To RSS or not to RSS?

[Digby]

I'm hoping someone who knows more about computers than I do can offer some help. Basically there are certain websites I want to monitor for updates without manual refreshing or refreshing with a plugin in a browser. I want notification (hopefully audible, perhaps email) of when something about the page has changed. The sites themselves don't use RSS, so that option is out the window, although I know you can convert any URL into RSS somehow. I have some basic requirements for this:

Free software, no subscription
Preferably desktop based
Able to automatically update/refresh however frequently I please
Ability to toggle a sound notification on/off

Is this something I will have to try programming myself or setting up a web server for? There are free services that will provide what I need, but with slow update times (once a day or so), those are out. My requirements are quite simple, but I don't really know how to narrow down what I am searching for. Maybe RSS is not even the right thing, being somewhat antiquated now....

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Dunring]

I use Feedly and it's for web browsers and an Android app. It's has a lot of presets, but you can add your own RSS feeds too. It's free and couldn't be easier to use, all menu driven.

 

[Digby]

Thanks, but to make your own RSS feed from an URL that doesn't use it they want a monthly subscription fee

 

[Salt]

Can You explain the use of RSS in Audio Science?
Thanks.

 

[Digby]

Can You explain the use of RSS in Audio Science?
Thanks.

Yes, it is an 'other area of interest'.