RSS Feeds

RSS, or "Really Simple Syndication," allows you to read the latest headlines from The Anniston Star Online and many other Web sites without actually having to visit each site. The RSS feeds on this page contain headlines and a short description of each article. When you want to read more, a simple click will bring you to the full story here at AnnistonStar.com.

Do I need any special tools to use RSS?

To use RSS feeds, you'll need a tool called an aggregator, or news reader, to display the content of the feeds you've selected. Most aggregators are desktop software that you download and install on your computer, but Web-based news readers are available as well.

Why should I use RSS?

RSS feeds allow you to scan the content of your favorite Web sites quickly, easily and efficiently. Using your news reader, you can organize feeds from a variety of sources — newspapers, magazines, blogs, even online auctions — into one location. It's like building your own constantly updated newspaper, featuring only the news that interests you. Best of all, it's private. Unlike e-mail newsletters, you don't give out your e-mail address when you subscribe to an RSS feed, and you'll only receive headlines from the sources you've requested. No spam!

How much does it cost?

Anyone may access The Star's RSS feeds free of charge; however, the full text of the featured stories is limited to subscribers of AnnistonStar.com. Learn more!

How do I subscribe to The Star's feeds?

How you add new feeds depends on the particular aggregator you're using, but the process is usually very simple. First, look for the icon next to the name of the feed. Then do one of the following:

• If your news reader supports "drag-and-drop," simply drag the icon to the news reader to subscribe.

• Some aggregators will automatically subscribe you to the feed when you click on the icon. (Users of My Yahoo! can do this by clicking on the icon instead.)

• Finally, if your news reader requires you to enter a feed manually, just right-click (Mac users control-click) on the icon. Depending on your browser, select "copy shortcut" or "copy link location" and then paste this address into your news reader.

How can I find additional feeds?

When you visit your favorite Web sites, just look for the icon (or the letters "RSS" or "XML") and follow the links to view the available feeds. Several online directories are also available to help you find RSS feeds that interest you, such as Syndic8 and Feedster. You can subscribe to as many feeds as you choose.

Finding an RSS news reader

Lists of RSS news readers can be found by doing a search for "RSS news readers" at Yahoo!, Google and MSN.