So what is this RSS stuff?

What is up with the new little brown box that says RSS in the menu? Or maybe you just want to know what is RSS. I’ve written this article to help explain a little what RSS is and how we can use it . It really is the next step in web technology and is catching on more and more everyday. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, which means it is a webpage that lists new content for news/informational sites.

I’ll explain it a little more as it relates to Galleywinter. Basically, for the time being, it is a listing of our articles that we write. BUT it is in a standard format so that any other program or even another website can read it. So, if you have an RSS reader you can put the web address from the button you click, and it will let you know when we have posted new articles. You may say… “Well, I come to Galleywinter everyday and I don’t need some other program telling me you have a new article posted.. I can see it myself.” Well.. that’s very true. The power of RSS feeds is that you can get 10-15 of your favorite feeds together in one program and check all the latest news on the stuff you care about.

Let me give you an example: I have a RSS reader in the email program I use. I have added various RSS feeds from a lot of different websites and blogs so that when I check my email I know when those websites/blogs have updated something.

But here’s the not so good news… Most of the websites that you find in Texas Music don’t make use of this technology. Hopefully we can help change that. Once we get all the fans familiar with it then maybe these web design companies will feel comfortable in using the RSS feeds. So, we have decided to step out and put our RSS feed up. For the avid Galleywinter users, you may not need it and that is OK. But we wanted to offer it so that the people that don’t come here so often, can still know what we are doing. And we also feel that in order for technology to change someone has to lead the way and we’re not affraid to do that. I mean, how cool would it be to have all your favorite artists tour dates on a RSS feed so that when you log in to you computer in the morning it tells you right then, that Cross Candian Ragweed just put up 3 new tour dates.

You can use it! The best thing is how easy it is to set up a RSS reader. Just install the program (or if it’s web based just set up the account) and then when you see the RSS feed buttons just click them and copy that web address into your RSS reader. The RSS reader will do the rest. Check out the screenshot from a popular program called RSSreader – screenshot Pretty simple stuff.

I hope this has helped! Tanker