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For the benefit of those still sitting on their thumbs let me enlighten you.

Way back, when people were still wondering how best to use this new "internet" thing, some website operators and browser developers believed that it would be a whole lot better to fire their content out to net users rather than wait for them to come browsing by of their own accord.

If you typed in a site's URL or clicked on a hypertext link -- that was said to be "pulling" the content from the site. If the site sent the information to you automatically, that was said to be "pushing."

The reality is that there were no real "push" systems and all that happened was that browser makers added a kind of automated download of selected websites' content.

Some browsers even allowed you to set up "channels" that would take care of the automated download process for you -- how TV-like!

The "push" concept never really caught on and pretty soon everyone went back to simply visiting the sites they liked, just as they'd done before this silly "push" idea came along.

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Well, tip me over with a feather, it looks as if "push" is back, albeit wearing a different hat and coat.

This story from Forbes describes how websites are increasingly adding RSS feeds so that net users, with suitable software, can quickly grab the key highlights from their favourite websites without having to browse them manually.

What's more, because RSS feeds adopt a standard format which is easily parsed by relatively simple software, it becomes possible to search and index the information in these RSS feeds very quickly and easily.

Of course Aardvark has offered its own RSS summary of the daily commentary for ages now (always on the bleeding edge:-) but I'm still waiting for more of NZ's online news providers to get into the act.

The "New Aardvark" will also offer an RSS feed summarising its additional content and I'm also planning a feed from the TV listings database that is part of that new offering.

So, RSS is the new "push" and it's something you might want to take a look at -- if you haven't already.

And for those of you who noticed that the New Aardvark hasn't shown its face yet -- my apologies. Yesterday I spent many hours sitting in front of TV cameras and bright lights, which kind of threw my schedule into some disarray.

However, the cameras aren't due back until Thursday so I'm back into things today.

New Forums!
Yes folks, good news. The grotty ezboard forums have been replaced with a new phpBBS-based system that won't assault you with a myriad of pop-ups and other flotsam.

A big thanks to Managed Internet Solutions for offering to provide this service.

You can access the new forums over at aardvarkforums.co.nz

If you feel that this is a good thing and/or you hold a "geniune affection" for yours truly -- then you are welcome to gift me some money using the buttons provided. In gifting this money you accept that no goods, service or other consideration is offered, provided, accepted or anticipated in return. Just click on the button to gift whatever you can afford. NOTE: PayPal bills in US dollars so don't accidentally gift more than what you were intending :-)

Contacting Aardvark
I'm always happy to hear from readers, whether they're delivering brickbats, bouquets or news tip-offs. If you'd like to contact me directly, please this form. If you're happy for me to republish your comments then please be sure and select For Publication.

Other media organisations seeking more information or republication rights are also invited to contact me.

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Aardvark also makes a summary of this daily column available via XML using the RSS format. More details can be found here.

Contact me if you decide to use either of these feeds and have any problems.

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