News aggregator
|
|
A news aggregator is a software application or remotely hosted service that collects syndicated content from disparate sources and provides a single consolidated view. These applications can also be commonly referred to as a feed reader, feed aggregator or simply just an aggregator.
Aggregators substantially improve upon the time and effort needed to regularly check websites of interest for updates. Through subscriptions to syndicated content feeds and the application's periodic collection of updates, users are able to create a unique information space that caters to their specific needs and desires.
The syndicated content an aggregator will interpret is XML-based data using the Atom or RSS formats.
| Contents |
Types
There are primarily four types of aggregators:
- Desktop
- Online
- Hybrid
- Integrated
See List of news aggregators for specific examples of the different types of a aggregators available.
Desktop
Desktop aggregators are software applications that are dedicated to the task of managing the subscriptions, monitoring and syndicated content of a user. This type of aggregator will display content in a pop-up window or in a list view similar to any email-program.
Online
Online aggregators are similar in functionality to desktop aggregators, but are remotely hosted by a server typically by a service provider and accessed through a web browser. Feeds are checked for updates by the service reducing the overall bandwidth that multiple desktop aggregators would consume polling feeds individually. Since they are remotely hosted, online aggregators have the distinct advantage of being accessible from anywhere. These aggregators can be a free or paid service.
Hybrid
Hybrid aggregators have browser-based interfaces that look and operate like an online aggregator, but are typically run on a local system and administered by the user. Hybrid aggregators are usually open-source, and therefore allow for the look and feel of the feed presentation to be customized. Since Hybrid aggregators run through some type of HTTP server, they provide the flexibility to be run as private online aggregators that can be accessed from anywhere.
This type of aggregator is typically for the advanced user that want the best of both worlds.
Integrated
As syndication has matured and aggregator usage become more widespread, other common types of desktop applications have begun inheriting aggregator functionality. This type of integrated aggregator is part of a desktop application whose original or primary function is not that of aggregation.
Integrated aggregators are most commonly found in the latest web browsers and email clients though that is certain to change and web syndication and the need for aggregation services becomes more pervasive.
Clouds
Modern news aggregators have the ability to register to clouds -- a centralized service that monitors and tracks a large number of syndicated content sources. An aggregator using a cloud will receive notifications from the cloud server only when there are updates eliminating the need for periodic polling. This approach provides a more efficient use of bandwidth, but can introduce issues of scalability and a single point of failure amongst others. The syndication clouds is an emerging space that is still developing.
See also
External links
- Linux and the news aggregators (http://wiki.debian.net/?NewsAggregator).fr:Agrégateur pl:Czytnik kanałów