If you are someone who has several websites or blogs that you frequent or if you would love to keep up with any new information or updates from any of these sites, you may be the perfect candidate for an aggregator. You are most likely someone who would benefit from having all of the newest blog headlines or news headlines in one place.
That may very well be the best feature of any aggregator service. They will bring your headlines to you in one place on your computer. You can choose to read them daily or wait and read them all weekly, without having to touch the site. You wont have to search your list of favorites or have to dig in your computer's history to find the latest from your favorite blog site.
The aggregator is actually creating your own "personal newspaper"[1]. It is the customization of your chosen reader, that makes it an must have tool. You can read the news feeds from your favorite online news website or even several sites, all within your aggregator's website. You would only need to log in and begin reading from whatever site you choose. You can begin to read or download the latest of several other types of media, like podcasts.
These computer software programs or web applications can be subscribed to anytime you visit your site of choice and see the Atom symbol. The RSS or "really simple syndication" symbol will bring you the published content from your favorite news site. They will subscribe you as a reader for the content coming from that site.
This symbol is known by most as a quick way to become a fan of the site you have choosen. Your type of reader can vary from: Bloglines, SharpReader, Google Reader, FeedReader, Web Reader, NewsFire, Flock, Drupal, Cheetah News, NewsBreak(PDA), NewsFox, RSS Bandit, and more.
There are various Media aggregators that are good for podcasts or vlogs, such as; Adobe Media Player, Canola, iTunes, Songbird, Winamp, Zune or Juice.
The top five Windows news aggregators are those that are used most often and are recommended in comparsion of the others in popularity. [2]
- Bloglines - is web based RSS reader that will allow you to read updates on the web.
- FeedReader - known for its awesome interface that will make you aware of the newest in updates.
- Google Reader - a web application that you can sign in an begin reading your headlines.
- FeedDemon - well known for its various features which gives them a reputation for their usability.
- NewsGator - will easily integrate with your Outlook, bringing your headlines and email all at once.
This article is not an all inclusive list of all the RSS aggregators available. There are lists of some that are available for different types of operating systems and browsers. There are several aggregators that are available for free and some that actually charge you to use. This article is great as a starting point for those who are ready to start having their hot topics, delivered with fresh content to their websites or email applications, daily.
Cites Sources:
[1] "Aggregator". Wikipedia. June 16, 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregator>.
[2] Swartz, Aaron. "RSS Info". An Aaron Swartz Project. June 16, 2009 <http://blogspace.com/rss/readers>.