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Microsoft Releases Specifications And Architectural Overview Of Windows Longhorn RSS Functionality

Microsoft recently announced that RSS will be integrated into its next version of the Windows operating system, Windows Longhorn (see Windows Longhorn Loves RSS).

Specifications and an architectural overview are now available from Microsoft so that developers and content publishers can begin exploring the new RSS capabilities.  Basic end-user RSS functionality will be available when the first Beta release of Windows Longhorn is released in the summer of 2005.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is primarily used today for news sites, weblogs (blogs), and podcasting.  By April 2005, there were an estimated 60 million blogs worldwide, and most have RSS or Atom feeds that allow users to subscribe with newsreaders or through Web services like MyYahoo or Newsgator.  Websites can also syndicate and dynamically merge news and articles from news services, websites, and blogs around the world.

With this literal explosion in the use of RSS, Microsoft recognized that RSS could integrate information across many differing applications and decided to integrate RSS support deeply into Windows Longhorn.  The new RSS support will allow application developers to build advanced applications using RSS.

Windows Longhorn RSS platform support in Longhorn has three parts:

1.  The Common RSS Feed List gives application developers access to the list of feeds to which the user is subscribed.

2.  The Common RSS Data Store provides access to all content downloaded to a PC by RSS - text, pictures, audio, calendar events, documents, etc.  All applications will have access to this content.

3.  The RSS Platform Sync Engine automatically downloads data and any file enclosures for use by any application. Developers will have access to this RSS data without having to manage details like synchronization schedules or subscriptions.

RSS support in Windows Longhorn platform will be discussed in detail at Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in September 2005.  PDC attendees will receive an early version of the software so they can begin exploring how to build RSS support into their applications.    

Learn more about the RSS in Windows Longhorn and how to incorporate RSS functionality into your application with Windows Platform Services at the Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN)...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/longhorn/understanding/rss/default.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/longhorn/understanding/rss/rsslonghorn/

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