Digital Streets

A couple of days ago, I came across a posting at Download Squad on a potentially useful tool called RSS Mixer.  RSS Mixer is an online tool for combining different RSS feeds into a single feed.  I wondered what RSS feeds would I like to combine and immediately realized that using it to unify my microblog feeds would be a great way to start.  After further examination, I found that it could be used to combine the feeds from Twitter, Pownce, and Jaiku.  Since all of these microblogs were created as a way for you to keep others updated on what you are up to, unifying them makes perfect since.  That way, no matter which service you are using at the time, anyone who subscribes to the unified feed will be kept updated on what you are up to.  To create a unified theme for your Twitter, Jaiku,  and Pownce accounts, follow these steps:

1.  Go to RSS Mixer.

2. Title your unified feed in the Title Your Mix textbox.

3. Now we need to start entering the feeds that are to be combined.  You will need to open a new tab (or window) in your browser because we’ll be doing some copying and pasting back to the RSS Mixer.  You will paste the address to each of your feeds in the Enter a Feed textbox and click the + button to add it.

Twitter - Go to your Twitter page (http://twitter.com/yourusername).  Scroll to the bottom of the page, and find the RSS Feed link on the left side.

Right-click the link and select Copy Shortcut (IE7) or Copy Link Location (Firefox).  Now go back to RSS Mixer and paste the feed location into the Enter a Feed textbox.  Click the + button.

Pownce - Go to your Pownce page (http://pownce.com/yourusername).   Go to the right of the page.  Find the Public Profile section and click the public profile link.  Go to the Public Notes section and locate the    icon.

Right-click the   icon and select Copy Shortcut (IE7) or Copy Link Location (Firefox).  Now go back to RSS Mixer and paste the feed location into the Enter a Feed textbox.  Click the + button.

Jaiku - Go to your Jaiku page (http://yourusername.jaiku.com).   Scroll to the bottom of Your Jaikus.  Find the  Latest from yourusername (RSS) link.

Right-click the link and select Copy Shortcut (IE7) or Copy Link Location (Firefox).  Now go back to RSS Mixer and paste the feed location into the Enter a Feed textbox.  Click the + button.

4.   Now click the Mix it button on RSS Mixer.

5.  The resulting page will show you what your new feed looks like on the left side of the page.  On the right side, you will see the Downloads and Special Formats section.  This will give you the links to your new feed.