In this article we will quickly cover the three basic functions that allow you to get input or output from Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). These functions are as follows:
IE* RSS Feed Function
The image on the left is the icon representing the RSS Feed function. RSS
Active RSS Feed
stands for “Really Simple Syndication”, but lately it also has come to mean “Rich Site Summary”. When you browse a site with RSS feed, this icon will change in color from it grey color to bright orange. At that point, you can click it and you will be able to subscribe to the feed using your RSS reader (mine is set through Google). Thereafter, any new update from the site will show up in your RSS feed. Thus RSS feed is a way to get input through IE8.
IE8 Read Mail
Next is the Read Mail function. This is tied to your default email program. On my Windows Vista machine, it defaults to launching Windows Mail. I don’t quite see how this ties to IE8, but I suppose it makes it convenient to have email readily available from the IE8 interface.
IE8 Print Function
Last but not least is the Print function. Obviously this is a way to get output from IE8. When you click the Print icon, you will get three choices: Print, Print Preview, and Page Setup. If you select Print IE8 simply prints the page you are looking at to the default printer. Print Preview allows you to see how the print will look like, possibly make some adjustmenets, before you commit to a print. Finally, Page Setup allows you to make adjustments to your printing setup–to include margins, printing orientation, font to use, and header/footer information.
There are really nothing earth shattering about the functions just discussed; however, if you’ve never used them, you might not know how useful they can be–after all, these features are IE8’s primary means of inputting and outputting to its users.
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