Link TV - RSS Info

http://www.linktv.org/cgi/database/mosaic_rss.xml

What is RSS?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML-based format for distributing and aggregating Web content (such as news headlines). Using RSS, Web content providers can easily create and disseminate feeds of data that include, for example, news links, headlines, and summaries. Other sites using RSS to deliver content to a wider audience include Yahoo! and CNET News.com. RSS has been gaining in popularity as a SPAM-free alternative to email-based content distribution. Sites that offer RSS feeds usually provide you a link called "rss" or "xml" and/or use the or icons.

How can I use RSS?

Typical applications for consuming or using RSS include using a program known as a "News Aggregator" to collect, update and display RSS feeds and incorporating RSS feeds into weblogs. News Aggregators (also called news readers) will download and display RSS feeds for you. A number of free and commercial News Aggregators are available for download. Popular news readers include:

AmphetaDesk (cross platform, open-sourced, syndicated news aggregator)
FeedDemon (power set of tools, native windows application)
NetNewsWire (Mac OS X RSS news reader which uses a three-paned interface to display web sites and their news)
NewsGator (RSS "News Aggregator" that runs in MS Outlook )
NewsMonster (Mozilla browser-based java plug-in)
Pluck (Browser-based news reader, runs in Internet Explorer)
Radio Userland (weblog tool that builds a site, organizes and archives posts, and publishes content.)
RSS Reader (For windows, reads RSS & Atom)
And more (Yahoo! directory listing for RSS readers)

RSS Standards (flavors)

RSS has been around since 1995 and has three major different formats. RSS .91, while simple, lacks sophisticated functionality. RSS 1.0 attempted to correct some of the limitations of RSS .91 but is very complex and difficult to program. RSS 2.0 is a competing standard that took another approach in solving some initial problems in the standard. Most RSS readers are version agnostic and will read any of the three versions. Link TV distributes its content in RSS 2.0, the most recently published standard. Other related formats include Atom and SOAP.

What kind of content does Link TV syndicate via RSS?

Link TV is now offering Mosaic headlines in the RSS format. We plan to offer additional content, such as World Music information, information on our other collections of stream ed content, our weekly newsletter and other content as appropriate. If you have suggestions for content that would be of value to offer as an RSS feed, please let us know.

More information on RSS

For more information on RSS, try Syndic8.com, a large clearning house for RSS feeds or feedster.com, an RSS search engine. You can also visit Radio Userland, one of the first commercial products for blogging and reading RSS.