Nothing and a whole lot!

That's if Microsoft gets it right. First impressions appear to\rbe very promising and all indications show a much more powerful\rRSS system, neatly integrated into the next version of Windows.\rCould this finally mean the 'coming of age' for RSS?

But what does RSS mean to the average computer user at\rthis moment in time? Will people get RSS? Does Microsoft \rhave an education project on their hands with RSS?

Not Really!

Does DOS mean anything to you? If you're like 95% of\rcomputer users -- probably not much. But that doesn't \rstop us from enjoying our computers and fully benefiting\rfrom DOS. Sometimes complete ignorance is bless.

Unless you're a techie and such technical stuff makes \ryour heart skip a beat, knowledge of such material is not \rreally required by the end-user. Fortunately, people don't \rhave to understand 'HTML' to enjoy the Internet.

Likewise, knowledge of RSS is not important to the\rordinary computer or Internet user. Microsoft's\rRSS Longhorn puts RSS where it rightfully belongs, \rin the background, invisible...seamlessly integrated \rinto your computing and web browsing experience.

It will make RSS an integral element of its new operating \rsystem which has the code-name Longhorn. It will firmly \rplace RSS into the heart of your computing experience, \renriching and enhancing it in more ways than even Microsoft \ris probably aware of yet!

RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication' and it has\rlong been associated with blogs and blogging because\rthey are written in RSS or XML format -- code like HTML.\rDOS stands for 'Disk Operating System' by the way \rand it's the platform for operating systems on your\rcomputer. MS-DOS is the most widely used system.\rIgnorance can sometimes be overrated.

Microsoft's announcement of its plans to place RSS features\rinto its next Windows version, due out in 2006 and in servers \rby 2007, is truly groundbreaking . You can read more about\rMicrosoft's RSS plans here: Understanding RSS In The Next Windows.

This takes RSS out of just browsers and RSS readers (called \raggregators); and giving it much more powerful applications. \rMost interesting is a new set of applications -- Simple List \rExtensions -- allowing web sites to publish feeds containing \rlists such as a wish list or top 10 list. Should make David \rLetterman happy!

All kidding aside, for you, these RSS applications will\rbe very beneficial and rewarding. These applications will \rmake browsing, searching and subscribing to your favorite \rinformation or sites a lot more easier. You can now take control \rof your Internet, viewing and accessing the information you \rwant to digest.

It has many personal and business applications that will\rtake 'keeping in touch' to a new level. Calendars, events,\rupdates, personal photo albums...can all now be syndicated\rwith the new RSS platform.

What's really important about Microsoft's plans (I believe)\ris the fact that this now makes RSS legit. Lets face it,\routside of blogging and a few alert online marketers, RSS is\rstill not understood by most people.

But as stated before, people don't have to understand 'HTML' \rto enjoy the Internet. They don't really have to know about \rservers, DOS, or even ISPs to get full benefit from the web. \rLikewise, RSS doesn't have to be known or even understood \rby the majority of the people who will be using it.

But it's helpful that you do understand for you the \rfuture of RSS holds many treats and the full impact won't \rreally be known for years. Under the Creative Commons license,\rRSS applications could have a far reaching impact on your \rcomputing world of the future.

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

Microsoft's announcement may just be the nucleus of such\ra system. Many components are already in place like podcasting,\rbroadcatching, data feeds, etc. and its not that great a leap \ror too fantastical to imagine such a system will exist in \rthe very near future.

For RSS changes HOW information is transmitted on the \rweb...from a passive role to a more pro-active one.\rDon't come to us -- we will deliver.

RSS is also one of the more democratic elements of the\rweb where the little guy has a say. It was more than \rfitting that Microsoft's RSS team met with Dave Winer\r(Mr. RSS to those who keep a close watch on all things RSS)\rand asked his opinions on these recent developments.

Ordinary Bloggers have preached the benefits of RSS for so\rlong; the mantra was becoming a tiresome echo across the\rweb. No one seemed to be taking RSS seriously.

In that light, it can't be understated that Microsoft's \rincorporation of RSS into Windows is one of those true \r'turning points' that has to be acknowledged. It does \rchange how computers and the Internet will work.

This is a great step forward in making RSS an integrated and\rseamless component of computers and the Internet.

At last, someone has gotten RSS right.

This author's articles on RSS have appeared on such sites as:\rSitepronews, Bonafidereviews, Addme, and Ezinearticles.\rTo add RSS to your Site within minutes, download this simple \rRSS and Blogging Guide.

Copyright ? 2005 Titus Hoskins http://www.bizwaremagic.com.\rThis article may be freely distributed if this resource\rbox stays attached.