7 ways to receive the latest news before anyone else

Getting instant updates on news reports and breaking stories is no longer something confined to the needs of the press. Countless people like to stay up-to-date with events, regardless of whether it's part of their job or not.

Previously, this meant surfing the web without end, keeping on top of a limitless number of websites and constantly refreshing their front pages to catch a glimpse of new news. It's become a lot different in the last few years, though. Here's 7 ways to keep your finger on the pulse without it consuming your life:

1. Get automatic RSS news feeds

Using RSS web feeds is a great way to subscribe to lots of news sites so that you automatically get updated bulletins and headlines delivered to your screen without having to regularly log on to individual web sites.

When you open a news site in Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, you will know if there are any RSS feeds available because an orange logo will appear in the top right of the toolbar. If the feed option is there, give it a click, subscribe to the site’s feed and it will then be added to the RSS sidebar for instant access whenever you want it.

2 Use the Sidebar gadgets

When you’ve added a web feed to IE7, it’s automatically added to your feed reader gadget. In the options menu of this gadget you can select which of your IE7 RSS feeds you want displayed. So you could have all the latest BBC Sport headlines on your screen without having to go to the web site. There are also many other gadgets to choose from. Try adding the ITN news gadget to get video news straight to your desktop.

3. Read newspapers on screen

Sometimes when you want indepth news, web sites just don’t cut it. But never fear, with Windows Vista there are several ways you can read real newspapers on your computer. Log on to The Daily Telegraph, for example, and click the Telegraph PM link to read or print a special PDF afternoon version of the paper.

4. Download your favourite newspaper’s e-editions

Another way to keep an eye on the headlines in your favourite newspaper is to buy its e-edition. This electronic version is exactly the same as the printed one you’d buy in the shops, and you turn the pages on screen just like a real paper. Go to your paper’s web site to see if t here is an e-edition available. Prices range from £1 for a single issue to £50 for an annual subscription.

5. Get a podcast delivered as an MP3

Podcasting is a great way to listen to radio news on your PC at a time that suits you. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 and click Podcast and you’ll see a list of Radio 4 programmes you can download as MP3s. To get shows downloaded automatic ally, enter the podcast’s RSS feed into a programme such as iTunes by selecting Subscribe to Podcast in the Advanced menu.

6 Watch live TV news

Keep things topical with Windows Vista – watch live TV news using the Windows Media Center. You can have a channel like BBC News 24 minimised on the taskbar (just click on the top right of the Media Center view, as you would in any other window) so it’s always available for a quick watch. Don’t forget you can pause the feed or schedule a recording, so if there’s a news show on while you’re out or busy, you don’t have to miss it.

7. Be Alert

Using Windows Live Alerts, you can have news delivered straight to your mailbox, and it even integrates with Windows Live Messenger. Go to alerts.live.com and click Add Alerts to select a good source of news.