RSS Subscriptions

RSS is a family of XML file formats for web syndication used commonly by news websites and weblogs. The acronym stands for Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.x). This information is delivered as an XML file commonly referred to as an RSS feed, RSS stream, or RSS channel.

Programs known as feed readers, aggregators, or podcatchers can check RSS- and Podcast-enabled webpages on behalf of a user and display or download any updated items that it finds. RSS saves users from having to repeatedly visit favorite websites to check for new content or be notified of updates via email.

Podcasting is a way of publishing audio files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new audio files (usually MP3s) automatically. Podcasting is distinct from other types of audio content delivery because it uses the RSS protocol, enabling subscription. By including MP3 enclosures, Podcast feeds enable users to subscribe to podcasts using "podcatching" software (also called "aggregator" software) to periodically check for and download new content. Content can then be synchronized to the user's portable music player using iTunes or Windows Media Player.

If RSS feeds are enabled on vPortal, this icon

will be on the right-hand side of the main menu. Click the icon to open an RSS page showing the various feeds available.

RSS feeds on portals are divided into three categories: News, Podcasts (audio MP3s) and Vodcasts (video MP4s).

All RSS feeds on a portal are available via the RSS icon

. Podcast and Vodcast feeds are also available for direct subscription in iTunes using the iTunes icon itunes_icon.zoom50

RSS Subscription Type	Device Types Supported	RSS Subscription Description
News	News content can be received on PCs through e-mail applications such as Outlook by installing specific 3rd party applications such as NewsGator or intraVnews.	Contains event announcements only. No MP3s or MP4s are included. Recommended for RSS aggregators.
Podcast	Podcast content can be received on PCs through specific 3rd party applications such as iTunes or Windows Media Player. They can also be received and played on any mobile device that supports MP3 playback.	Includes presentations with MP3 enclosures. Recommended for iTunes and other aggregators supporting enclosures.
Vodcast	Vodcast content can be viewed on any mobile device that supports MP4 playback.	Includes presentations with MP4 enclosures. Recommended for iTunes and other aggregators supporting enclosures.

Click on an RSS icon to open the selected feed in a new browser window. Right click on the icon to copy the url. This link should be pasted into your RSS aggregator (such as NewsGator). Click on the iTunes icon directly to open iTunes and automatically subscribe to the selected podcast or vodcast.

Here are two common methods for subscribing to RSS content. The first application, NewsGator, integrates directly with Outlook. The second, iTunes, may be used with all feeds that include Podcast (also referred to as MP3) and Vodcast (also referred to as MP4) files.

In addition to NewsGator, the following application also integrates with Outlook:

The following applications are also recommended (but do not integrate with Outlook):