RSS Shows You the Updates
Posted onNovember 20, 2009
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Most of us who surf the Web have at least a few favorite sites we often visit. Wouldn’t it be great if the latest headlines or posts were sent to us automatically?
We’re in luck—it’s possible to automate this process using a technology called RSS.
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) allows visitors to subscribe to a “feed” (link) for a Web site’s new content. A special software program, called a feed reader, regularly checks specified sites for newly-posted content. For example, all users who have subscribed to the Tech Digest feed will automatically receive a link for this article.
Even better, several of the software programs on most computers already have the feed reader feature built in. Today we’ll discuss how to subscribe to RSS feeds using three common programs, Outlook, Internet Explorer and Firefox.
Microsoft Outlook
If you frequently check your ECU e-mail (as most of us do), using Outlook is a good way to organize feeds. As a matter of fact, several Microsoft feeds are automatically included with each installation of Outlook. To see these feeds, click on the RSS folder in your Outlook mailbox.
There are two ways to add a feed to the Outlook RSS folder:
1. Click the RSS icon on the Web page. From the list, choose “Microsoft Outlook.”
2. Right-click the RSS Feeds folder in your Outlook mailbox. Choose the third option, “Add a New RSS feed…” and enter the feed’s URL from the site’s feed page. Click “Add.”
Internet Explorer
If a site has an available RSS feed, the feed icon in the IE toolbar will be orange (a gray icon indicates there is no feed for the page). Click this RSS icon. The feed page opens. Click the “Subscribe to this feed” link. The feed is then added to the Favorites Center folder in IE, or you can choose whichever feed reader program you prefer from the list.
Firefox
The Firefox browser also allows you to manage RSS feeds by choosing a live (orange) RSS icon in the address bar. Choose “Subscribe to RSS 2.0…” and the feed page opens. From the “Subscribe to this feed using” drop-down menu, choose which feed reader program will house this feed. Live Bookmarks is the Firefox folder for feeds, but you can also choose Outlook, Yahoo, Google or a standalone feed reader program.
Now it’s easier than ever to stay informed on news…weather…or your favorite Tech Digest blog post through an RSS feed subscription.
To Learn More
To see a Microsoft.com Quick Tour about RSS, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/ie7/tour/rss/
To see available ECU feeds, go to http://www.ecu.edu/rss/
To see a list of Windows RSS Feed Readers and News Aggregators:
http://email.about.com/od/rssreaderswin/tp/top_rss_windows.htm
To see a list of Mac RSS News Feed Readers/News Aggregators:
http://email.about.com/od/rssreadersmac/tp/top_rss_mac.htm
Windows 7 Still in the Evaluation Phase
Posted onOctober 27, 2009
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Windows users are excited about the new and improved features Windows 7 offers; but as a friendly reminder, Windows 7 is not yet a supported operating system for the university community.
Whenever there are major upgrades to any operating system, Information Technology and Computing Services (ITCS) thoroughly tests the new version with our existing systems to make sure users continue to enjoy full functionality from administrative, educational and medical systems like Banner, Blackboard, IDX and Logician.
Windows 7 is still in this evaluation stage, so we are asking ECU users to postpone upgrading to Windows 7 until we’re certain it’s compatible with ECU systems, various software programs and online applications.
After the evaluation is complete, announcements about Windows 7’s support at ECU will be distributed to users.
Banish Office Vampires
Posted onOctober 22, 2009
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The odd, saving grace of the state’s budget crunch is that we’ve all become much more aware of the resources used in the office. No more printing those e-mails, meeting notes, or…anything. While reading a document on a computer screen has taken some practice, in the long run we will probably not go back to wasteful printing, even after this fiscal crisis.
According to Planet Green, an eco-lifestyle network from Discovery (Discovery Channel) Communications, not only does saving energy save money, but it turns out that a greener office is a healthier and more productive place to work.
So this might be a good time to “go green” in your office. But how? This is the first of a two-part series on easy ways to get started.
Turn Off Electronic Equipment
Planet Green’s article, How to Go Green: At Work , recommends you set your computer to low energy settings from the Power Options Properties in the Control Panel. Also turn off the computer when you leave for the day and on weekends. Turn off lights, printers, monitors, projectors and other electronic devices when they are not in use—even during the week.
Unplug Electronic Equipment
To take this a step further, pull the plug on these devices to conserve even more energy. According to a 2002 report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, “Lopomo [low power mode] energy use is responsible for about 10% of total electricity use in California homes. To make sure that…[electronic appliances]…are all the way off, pull the plug rather than flipping the switch on the machine.”
A great article on the How Stuff Works Web site explains that by pulling the plug on electrical devices, you can reduce the amount of “vampire power” an electronic device pulls just by being plugged in to the wall outlet. For example, a cell phone charger continues to pull electricity if it is plugged in, even if there’s no cell phone recharging. Computers, TVs, appliances—most any electrical device continues to pull electricity from the outlet—even if it’s turned off!
Turn Off Devices from a Power Strip
But before you spend time crawling around your office turning devices on and off each day, consider plugging devices into a power strip and simply press the OFF button on the power strip when you leave for the day. This not only turns off the appliance, but keeps the energy-sucking “vampires” from running up the electric bill.
So for an eco-friendly office, turning off unused appliances is good. Unplugging these devices is even better and avoids wasted standby, or “vampire,” power. Plugging devices into a power strip and turning this one device on and off as needed is a convenient way to conserve the electricity use in your office.
Students Wanted for Outlook Live E-mail Evaluation Project
Posted onOctober 14, 2009
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Oh, no! Locked out again! Didn’t I just clean out that inbox last week?!
We’ve heard from many students that they need a bigger mailbox and more file storage space in an e-mail client. So in response, we’re evaluating Microsoft Office Outlook Live as a possible replacement for student e-mail. Outlook Live offers a HUGE mailbox and 25GB of “SkyDrive” space for storing files, in addition to many other useful features. Never get locked out again!
We’re currently calling on students* to be a part of our testing phase to let us know what works, what doesn’t and how we can better meet students’ e-mail needs.
So be one of the first on board to try Outlook Live. By participating, you even have a say about the name of ECU’s new student e-mail. But hurry—this trial period is only open to 500 students, and slots are filling up fast.
Visit http://www.ecu.edu/itcs/email/outlooklive.cfm today to read the requirements and other details about the program and then sign up!
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*This pilot program is open to enrolled students only, faculty, staff and graduate teaching assistants are not eligible to participate in this project.
Where’s Taho?
Posted onOctober 9, 2009
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Beginning Monday, October 12, 2009, users will no longer see Taho listed as a wireless network, only Buccaneer and Pirates. But not to worry—it’s just a name change; the log on routine will stay the same, and users should just choose the new name, Pirates. Read on for details.
ECU has two wireless networks, Buccaneer and Taho (Pirates).
Taho (Pirates) is the wireless network accessed by faculty, staff, students and guests through WiFi mobile devices or personal Windows or Mac laptops using a Web browser or the CCA Agent software (if it’s configured on the machine).
Effective Monday, October 12, Taho users should select the wireless network, Pirates, to log on to the ECU network. This is a name change only, and most Windows laptops will recognize the Pirates network and allow log on. However, Macintosh and mobile devices may need some help. Those users who have trouble connecting to the Pirates wireless network should call the IT Help Desk at 252.328.9866. iPhone/iPod Touch users can visit www.ecu.edu/cs-itcs/email/iphone.cfm.
Buccaneer is ECU’s secure wireless network, and is the default wireless network for laptops purchased by ECU departments for employees to access the INTRA domain. Monday’s name change will not affect users who routinely access the Buccaneer secure network.
For additional information about ECU’s wireless networks, visit www.ecu.edu/itcs/wireless.