Updates on the Feed- Hot, Fresh, and New

Netscape's original RSS (RDF Site Summary) evolved over the last decade into the "Really Simple Syndication" that it is today. Back in March 1999, computer scientist Ramanathan V. Guha designed the first RSS on the My.Netscape.com portal. This RSS feed could read and write simple RDF files, facilitating updates. While this portal soon lost RSS support because of lack of use, Guha collaborated with other computer scientists from O'Reilly Media and Moreover to form the RSS-DEV Working Group. This group worked with Dave Winer to produce a new and improved RSS with backwards compatibility. Because the original RSS was designed for Netscape, neither the RSS-DEV Working Group nor Winer legally owned the name and format. The team fought for the right to the program, yet to no avail. Determined to continue their programming, the experts produced RSS 2.0, changing the name to "Really Simple Syndication." This version of RSS quickly rose in popularity, and is the core version for most RSS feeds today. Nowadays, RSS feeds are used to update oneself with new information that comes up on sites that are being followed. Users create an RSS reading page, then subscribe to multiple news sources. These sources send news to you, rather than needing you to visit the sources. Simon Zafrany, 17, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., says, "RSS feeds are a convenient way to get vital information on a mobile device... they're a perfect way to read headlines."Zafrany, an experienced RSS user, primarily used his mobile device to read RSS feeds. USA.gov says that you may use their RSS feed to, "stay on top of important government news and information."