What Is RSS & Why You Need It

RSS stands for Rich Site Summary; essentially, it is an XML format for easily delivering regularly changing web site content. For example, news-related web sites because news headlines often change, weblogs, or any other online publishing. The benefit by using an RSS Feed is it makes website surfing much more efficient. RSS allows for people who regularly go online, to simply have to check one website to be informed of any updates, instead of having to visit each and every website to personally check for any new updates. RSS also guarantees your privacy so you do not have to submit your email address to join each site’s email newsletter.

Common RSS Readers:

Google Reader (free): With Google Reader, keeping up with your favorite websites is as easy as checking your email. You can subscribe to this reader by going to www.google.com/reader and creating a new account if you do not have one. Then just follow the steps to "add subscriptions" to your favorite websites.

Firefox Reader (free): If you do not have Firefox already you can go to www.getfirefox.com and download the newest version. However, if you already have it then you can use this information to add feeds.
When you visit a site and you see the orange icon in the bottom right part of the Mozilla Firefox browser window (the status bar), or if you are using version 1.5 or newer, in the right most part of the address bar. You can click on the orange icon and submit to the RSS feed.

Example:

What Is iCalendar & Why You Need It

iCalendar or iCal is an event calendar that can be used for scheduling meetings, events, appointments, vacations, or any other thing. This calendar can be for personal use and include multiple calendar such as a "home" or "work" calendar. iCal can also be used for sharing calendars with others by the internet and also allows automatic updating of the calendar events to calendars you prescribe to.

Google Calendar:

With Google Calendar, you can see your friends' and family's schedules right next to your own; quickly add events mentioned in Gmail conversations or saved in other calendar applications; and add other interesting events that you find online. You decide who can see your calendar and which details they can view. You can set up automatic event reminders, including mobile phone notifications.

You can go to www.google.com/calendar to create an account and start your own iCal for free. Just click on the button create an account and follow the steps to creating your own iCal.