How to add a live RSS feed to Firefox

RSS Feed

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RSS Feed button

If you are a dedicated Firefox user, you will have noticed the built-in "Latest Headlines". My wife thought that it was interesting that I was looking at the BBC live feed instead of CNN or the such. So I figured I would change it over to a CNN feed instead. While doing so, I figured I would let everyone know how to add a new feed so they can get live, up-to-date content in their browser, without having to check their favorite site everyday to see if something is new.

First you need to know what an RSS feed is. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication (or Rich Site Summary or RDF Site Summary, depending on whom you ask). This is an easy way to know when new content is published to a website. It gathers together all of the new content, gives you headings, a short summary, and enough interest to hopefully get you to read the article. I've run across many sites that use RSS feeds to keep users up-to-date on all the newest buzz without even having to send out an email or newletter on the update.

It is rather simple. Here is the process:

  1. Click on Bookmarks, Manage Bookmarks
  2. Click on File, New Live Bookmark
  3. Name the feed (for example AHFX Weblog)
  4. Enter the url of the RSS feed (for example http://www.ahfx.net/rss.php )
  5. Click OK (See that wasn't painfully hard)
  6. Now make sure that your folder is in the Bookmarks Toolbar Folder, this makes it so it shows up on the top in your toolbar.

Now that you have added your feed, test it out. You can click on the new folder (AHFX Weblog) on your toolbar to open it. If you see an article you want to read, just click on it. Otherwise, you can click "Open in Tabs", which will open all of those articles for your reading enjoyment.

Now you don't just have to use my rss feed (although it will be the best one you find). You can use any rss feed out there on the web. One RSS Feed you might check out is Reuters. Now if you are a die-hard, you will probably get hooked and need an official RSS reader. Luckily, there is an extension for Firefox called sage that will meet this desperate desire for news.






RSS Feed

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