Here is another way we can look at RSS technology. Knowing about XML and how code is used in RSS is not important to everyone. Here we’ll go over some ideas and concepts and then you can work on what can be accomplished in your space.

First we had SMTP, it is the protocol that gave us email, which is a “pushed” content delivery method. Then we had HTTP and that protocol gave us www, which is a form of “static” content delivery. Now we have RSS, also used for content delivery, it uses a “pull” method.

With me so far?

I’m going to use a photographer account on KickRSS (gerbrandt) as an example to demonstrate. His name is Larry and he produces some of the greatest photos I’ve seen.

Larry takes a photo and uploads it to his website, in this case flickr. His would have been better because I would’ve given in a link from here.

SMTP: Larry can email all his friends about his new photo and either attach it or send everyone to his website for viewing.
HTTP: People can go to the website using an http browser and view it there.
RSS: Currently using an RSS reader, either desktop, email, web based, or mobile, we can view Larrys photo (or at least know it exists)

Larry decides he wants to change some colors on the image so he does.

SMTP: Larry can either email everyone again with edited image attached or suggest they go to website.
HTTP: Larry replaces image but people have to visit the page to see changes.
RSS: Larrys image is Everyones image. We all experience the same image (unless we saved it as something else)

Now, let’s move forward…
Larry RSS enables a photo directory on his computer which has internet connectivity. I “subscribe” to the directory RSS and place the feed on a plasma TV in my home or office. Larry delivers beautiful photos to all who enter, always fresh, always updating.

Imagine now it’s a piece of music, video, or other form of content. Just as SMTP (email) could not display images until we had MIME and HTTP (web) could not show video until we had flash and others), RSS is quietly growing as a content delivery medium that will continue to improve so don’t pooh pooh it just yet.

Mix in some $$$ and you’ve got what I’d consider the “next killer app.”

Most web users are currently usng RSS for news and blog articles but there is more opportunity available. Some big winners in RSS to date include technorati (rss backend) and feedburner (sold to Google for one hundred million).

Here are some very simple examples of RSS in use for “other content”…

Larrys Latest Photos… http://www.kickrss.com/gerbrandt

Classified Ads (insert your niche for ideas)
Taking RSS and applying it to old HTTP a website took a small niche area like classifieds for chiropractors and created an impressive service that dominates an industry. Using a web-based interface, users post one ad to one location. The ad updates and displays on any website, browser, email app, or mobile phone subscribed to the feed. If the user changes price or deletes the ad changes are noted everywhere.

So now others can display the content of the classified ads on different web sites. This creates content for webmasters, which is great for search engines. It also distributes the content of the advertisements across many channels, good for both the seller and the company providing the ads. Their service is free and it’s a great example of ways this technology can be used in small niche markets.

As an example this page displays RSS output with source ads coming from the primary website. http://www.chiropractordirectory.org/classifieds/

That’s what’s going on in the world of RSS today!