The answer is a resounding “Yes”.

If you are familiar with this service, you will know that Aweber is the industry leader for building a mailing list. They recently launched a web form generator which is a really easy to use tool for creating opt-in forms for your blog or website.

Now they have launched a “Smart Video” that you can use as a “Thank You” page. They have had the generic text and audio thank you pages in the arsenal for some time, but have Now added the smart video version to the toolkit.

This video will show your email subscribers what to look for in their inboxes base on their type of email service.

Pretty cool huh?

I use Gmail, so Aweber would show me a screen like the image below.

It also recognizes all of the other popular email services like Yahoo, Hotmail and many others.

Of course if you prefer using your own customized thank you pages, you can continue to do so, but this smart video is really a nice touch.

As a website or blog operator there are few things more important than building your mailing list and Aweber has met this need beyond all others in my opinion.

The entire system is so easy to use, and if you need assistance you may need to look no further than these free video tutorials.

The bottom line is this, if you need a dependable auto responder service that delivers exactly when you want it to, provides a host of tools to accomplish the task and unbelievable support, you should check out Aweber.

Take the video tutorials for a test drive to see how easy this system is to use or go to Aweber where they are offering a $1.00 sign-up. It really does not get any easier.

Note: Aweber links above are my affiliate links. You may purchase direct by clicking here.

At some point, when it comes to backing up your system it will become an issue of where to store these massive backup files. You could continue to purchase larger and larger external hard drives, like I once did, only to eventually outgrow them, or you can seek out an alternative that will make this critical function worry free and automatic.

Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links, if you chose to buy direct you can click here –> Mozy.com

This is where a service like Mozy Online Backups comes in handy. I’ve been using it for many months now and find the results to be fantastic.

What is Mozy and how does it work?

Mozy is a subscription internet backup service that allows you to backup your entire system via an internet connection. It is available for personal and business usage and provides a great deal of flexibility and peace of mind. They have more than 1 million users of their service at the time of this writing.

You simply sign up and establish an account, download the software, select the files to backup, set up your schedule and return to doing what you do best. Yes, it really is that simple. You even get access to a 48 page PDF guide (download).

Levels of service offered

As you can see below, Mozy offers a free service with up to 2 GBs of storage, an unlimited storage version and a Pro version.

Although not listed on the chart, their support assures me that Windows 7 users will have no issues.

This system is really easy to use. Once you configure it, you’re all set. It is pretty much set-it and forget-it.

I must mention that the initial backup can be quite lengthy, depending on the size of that particular backup. Every backup subsequent to the initial one will be over in a matter of minutes.

Here is a shot of the configuration window.

Concerns about internet connection speeds

One of the main concerns for computer users with over the internet backups is the connection speed. Most service providers like cable companies and the like, highlight the download speed which makes people tend to focus on that too much. Using a service like Mozy Online Backups you need to be aware of the upload speed so that your system’s performance is not badly eroded or slowed by the process. This is very important. If you are using a high speed connection from any service provider you will likely be trouble free.

Don’t know what your system speeds are? Here are a couple of cool tools to find out. Go to PC 911 where you can test your speeds online or download the tool to your computer, or check out SpeedTest.net where you will find a really nice interface. I’ve used both but tend to like the latter best.

Additionally, Mozy will test your system during the setup process and report the results, so there is really little to worry about. There are also  “slider” controls available in the configuration panel where you can control the impact upon your computer.

Overall performance

I would recommend this product to any home or small business user. It really is a very good product that does the job and relieves you of worries. You can test drive the package by signing up for the free version which allows you to backup 2 GB of files, or for less than $5 smackers monthly you have the unlimited version.

Limitations

You should be aware that Mozy offers only a 30-day retention of your DELETED files. This should be fine in most cases but something to be aware of.

It should also be noted that Mozy will not restore your Windows operating system, as it takes snapshots of your files.

The free version does not offer a previous version of your files, only the last backup. In other words, each time you backup using the free version, you are overwriting the previous.

These limitations aside, Mozy will suit the needs of most computer users, particularly in the home and small business arena.

Not enough umph for you? There is even a  MozyEnterprise version for the big dogs.

All in all this is a fine product with reliable and secure data transfers. You may want to consider this service before kicking out for that next hard drive that you may outgrow during the next year.

Last look at the positives

• Your files are stored offsite where they are safe from fire, water or other catastrophes.
• Cost of service is inexpensive
• Software offers immense control of when, where and how the backups occur.
• Service offers multiple restore options
• Bandwidth  controls are invaluable for a service like this.
• If you crash without some means of recovery, you will wish you had done something

In all seriousness, do not run the risk of loosing your valuable data to neglect. If you have not installed some reliable system for backing up your system files, check out Mozy today.

I’ve been on Blackberry phones for years now and have established a comfort level with their usage that makes it a difficult decision to go with Apple’s 3G S, although they are no doubt, really fantastic phones.

So, having given the iPhone it’s props, I will move on to a few of my favorite apps on the Blackberry Bold 9000.

• Pandora Internet Radio

This music streaming radio resource is a fantastic addition to your Smartphone toolkit, as it allows you to create your own stations. Simply enter the name of your favorite artist and Pandora will not only start off with that selection, but will play only music that is similar in style and composition to your entry.

Create several stations and you have a treasure trove of music. I’ve created only four stations (out of the allowed 100) and seldom use more than one, as it plays music as if it were reading my mind and mood. Unreal!

This is also a great way to build a library of music, as you identify what you may not have in your collection. Just make a note of various selections and artists.

I must warn you however, this can be additive and if you don’t have an unlimited data plan, you may be in for a higher monthly bill than you had anticipated.

Create an account and enjoy this free service, which launched in 2005. There is also a paid version which provides additional features, but I would have to wonder why the free version was not enough for anyone. You will get 1 or 2 ten-second ads per hour, which only serves to remind you that your iPod is not what’s been playing.

• TwitterBerry

This is a free Twitter client for the Bold 9000 which allows you to update your feed without any text messaging charges. You’ll also have access to your public and friends timeline right from the Blackberry Bold desktop. A really great app.

• Facebook

What can I say? No Smartphone is complete without a couple of social media apps, and Facebook is a must for social hounds like me. With this baby you can post on walls, accept friends and even upload photos. Keep in touch and up to date while away from your office or home base.

• Google Maps

Yep, another freebie with a ton of features and functions. This app is specifically designed for Blackberry users. It even shows you where you are according to GPS or cell towers, depending on what’s available at your current position. See your position on a map, even if you don’t have the GPS service active. You’ll get basic map functionality, including a zoom feature. Cool stuff.

Visit the site and enter your mobile phone number, the download link will be sent to you for easy installation.

• Opera Mini

Opera Mini is a slick mobile browser that allows you to view web video and has blazing speed, loading pages really quickly. What makes this browser so fast is it’s ability to compress web pages by up to 90% of their original size.

It then renders a nice page overview and even suggests where to begin reading. Another nice feature, of the many available, is the “Power scrolling shortcuts” where you use your phone’s number keys. Pressing 2, 4, 6, and 8 to scroll up, down, left and right respectively. Pressing the 5 key toggles a zoom in / zoom out feature. This is a cool browser and makes a great alternative to the stock Blackberry model.

All of the above apps are freebies, but again I will caution you about your data plan. An unlimited one is best to avoid overages on your monthly. Pandora internet radio, while a fantastic mobile application, is an absolute data consumption hog.

These are a few of my favorite apps but there are many, many more which I will likely do another post on.

If you are a Blackberry users and do not have some of these apps, you should try them out as they will enhance your online experience, even when you’re on the go.

Now when you’re stuck in the airport you can at least have some means of temporary escape while awaiting the passage of time.

What are some of your favorite apps for the Blackberry?

I’ll include some of them in the next post on this topic and give you a shout-out for your input.

**This article was reposted due to some technical difficulty.

**Thanks to Michael Hollis for your feedback!

]]> http://blogonlinebiz.com/2009/08/05/my-top-5-blackberry-bold-apps/feed/ 7 http://blogonlinebiz.com/2009/07/27/web-syndication-technology-and-how-it%e2%80%99s-used-today/ http://blogonlinebiz.com/2009/07/27/web-syndication-technology-and-how-it%e2%80%99s-used-today/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:56:27 +0000 Jimi Jones http://blogonlinebiz.com/?p=870 Often times during the development of technologies several attempts to capture the market are made as various formats of a product are offered to the public. You may recall the Betamax vs VHS format wars of the mid 1970s that were waged to determine the best delivery system for video tape recording, or most recently the battle between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disks.

The same thing happened with web syndication as early offerings of Microsoft’s CDF (Channel Definition Format) and Netscape’s RSS (Really Simple Syndication), along with a few others, vied to become the industry standard.

RSS has become the industry standard, as seen on nearly every blog in existence today. In 2003 Atom arrived on the scene as an alternative to RSS, which has been around since 1997. Atom, while still heavily in use, will not overtake the RSS format in my opinion as RSS just seems to be what most users have become comfortable with and is now widely accepted as the industry leader.

A quick flashback – there was a time when your browser’s bookmarks were the tool used to keep track of places you wanted to return to and check out the latest updates. There was no automation involved here as you had to do all the work yourself.

I’ve always been a heavy surfer so for me, keeping track of all the websites I visited, even with the bookmark system, was a challenge and if I didn’t keep them organized things got a bit messy.

There were times when life got in the way and I hadn’t checked my bookmarks for a period of time, meaning that I missed out on some information. But along came RSS and suddenly things were much easier to manage.

Today you have the ability to subscribe to many sites and have the latest updates delivered right to your desktop without all of the tracking and organizing associated with bookmarks. Now don’t misunderstand me, bookmarks remain a handy tool, but for my most critical updates RSS is the ticket.

By the way, when you see the word “Subscribe” on this or any other blogs, it simply means that you are signing up for “free” updates and you can end the service at any time.

I realize that many have been conditioned to associate subscribe and subscriptions with a fee, but that is not what this is about in the world of blogging. What you will receive are notices about the latest content added to the site or a weekly/monthly newsletter related to the topic of the blog itself.

Some time ago I wrote an article titled “RSS and How to Use It” where I explain the basics of the service. You can access it here.

For those of you who are not using RSS, you should begin now by finding a few feeds to subscribe to. It’s a very easy process.

Go to one of your favorite sites and click the RSS symbol, which will then take you to a page where you will select a free news reader like Google, Newsgator or a host of others available today. You can also choose to have the updates deliver via email, the choice is yours.

Think of this service as a publication like a magazine or newspaper, but instead of being delivered to your physical mailbox, it is delivered to your electronic mailbox or your browser. Having the feed appear right in your browsers toolbar is really cool, convenient and easy to use.

So go ahead and subscribe to a couple of sites and get started. The feed to this blog is here.

Just remember, whenever you see this icon it represents a free news feed service that delivers content conveniently to your desktop.

If you are using more recent versions of Safari and Opera browsers, you’ll find that the RSS features have been incorporated right in the browsers themselves. Never has it been so easy to pull content from so many places into a single location for your reading pleasure.

With RSS you can gather all sorts of information from all corners of the globe and bring it to your desktop. This is really powerful when you think about it. You have the flexibility to customize the exact type of information you’d like to receive from anywhere on the internet. All of this, with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Once you realize the power of this tool, the possibilities of what you can achieve will rapidly grow, as you become an internet power user.

Enjoy the power of RSS!

While not an original idea of mine, this solution eliminates that burden and provides you with time to work on other aspects of building your business. Once you’ve implemented this technique, you will no longer feel the pressure of having to write a post “now” because your blog is out of date.

I made the commitment to post at least 6 days each week some time ago and most weeks I post daily. What I found early on was that life gets in the way. There was always some unanticipated occurrence that would delay my plan of getting to the keyboard so I could begin to write a post.

The result was that I would often find myself writing at times when I planned to be doing something else. When you get off schedule like this, it really serves as a distraction in the back of your mind.

Then it dawned on me that I needed a supply of posts ready to roll out of the pipeline at any given moment. No time to write today? Fine, grab one of those pre-written post from your stock.

So here is how you can post daily without posting daily. You may have established a different schedule, but this method works for any.

Find yourself a free day that you can concentrate on writing 4 or 5 posts. Get your coffee, go to your office or workspace and close the door. Eliminate all distractions, no CNN or Morning shows in the background, no Twitter or email, nothing.

Each article that you write represents a block of time that you will not have to find later.

Now that you have 4 or 5 articles in “stock”, you can post at least a few of them to your WordPress blog now, setting the time and date to publish.

To set the time and date of your post simply expand the Post Timestamp box on the right and select the day and time desired. I like to use the date and “00:05″, which causes my posts to publish just after Midnight.

After selecting your date and time info, click the “Publish” button and you’re all set.

These “future posts” have relieved you of the pressure associated with having to write at times that are not optimal for your schedule. Be sure to replenish your “stock” so that you always have some articles in waiting. Do not overstock these articles, as you want to keep your content fresh and there could be something time sensitive in your content.

This technique is also great for vacations and get-a-ways, providing that much needed “Downtime” required by all.

One more reason why WordPress is the best blogging platform available today.

The browser of preference for me is Firefox. I acknowledge that there are a lot of good browsers available, but I use Firefox as my main vehicle for surfing. I’m using version 3.0.11 on a Windows machine as I write this.

In terms of features and stability, this browser rates at the top. It’s largest benefit is it’s ability to be customized. There is a complete library of Firefox add-ons, covering a wide range of tools and features.

If you browse the collection you’ll be tempted to download and install quite a few, but consider what you need in terms of tools first. Look for productivity types and leave the entertainment gadgets on the shelf.

Be selective and keep the number of add-ons to a minimum. Depending on your machine, the browser may become sluggish and will take too long to load with too many add-ons stacked in the load queue.

Now everyone has a different need, so I am not making any particular recommendations here, but here is a short listing of some of the add-ons I use from time to time;

• Video Download Helper – This is a great tool for downloading and converting video. While surfing the icon will activate and let you know there is downloadable content that you can capture. It also downloads multiple pictures at once. Nice tool.

• Cooliris – For browsing a large photo collection, it may not get much better than this. A 3D wall appears that is just eye-popping. Click on any image or video. Really nice.

• Google Preview - This add-on gives you thumbnails of websites on your search results page using Google and Yahoo. Peek the site before going there. This feature brings some life to otherwise dull results pages.

• NASA Night Launch – Other than look pretty, there is no functionality here, just one really slick theme. One of several I use to keep the boredom away. Okay, I like to change themes every now and then.

• ACE Safari – Mac users will love this theme. Really clean looking.

• Gmail Manager - Monitor multiple Gmail accounts with this notifier. You can set manager preferences with ease. Cool tool.

• Speed Dial – Provides direct access to your most visited web sites. Functions like Opera, Google Chrome and Safari’s feature.

• Smarter Fox - Really nice app for browsing. An update to Smarter Wikipedia, this has many features. Text urls can be easily converted to live links. It also has an auto copy feature. Give this a try.

• NoScript – Very nice security add-on that allows you to choose which domains will be allowed to run JavaScript. Guards against clickjacking.

• ScreenGrab - Image capturing tool. It basically saves web pages as images, sort of like Snagit’s screenshot function, but not nearly as advanced.

There are many others, which you will have to determine what best provides you with features needed for your online experience.

If you go the Firefox Add-ons page you will find more than 5000 add-ons listed by category. It’s a mixed bag, as there are many that are hardly worth your time. On the other hand, there are some real gems in the bunch, depending on you’re your needs are.

All surfers are not created equal and everyone has a particular style of internet usage, so visit the site and browse through the categories. You will surely find several useful tools.

If you like Firefox and want to have a new look, check out the Appearance page. The various themes and skins will be downloaded to the browser and you can simply activate any particular one with a single mouse click. They will be stored under tools >> add-ons >> Themes.

If you are unfamiliar with firefox or you’re not currently using it (I can’t imagine why) you should definitely take it for a test drive.

You will find yourself pleasantly surprised.

Many of today’s searches (up to 66% according to a recent study) have to be refined after the initial results are returned. Microsoft thinks they have an answer for this problem.

So how does Bing work?

Unlike most search engines where you type in a word or term and have tons of results returned that you still have to sort through, Bing is designed to do some of that sorting for you. Well, we’ll see about that.

With two Firefox browsers open side by side, I did a Google search for “DVR Recorders” in one and a Bing search for the same term in the other. A look at the two browsers showed a difference in results for sure. Bing had not only gathered the data, but had also listed the top brands and provided some price range information as it’s top non-paying search result.

Using Firefox’s AutoPager feature you can continually scroll down page after page for days it seems. Looking at the results as I scroll, there are many differences in how they are sorted. I have to admit, it does produce search engine info that has been sorted, which is a step up from the traditional searches.

Of course we all know that their real goal is to cut into some of Google’s market share and producing just another search engine was not going to do the trick. You can try Bing yourself at Bing.com or have a look at this video on decisionengine.com.

Microsoft may well be onto something here.

The latest version of WordPress has been installed and your site loads immediately after typing in your url. But geez, isn’t that default WordPress theme a drag? It just as well have the word “NEWBIE” emblazoned across the header. You have just set out to establish your own brand and identity, so this theme will definitely not do. You must select something else, but where and how do you begin?

First of all, you should be aware that this can be a frustrating experience simply because of the fact that there are so many themes to choose from, you may have difficulty settling on one in particular. High quality FREE themes number in the thousands with more being created daily. Additionally there are custom and premium themes to choose from, which in most cases are reasonably priced. All of these choices are what makes this task a difficult one, if you allow it.

Your first decision is to determine the type of theme you want. A custom theme will be tailored to your specifications and will be unique as no other theme will likely be exactly like yours. This will cost you a sum of money for the custom design work.  A premium theme, which is limited in it’s design and may have some features that others may not, will also have a one-time purchase price. Free themes can be test-driven and downloaded instantly and are the most numerous. Some of these, are very nice, are really popular, which means a lot of other sites will look similar to the one you just launched if you choose one of these.

Depending on your skill level, you can make changes to a free theme and give it a more unique look, which I will address in a separate article. Keep in mind, you are just starting out and may have a limited budget so a freebie on the other hand, is not a bad thing. Besides, you keep valuable content on your site and that will gain you some advantage over many other bloggers.

At this stage, you need to make a decision and move forward. Most of us are worried and excited about how the theme will look. I remember my first WordPress theme selection, sitting at the computer clicking, testing and banging around for more than 3 hours. When I realized how much time had passed, I also realized that I wasn’t getting anywhere. I had gotten caught up with all of the wonderful themes, it was like paradise.

Don’t make this mistake, keep your selections to a limited number (5 to 10) and answer the following questions to narrow the field.

1.  Do you plan to make money with your blog?

If you plan on making money, a premium or custom theme is an advantage. This will provide a professional look,  a level of individuality and some features or tools to help make things easier. If you are blogging for the sport of it and not at all concerned about making money, a free theme will definitely serve your purpose. Free themes also make money, but will require some element to separate them from the others with the same look.

2. How many blogs are using the same theme?

Many download sites provide data telling you how many times a particular theme has been downloaded. Obviously, if a theme has been downloaded a bazillion times, you will need to pass on that selection as it makes it more difficult for you to separate from the crowd. You want one with a very good rating but not downloaded by half of the internet.

3. How about that header?

Many of the free themes have a header that contains a logo or a tagline that goes with every download. You will need to change this or at least, determine if the logo fits your niche. If the theme comes with a gear and you are blogging about cupcakes, a change is a must. For me the header area is the blog’s necktie, you will want to look sharp here. If the theme works for you but the logo doesn’t have it changed by a tech person if the task is beyond your skill level.

4. Is the theme widget- ready?

Most blogs utilize the sidebars to place a host of widgets, from calendars, email and RSS subscriptions to ads for products and services and blog rolls. To simplify this tasks a widget-ready theme is just what the doctor ordered. A widget-ready theme will solve your most challenging problem, a need to dive into the code. Widgets can be activated with a simple copy and paste routine.

5. Who supports this theme if there is a problem?

Many free themes come with limited support while others come with none. You may be techie enough to solve your own problems, or you can always hire a tech person. There are many sources for having a blog worked on. One technical support source that I would highly recommend is operated by Joel Williams, The Blog Tech Guy. Excellent and fair priced service is provided here.

6. Will this theme serve you long-term?

As you build your business, you will want to add new features and capabilities to maintain a level of efficiency. This should not get harder as your business grows, just the opposite. Select a theme that has some flexibility. This will allow you to incorporate new features later in your blog’s lifetime.

7. What if the theme doesn’t serve me long-term?

Many blogs started with themes that are different than what they have today. As they grew and became more successful they customized their themes, further giving them a unique identity and brand. This is proof that you can (and probably will) change your blog’s theme somewhere down the line. Any change you undertake will only be for the better.

Selection of your initial theme is a very important decision. It’s your coming-out party. By the same token, it is also important that you get started with your project while the fire is still hot. Don’t spend enormous amounts of time trying to get that perfect, do-all theme; there are just too many choices.  Peek a handful of themes and make a decision. If you are really unhappy, you can always change to something else, but initially it is important to get started.

For free theme selections try WordPress.org or FreeWPthemes.net. There are many other sources, but remember, you need not make a career out of your selection.

By the way, you are viewing a premium theme (Flexx) which I have modified to suit my needs.

What factors played into the selection of your first theme?

The company is now seeking your feedback on what you would like to see in the next release, dubbed by web designers as IE9. I think this is a good approach to gather feedback and maybe really overhaul the IE engine. They’ve lost some market position and they know it. I’ve often wondered why they have stood pat on the IE series, failing to offer any substantial updates.

Read the full story at internetnews.com.

Okay, so what is Really Simple Syndication and what does it do?

RSS is a family of web feed formats that are used to publish frequently updated works like blog entries, audio, video, and even news headlines, in a standardized format. A look at Web Feed, XML and Web Syndication on Wikipedia expands on this definition.

The Basics

In short, you use RSS to syndicate or subscribe to the feed of a website, blog or any other online media content. This is not just for articles; it can also be used for music, video and audio. When you syndicate, you have subscribed to the feed of the website visited, which means that you do not have to visit the actual website to access the latest content posted. Instead you will use feed reading software or by clicking on the feed link, you will be taken directly to the updated content. The convenience is this, rather than visit each of your favorite sites to see what has changed; you can now collect all of the feeds in one place (providing that each site has made a feed available). This is all done in an attempt to make it more efficient to consume your favorite content.

If you are not into the technical aspects of the internet you don’t need to know much about XML (eXtensible Markup Language), other than to understand that it is the formatting language used by software and websites to distribute the content to your feed reader.

The best means of learning is by practice and example, so I will now explain exactly how to use RSS.

Feed Reading Software

Currently I use the RSSOwl reader which you install on your computer. This is a really nice software package with many features. A couple of the key features are the manner in which this reader categorizes all of the feeds for you and the tabbed browsing, making this a very organized package. There is a minimal learning curve, like most software, but plenty of help is available on the website.

A Google search for RSS reader will bring up many options to choose from. There are plenty of readers to choose from so you will have to decide on what best fits your needs. Beginners should go for ease of use, which RSSOwl has, and it is free.

Web Based Feed Readers

Standalone feed readers do have one limitation, in that you have to be on the computer the software was installed on to have access to your feeds. Because of this, many people choose a web based feed reader. Both formats perform as designed; it is simply a matter of what best suits your lifestyle. If you move around a lot, using different computers, go the web based route for sure. Bloglines is probably the most popular web based feed reading software, but there are others.

Subscribing to a Blog

At the top right corner of this blog you will see the orange RSS link button. To subscribe to my feed you simply click on the button and choose a reader, or you can copy and paste the link into a standalone feed reader like Bloglines or whichever feed reader you have chosen. Depending on your choice, you may have to name the feed. The RSS feed link for this blog is http://feeds2.feedburner.com/blogonlinebiz/FZYX and if you click it you will get the XML output for this blog. If you are interested in seeing what the XML output looks like go ahead and click the link. You should note that I use a third-party service called Feedburner that adds extra features to my feed output. Additionally, Feedburner provides me with statistics on how many people subscribe to my feeds.

All blogs will (or should) have a link which you can subscribe to. It may appear as Atom, RSS or simply Syndicate, but they all do the same thing. These names represent the different standards to create web syndication (remember the old BETA vs VHS wars?). It appears that RSS has won this battle as you see the orange RSS links everywhere these days.

For your convenience, I also installed an email subscription link directly below the RSS link. Going this route you will be notified by email when new content has been posted.

Syndication is not just for Blogs

It was blogs that started the syndication craze but this technology has really broken out toward the mainstream now. Still, there are many people who do not know how to use it but most of the larger web companies are making subscription feeds available for any and all content. If you are reading an article from a large corporation, chances are you can subscribe to a feed that distributes those articles. Now that you are aware, look more often for the RSS icon on the various sites that you visit. It may be like that car that you never really noticed until your family got one. Suddenly they seemed to appear everywhere.

Taking this digital distribution further, there is also something called Podcasting, which you may be aware of. I will address that technology in a separate article but for the purpose of understanding how Podcasting is related to syndication; all you need to know is that Podcasts are distributed in the same manner as articles. People use syndication to subscribe to Podcast audio that they can listen to on their computers or download to MP3 players and take with them while walking, jogging or driving to work.

The Future

RSS is designed to make your internet life easier and more convenient. You should familiarize yourself with this technology as it will be around for a long time to come. Like me, you may develop a passion for staying on top of the latest technological advances, which can be a lot of fun. Riding the technology wave also keeps your level of frustration while using the internet at a very low level. Stay involved and educate yourself; you’ll be surprised at the development of your internet skills.