FEEDS

If you're interested in building your own customer news feeds, you can select a feed service app that pushes alerts based on your selections, and you can avoid being dependent on Facebook or Twitter as your sole method of news feeds.

FireMapChicago.net provides web feeds for both Atom 1.0 and RSS format. Web feeds allow software programs to check for updates published on a website. The software programs are available on desktop and notebook computers and smartphone apps.

Apple changed how Safari iOS handles links that refer to feed url addresses (previously you would see the raw code when you touched a link). When you touch a link to a feed you will get the following message ...

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Cannot Open Page
This is a link to an RSS feed. Would you like to search the App Store for apps that can display RSS feeds?

[Cancel] [Search]

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[Search] will take you to the Apple App store. Search "RSS" 



HERE ARE THE FIREMAPCHICAGO.NET FEED ADDRESSES
You will need them if you use a feed service app. Some feed service apps can find the feed address automatically, but it is good to know what they are.

Atom 1.0


RSS




APP STORE  FEED APPS
(examples, not endorsed)

If you want alerts as soon as news articles are published, you need to use a feed app that offers push notifications. Some feed apps only offer push notifications if you pay for the "pro version" (for example). When selecting a feed app, there are different features to consider, such as aesthetics (looks like your own customer newspaper), push notifications, simplicity, or the ability to apply complex rules to organize multiple feeds. Some feeds require that sources provide an Atom feed or RSS feed, but some service seem to get around websites that don't provide such feeds. Some services also include the ability to include Facebook pages and Twitter timelines in your personalized master feed.











WHY USE A FEED APP WHEN THERE IS FACEBOOK OR TWITTER?

First of all, not everyone wants to use Facebook or Twitter. Period. Among people who use Facebook or Twitter, some of these people may want to avoid the clutter of comments and reactions in social media. They just want to read their feeds.

Facebook and Twitter make it easy to follow timelines, but there isn't much customized control of the information received. Also, many people don't want to be affected by algorithms that are used by social media companies. With feed services, a user selects their own preferences, and can turn sources on and off with relative ease.