Unless youre a techie and such technical stuff sets yourheart a racing, knowledge of such material is not reallyrequired by the end-user. People dont have to understand HTML to enjoy the Internet.

Likewise, knowledge of RSS is not important to theordinary computer or Internet user. MicrosoftsRSS Longhorn statement puts RSS where it rightfullybelongs, in the background, invisible...seamlesslyintegrated into your computing and web browsingexperience.

It will make RSS an integral element of its new operating system which has the codename - Longhorn. It will firmly place RSS into the heart of your computing experience, enriching and enhancing it in more ways than even Microsoft is probably aware of yet!

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and it haslong been associated with blogs and blogging becausethey are written in RSS or XML format - code like HTML.DOS stands for Disk Operating System by the way and its the platform for operating systems on yourcomputer. MS-DOS is the most widely used system.Ignorance can sometimes be overrated.

Microsofts announcement to place RSS features into its nextWindows version - due out in 2006 and in servers by 2007- is truly groundbreaking . You can read more aboutthis June 24th announcement in an eWeek Articleby Peter Galli.

This takes RSS out of just browsers and RSS readers (called aggregators); and gives it much more powerful applications. Most interesting is a new set of applications - Simple List Extensions - allowing web sites to publish feeds containing lists such as a wish list or top 10 list. Should make DavidLetterman happy!

All kidding aside, for you, these RSS applications willmake subscribing to a web site or feed a lot easier. You can now take control of your Internet, viewingand accessing the information you want to digest.

Whats really important about Microsofts plans, (I believe)is the fact that this now makes RSS legit. Lets face it,outside of blogging and a few alert online marketers, RSS isstill not understood by most people.

But as stated before, people dont have to understand HTML to enjoy the Internet. They dont really have to know about servers, DOS, or even ISPs to get full benefit from the web. Likewise, RSS doesnt have to be known or even understood by the majority of the people who will be using it.

But its helpful that you do understand that for you the future of RSS holds many treats and the full impact wont really be known for years. Under the Creative Commons license,RSS applications could have a far reaching impact on your computing world of the future.

The potential of RSS is enormous. It may even pave the way for a Billion Channel Internet - where each web site is its own little broadcasting system. An interactive channel that broadcasts audio and video feeds to all interested subscribers.

Microsofts announcement may just be the nucleus of sucha system. Many components are already in place like podcasting,broadcatching, data feeds, etc. and its not that great a leap or too fantastical to imagine such a system will exist in the very near future.

For RSS changes HOW information is transmitted on the web...from a passive role to a more pro-active one.Dont come to us - we will deliver.

RSS is also one of the more democratic elements of theweb where the little guy has a say. It was more than fitting that Microsofts RSS team met with Dave Winer(Mr. RSS to those who keep a close watch on all things RSS)and asked his opinions on these recent developments.

Ordinary Bloggers have preached the benefits of RSS for solong - the mantra was becoming a tiresome echo across theweb. No one seemed to be taking RSS seriously.

In that light, it cant be understated that Microsofts incorporation of RSS into Windows is one of those true turning points that has to be acknowledged. It does change how computers and the Internet will work.

This is a great step forward in making RSS an integrated andseamless component of computers. Without a doubt, it is the most important thing to hit the computing world since Bill Gates learned how to count to one!

At last, someone has gotten RSS right.

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