]
by Christian Bloch
The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists +DVD [AUDIOBOOK]HDRI emerged from the movie industry, and was once Hollywood's best kept secret. It is now a mature technology available to everyone. The only problem was that it was poorly documented until now. The HDRI Handbook is the manual that was missing.

Rocky Nook (November 2, 2007)
Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher's Review:

The HDRI Handbook reveals the secrets behind High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI). This cutting-edge imaging technology is a method to digitally capture and edit all light in a scene. It represents a quantum leap in imaging technology, as revolutionary as the leap from Black & White to Color imaging. If you are serious about photography, you will find that HDRI is the final step that places digital ahead of analog. The old problem of over- and underexposure in analog photography, which was never fully solved, is elegantly bypassed here. A huge variety of subjects can now be photographed for the first time ever.

Many questions remain open even for the computer graphics gurus that have been using HDRI for years. This is where The HDRI Handbook comes in. Included here is everything you need to build a comprehensive knowledge base that will enable you to become really creative with HDRI. This book is packed with practical hints and tips, software evaluations, workshops, and hands-on tutorials. Whether you are a photographer, 3D artist, compositor, or cinematographer, this book is sure to enlighten you.

Topics include:
  • Understanding the foundation of HDRI
  • Tools for a High Dynamic Range Workflow
  • How to capture HDR images: now and tomorrow
  • Tone mapping for creating superior prints
  • Image processing and compositing
  • All 4 ways to shoot panoramic HDRIs
  • Image based lighting and CG rendering
  • World premiere of the Smart Dynamic Range toolkit
  • Creative uses and unconventional applications
About the Author:

Christian Bloch is a highly acclaimed Visual Effects Artists who has been working professionally in the field for years. He speaks the language of an artist, and he understands that a hands-on tutorial is a thousand times more valuable to the learning of HDRI than scientific formulas.

A native of Germany, he works and lives in Hollywood, California. His work can be seen in StarTrek:Enterprise, Smallville, Invasion, and a growing number of movies. He has been a pioneer in the practical application of HDRI in post-production, especially on a TV budget. Years of research and development went into his diploma thesis about HDRI, which was honored with an achievement award. Since that thesis was put online in July 2004, it has been downloaded more than 10,000 times, and has been established as the primary German source of information on HDRI. The HDRI Handbook is the successor of Bloch's diploma thesis, rewritten completely from the ground up in English, and heavily expanded and updated.

©2004 - 2010




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