14 DAY TRIAL // RSS has become extremely popular these days. More and more computer users use RSS feed option in the web browser in order to navigate faster and assimilate quicker the new information available. Of course, for getting the latest titles and changes in certain web sites, you need a RSS feed reader that retrieves all the RSS available without even opening the web pages.
But how can one create RSS feeds? What tools are necessary for this and, most importantly, how difficult is it to create the feeds? First of all, you need a software that can transform the titles. As for the difficulty, I have to admit that it is not too hard and the amount of work is close to minimum.
Feed Editor is an ExtraLabs Software product that costs $39.95. The good thing is that for 30 days, you have no restriction while using it. It will help you create, edit and publish RSS feeds and podcasts very easy and fast.
The interface is not one of the software's strengths as it looks rather plain, but the results are the expected ones and its efficiency is also a great asset.
The menu bar of the application is formed by the Feed menu (create new feed, save or load RSS), Items (managing commands for feed items), Image (for working with RSS feed images) and Tools menu where you can find the Preferences menu. Preferences help you configure the software to automatically keep the files of the project, create backup copies, keep passwords and FTP log or use a personal template for the new feeds so that your work is done faster.
For the beginners, the software makes available using a wizard for creating new feeds. Advanced users can skip this feature and do their job the old fashioned way. Both ways are extremely easy. The difference between them is that using the wizard, you will be able to do things in a more organized manner and every step is taken at the appropriate time.
The New Feed menu consists of three tabs and the first one is called Required Fields. Here, the user must enter the obligatory data like title of the feed, a brief description, the link, publishing date and hour. If you want to have access to the third tab (iTunes Fields) then check the iTunes Enabled box at the bottom of the window. In the right side of the screen (right near the Description window), you will notice a small "a"- shaped sign. It is in fact a button that pressed, will open an HTML editor that will expand the options of your feed.
The second tab is called Optional Fields and you get to customize your feeds by entering the name of the webmaster, the editor, copyright, category and domain, XSL Stylesheet and type, language, encoding, etc. iTunes Fields is usually used when creating podcasts.
The next menu is Feed Items. It has a toolbar where you can choose to create a new item, clone the current topic or delete it and moving up and down the items. The same tabs are available here as in Feed menu (Required Fields, Optional Fields and iTunes Fields) and the same general steps have to be taken. However, there are some differences and some of them can be noticed in Optional Fields (permalink, length and type).
Feed Image menu lets the user add images. Of course, adding an image to your RSS feed is not mandatory, but it will make it look more appealing and more professional. This menu contains a toolbar, a preview window and the data input area. The toolbar is the one that impressed me as I found that you can apply filters to the image. Do not expect to find filters as complex as regular image editors have, but they will do an inversion of colors, turn the picture black and white or apply a gray scale.
The other options in the toolbar will allow you to flip, rotate or resize the image so it will fit perfectly in the feed. If you have applied the wrong filter, you get to use the undo/redo functions and right your wrongs.
The Good
The software works fine and creating the feeds is a real piece of cake. The XML editor is something you do not see in every RSS creator. Also, the HTML editor and the preview are options that help you in doing your job right and preview it before launching.
The Bad
The price might be a problem, but considering the options available and the ease of use, I do not think that it will be such a pocket burner at all.
The Truth
All in all, the software is great and the alternative wizard helps you edit and create your feeds very fast and easy.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
