Feeds, huh?

So, I'm going to briefly refer to web feeds, due to what I previously discovered... Not that I'm some sort of feed guru (o.O) I just think is too much of an useful tool to be ignored.

Wikipedia says:

A web feed is a data format used for providing users with frequently updated content. Content distributors syndicate a web feed, thereby allowing users to subscribe to it. Making a collection of web feeds accessible in one spot is known as aggregation, which is performed by an Internet aggregator. A web feed is also sometimes referred to as a syndicated feed.

In simpler terms, feeds are your friend. This type of file gathers all the modifications/updates done to a website, so you -through an aggregator or feed reader- can keep track of them. You can organize multiple feeds in you feed reader; so updates can come to you, instead of you to them. You don't have to check your favorite regularly-updated blog every 5 hours anymore! Now, your feed reader of choice will do that for you.

If you are Firefox user there's this nifty plug-in (Sage) that does the job beautifully. There are also web-based feed readers, as well as applications for every platform.

Web-based aggregator:
Bloglines (free)
Rojo (free)
NewsGator Online (free)

For Mac:
Shrook (free)
NewsFire
NetNewsWire

For Windows:
SharpReader (free)
FeedReader (free)
FeedDemon

Usually, bloggers with feeds enabled in their blog place an "orange square" (feed logo) somewhere in their websites, so regular visitors can subscribe to their feed.

(Ptss!: RSS and Atom are pretty much the same thing: feeds; different flavors of feeds, sort of.)