Top 25 (Non-Obvious) Ways RSS Can Make Your Life Easier
RSS feeds are a great way to stay on top of news and blogs, but that’s hardly all they’re good for these days. As the technology has evolved, it’s slowly worked its way into everyday applications that can help make your daily activities easier and faster. If you’re looking for ways to more fully incorporate RSS into your technology repertoire, here are 25 applications, sites and ideas that can help you make the most of RSS. There are tons of little ways you can use RSS feeds to help you make your daily tasks, errands and life in general a little easier.
- Track packages. Whether you’re ordering things for work or just love to shop online SimpleTracking can make keeping track of packages easier than ever. Users can copy an RSS feed link for their packages into their reader and get notified any time there is new information about the location of their orders.
- Filter news content. There’s a ton of news out there, and when you sign up for an RSS feed the amount of information you don’t care about can far exceed that which you do. RSS can eliminate all that useless information and letting you only see stories on certain topics. Sign up with a filter like FeedRinse to eliminate the information overload.
- Keep track of your flight. Busy business travelers can keep up to date on the arrival and departure times of flights simply by adding an RSS feed. Sign up for a feed like FlightStats and you’ll get reports of delayed flights sent right to your desktop or browser.
- Get reminders of important dates. Everyone has suffered through the awkwardness of forgetting an important date like a birthday or an anniversary before. Help reduce your chances of making such a mistake with an RSS reminder program like Beeplet. Simply enter the dates you want to remember and you’ll recieve reminders right in your RSS feed to give your memory a little extra nudge.
- Make sure your software is up-to-date. For those who simply can’t be without the latest and greatest updates to their software, keeping up-to-date can be a whole lot easier with a software release tracker like VersionTracker. The latest programs with new features, bug fixes and upgrades will be sent by RSS to you so you can easily find and download them and keep your computer fast and secure.
- Remember to bring an umbrella. RSS feeds are a great way to keep on top of what’s going on in the world around you, including the weather. You can get up to the minute reports on the conditions letting you know what to wear in the morning or how long your evening commute might take. Severe storm warnings and updates will also appear in your feed, letting you know when and how to prepare.
Work
RSS feeds are great time killers at work, collaborate and get things done faster.
- Get your email. For those with several email accounts, or just those who want unobtrusive notices of new mail, RSS has a solution. Pop2RSS is a program that allows users to get their POP-based email converted into an RSS feed so users can read it without ever opening up their email management program. Or, if you’re a Gmail user, you can sign up to get your emails in RSS format as well.
- Send out advertising campaigns. Forget about sending out bulk emails to readers of your site or blog, you can use RSS to send information to subscribers with this service. RSS Autoresponder allows users to set up information to send out, set the intervals for it to go out, and even set up automatic follow ups.
- Take your feeds on the road. RSS isn’t just a technology that you can use when on your laptop or home computer. You can take your feeds with you anywhere you go on your phone or PDA. Just download a program like Bloglines or Egress and RSS will allow you to access information no matter where you are.
- Find a job. Whether you’re looking for a career change or your fresh out of college and looking for a first job, you can get leads on promising jobs though RSS. On this site you can read about how to set up your RSS aggregator to bring jobs from sites like Indeed and Yahoo Hot Jobs right to you and get yourself on the way to a successful and fulfilling new career.
- Work collaboratively. Working in a group on large projects can make it difficult to ensure that everyone is on the same page and to effectively coordinate work. With RSS, sharing documents that need to be edited or approved can be much less stressful. With programs like Approver users can get RSS notifications when new documents are uploaded or when changes have been made, making working together much more productive.
- Manage a schedule. Keeping track of appointments at work or even with your family can be difficult at times, but adding a calendar to your RSS feed can make things a little easier. With RSSCalendar users can create and share their shedules with other users allowing coworkers and families to coordinate meetings, soccer practice or anything else that might come up.
- Take notes. While sticky notes are useful, sometimes a computer-based solution can be more practical and harder to misplace. With Webnote, users can take notes in their browser and recall and share them later via RSS.
Entertainment
Keep yourself entertained with these fun and weekend friendly RSS uses that will make it easier to find things to do and keep up with the latest releases.
- Track your favorite topics from anywhere. RSS is a highly mobile and customizable technology that can make those boring morning train commutes a little more interesting. With programs like ZapTXT you won’t need a newspaper to keep you busy. Users can track select topics on news sites, classifieds, blogs and even sports scores using their cell phone, instant messenger or email.
- Listen to new music. With hundreds of thousands of music options out there, it can be hard to know where to start expanding your musical horizons. RSS can come to your rescue again and help you get suggestions on music you’d like based on your existing tastes with services like Earfeeder. Or, if you’re just looking for the newest music, you can sign up for RSS updates on the latest additions to iTunes.
- Keep up on your favorite team. You don’t need to check the sports page or even a sports website to keep up with the performance of your favorite teams. Simply have the information come right to your RSS aggregator instead. Whether you love baseball, football, basketball or hockey each has customizable RSS feeds to send the latest scores, trades and play-by-plays right to you without the hassle of finding it.
- Learn something new. Want to build your vocabulary? Learn about the great masters of art? You can do that and more, right in your RSS reader. You can sign up to receive a word of the day, quotes and even pages from the notebooks of Da Vinci himself, allowing you to learn more at just the click of a button.
- Find out what’s on TV. Couch potatoes no longer need to be in front of the TV to see what’s on or even take the time to open an online guide when your RSS feed can bring you local listings. Sign up with an online feed like ktyp and get listings by time zone to let you know when your favorite shows will be on and if they’ll be reruns.
- Golf for less. Golf may be your hobby of choice but it isn’t always a cheap hobby to have. Your RSS feed can save you money and time by giving you updates on the tee times and deals all over the nation. Try out the feed on Golf Now to see if it can make your next golfing expedition a little easier and more fun.
Finances
It doesn’t have to be a pain to save money or keep track of your debts with these easy-to-implment RSS solutions.
- Avoid library late fees. If you’re one of those people who is constantly paying late fees on books and movies you check out from the library, then Library Elf could be the solution that you’re looking for. The system will send reminders to your email or RSS that your items are going to be due soon and if you manage to ignore those, it will continue to remind you of your overdue status. Users can also consolidate several library cards on one feed and even keep track of books on request and hold.
- Find a bargain. Make shopping easier by avoiding lines and traveling from store to store for the best deal by using RSS to help you. You can knock out that holiday shopping in a flash or just pick up a little something for yourself by setting up your RSS feeds to include your favorite shopping sites. Not sure how to do this? Check out this article on Lifehacker to find out.
- Win an eBay item. For many, part of the thrill of buying things on eBay is in the competition. You can use RSS to get a leg up in your bidding and increase your chances of a sucessful experience. Simply sign up on eBay to recieve notications about your online activity, and you’ll get all of your bargaining information at your fingertips.
- Remember your debts. If you were short on cash at lunch and borrowed from a friend or just need to pay your share of the rent you can use an RSS feed to keep track of your debt and make sure it gets repaid. Enter your information into the iOWEYOU service and the debts will appear in your feed until you pay them.
- Track your blog earnings. Many who have blogs don’t just use them as a means of expression but also a way to make a few extra bucks on the side as well. Those using AdSense can keep track of those earnings in their RSS feed. Enter your information into a script like this and you’ll get daily reports on how much you’re earning.
- Get the best deal on airfare. Flying can be painful enough these days without breaking your wallet, so make sure you’re getting the best deals on your travel arrangements. Services like FareCast allow users to input their desired departure and arrival destinations and keep track of prices so they can buy at the optimal time. Big name sites Travelocity and Expedia offer similar services.
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September 16th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I refer http://www.FlightView.com to FlightStats.
Their new Web site and maps are much easier to use.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Thanks for these great tips
September 26th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Wonderfully extensive list, thanks! I refer your blog in my last post:)
October 6th, 2008 at 6:54 am
You made one copy-paste in excess on Tip 11. Work collaboratively. Approver has the same link as ‘this site’ in Tip 10. Find a job.
Could you give the correct link to Approver? Thanks.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:25 am
Hi-
I am the editor for my SLA (Special Librarians Association) Chapter’s news bulletin- “The Blue Heron”. I would like to use this article and your article about testing your web site in our bulletin. May I have permission to do this? I will give you all the credit and put info about you and your blog in the article. Please let me know…Thanks in advance. Nancy Hicks- Librarian
November 14th, 2008 at 1:13 am
Wow, really great tips, I’ll use them on my site! Thanks for sharing!
November 25th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Great list of tips, very useful.
December 18th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Thanks for these tips!
December 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am
Конкурс для блоггеров от DRUGREVENUE с призовым фондом в 3000 долларов, спешите
December 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Thanks for the great tips.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Filtering the RSS is really a good idea. Get more out of Less
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
кто бы мог подумать=) так держать!
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
действительно, довольно интересно…
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
откуда у вас такие сведения?
January 26th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Легче нести ахинею, чем бревно.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Чем больше понимаешь, тем больше круг людей, которым с тобой не о чем
January 26th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Эх, взять бы автомат, да разрядить обстановку!!!!=)
January 26th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Аксиома с тоской вспоминала то время, когда она была еще теоремой…
January 27th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Разговор начистоту обычно заканчивается взаимным обливанием грязью.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Наивность - это редкий дар смотреть на мир невооруженным взглядом…
January 27th, 2009 at 2:32 am
Последнее время читаю между строк. Стал меньше уставать.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Если что-то понятно само собой, то кому оно нужно?
March 1st, 2009 at 1:00 am
Интересная идея. Только вот интересно сколько времени на это потрачено?
March 4th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
You tried something new!! Good for you! I
March 29th, 2009 at 7:11 am
В древности люди учились для того, чтобы совершенствовать себя. Нынче учатся для того, чтобы удивить других.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Молодец конечно! Целиком поддерживаю!
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
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May 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
אין מה לחפש במקום אחר
May 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
הכי טובה שיש לזיון של הלייף
May 1st, 2009 at 3:45 pm
כל מה שצריך כדי לתקן את המחשב
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
כל הפרקים והעונות
לצפייה ישירה
וללא שטיקים או טריקים
May 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Great blog, i am new to rss feeds i know i cant be without it i am a frequent traveler and i use it a lot to get news feeds worldwide etc, keeping track of flights is a clever one i never thought of that, really enjoyed your blog and have refered it to http://www.travelhqr.com.
May 24th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Ага, жизнь не должна быть идеальной
May 24th, 2009 at 9:57 am
טכנאי מחשבים -תיקון מחשבים על ידי מומחים!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:40 am
הטוב ביותר זה ללא פשרות
השירות הטוב ביותר נעמד ב
איכות שירות ואמינות מעל הכל
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:42 am
כל הכבוד לאתר הזה.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:42 am
האיכות קובעת אבל הגודל גם
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:45 am
כי תיקון זה לא משחק של ילדים
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:45 am
דרך מצויינת לתקן את המחשב לבד
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 am
זהירות מהשירות הזה
עדיף להכיר מקרוב את הטכנאי שניכנס לך לעולם הפרטי שלך
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
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June 13th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Ого! Интересный поворот событий!
June 14th, 2009 at 3:43 am
非常好…
June 19th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Спасибо автору. Возможно, в будущем я и действительно реализую аналогичную затею.
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June 22nd, 2009 at 2:57 am
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June 22nd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Thanks guys! Nice site!
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Thanks guys! Nice site!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
At one site I have read almost the same selection of information, but thanks anyway.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Me LIKE! When will we see new posts???
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July 1st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
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July 1st, 2009 at 8:07 pm
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July 1st, 2009 at 8:08 pm
At one site I have read almost the same selection of information, but thanks anyway.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Hello!Thank you, and everyone who contributed to the creation of this website.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:11 pm
great stuff i am badly in need of a blog like you provided to me i have passed onto my crew at CostaRicaHQ where we shall be very appreciative, rss is a big part of my online job and such as you have explained it is a very useful tool, cheers.
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 am
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July 4th, 2009 at 2:52 am
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July 5th, 2009 at 2:43 am
I subscribed to your RSS feed, but the message for some reason in the form of some characters How can I fix this?
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July 11th, 2009 at 1:47 am
Very interesting thought, well told, there are just various languages shelves
July 14th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Да уж. Спасибо, что заставили задуматься
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July 25th, 2009 at 12:32 am
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July 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Увлекательно написано. Даже за душу цепляет, заставляет задуматься над собственным блогом.
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July 25th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
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July 25th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
I can not only understand how you can subscribe to your RSS-feed?
July 31st, 2009 at 6:01 am
דרך מצויינת לאהבה חזקה
July 31st, 2009 at 6:01 am
אמיתי, איכותי, שירות ואיכות
August 5th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Gratifying that your blog is constantly evolving and updated with new articles. Such positions only adds popularity
August 9th, 2009 at 3:52 am
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August 10th, 2009 at 6:52 am
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August 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Thanks for these tips!
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:46 am
A very promising direction disclosed in the subject of this post. You should have read where some of this.
August 24th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Спасибо:) Классная тема, пишите чаше - у вас отлично получается
August 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Can a beginner read the info you provided and be able to control microformats?
September 13th, 2009 at 1:18 am
I found this tutorial really helpful. Thanks for writing this sage advice!
September 18th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
10x!
September 20th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Отличная и полезная статья
September 21st, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Hi! Not the first time I read your blog. I can not only understand how you can subscribe to your RSS-feed? I would like to read you, and more.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Отлично написано.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Восхитительно, добавил в букмаки.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
VeryGood. Thanks!
September 25th, 2009 at 3:32 am
September 25th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
thank you virtualhosting
September 26th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Спасибо почитал.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:35 am
vitual hosting es la mejor! gracias!!!
October 6th, 2009 at 1:40 am
hola! y gracias!
October 9th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Блин, только что хотел это сказать.
October 10th, 2009 at 10:23 am
ага точно, точно )
October 10th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Так и есть, только хотел написать это.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Лучше фильм пойду посмотрю
October 19th, 2009 at 11:18 am
tnx for the useful info !
October 24th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
tnx for useful info !
October 26th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
tnx for the sharing
October 31st, 2009 at 10:05 am
Wow, RSS can really be helpful!
November 10th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Hi there,
your list are very useful for me.
many thanks.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:03 am
your list are very useful for me.
December 6th, 2009 at 6:50 am
טכנאי מחשבים ורשתות מגיעים לבית הלקוח
December 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
thanks for sharing. very useful for me.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Thanks very much never knew you could do so much with RSS. Lots of resources I’m going to test out. I particularly like the Pop2RSS program.
Sounds like it would save me a lot of time
December 23rd, 2009 at 3:54 am
Good artical.
thanks , I enjoyed reading it
January 6th, 2010 at 2:14 am
thanks alot.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:29 am
Great info indeed. Keep it up
January 17th, 2010 at 6:43 am
good topic!
January 17th, 2010 at 6:50 am
good topic!