You can have an RSS feed show directly on your iGoogle page.  This way you can keep up with what you need to.  This tutorial assumes that you have a Google account and are already familiar with iGoogle and its features.

"Grabbing" an RSS feed

An RSS feed is just a URL or web address that you can subscribe to.  Then anytime an update is made to the blog, podcast or newsfeed, etc. you will receive an update.

For the purposes of this tutorial it is assumed that you are subscribing to an RSS feed from a CofC blog (blogs.cofc.edu).  It is also recommended that you use Firefox as your web browser.  You can download the free Firefox browser at http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/.

1. Navigate to the blog to which you would like to subscribe.
2. In the Firefox address bar notice the RSS icon .  Click on it.

   

    

   If a submenu appears choose "Subscribe to XXXXX Posts RSS feed'...

   

    

3. A new webpage reappears that shows all of the blog posts in a bare and unformatted way. 

Subscribing to an RSS feed in iGoogle

There are two ways that you can subscribe to an RSS feed in iGoogle

Option 1:

1. Make sure you are logged into iGoogle.
2. Now go back to the blogs RSS feed page. You should see a header (only in Firefox):

   

    

3. From the dropdown menu choose Google
4. Click Subscribe Now
5. This should automatically add the feed to your iGoogle page.  As new posts are added to the blog they will appear at the top of the listing on your iGoogle page.

Option 2:

1. From the blog RSS feed page, highlight that new URL and copy it (CNTL-C on Windows or Command-C on Mac).

   

    

2. Now the you have copied your RSS feed address we just need to go to iGoogle.
3. From your iGoogle page click on Add Stuff from the right-side of the window.
4. In the Search for Gadgets text box type "RSS" and click Search.
5. Locate Simple rss reader and click Add it now.
6. Now go back to your iGoogle page.  The Simple RSS Reader should be opened in Edit mode

   

   1. Next to RSS address paste the feed address you copied earlier.
   2. Change the RSS Title to the title of the blog
   3. Next to Display mode change to Title only
   4. Click Save.

       

Now as the blog is updated new posts will automatically display at the top of the list.

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