News aggregator

A news aggregator, or simply aggregator, is a software application, webpage or service that collects syndicated content, such as RSS and other XML feeds from weblogs and mainstream media sites. Aggregators improve upon the time and effort needed to regularly check websites of interest for updates, creating a unique information space or "personal newspaper." An aggregator is able to subscribe to a feed, check for new content at user-determined intervals, and retrieve the content. The content is sometimes described as being "pulled" to the subscriber, as opposed to "pushed" with email or IM. Unlike recipients of some "pushed" information, the aggregator user can easily unsubscribe from a feed.

Related Topics:
Aggregator - Software - Syndicated content - RSS - XML - Weblogs - Mainstream media - Email - IM

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Feed content is not necessarily news, so the simpler Aggregator term is widely used. The aggregator provides a consolidated view of the content in a single browser display or desktop application. Such applications are also referred to as RSS readers, feed readers, feed aggregators or news readers, although in Internet communication, the latter term was first used for programs that read Usenet newsgroups.

Related Topics:
Aggregator - RSS - Usenet

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A website may incorporate aggregator features by republishing syndicated content on one or more of its pages. Aggregator features also may be incorporated in other client software, including Web browsers, e-mail clients, weblog creation programs, or media player programs. Devices such as mobile phones or Tivo video recorders (already aggregating television programs) may incorporate XML aggregators.

Related Topics:
Weblog - Mobile phones - Tivo - XML

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The syndicated content an aggregator will interpret is usually in RSS or other XML-based data, such as RDF or Atom formats.

Related Topics:
RSS - XML - RDF - Atom

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