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Speaker 1
Hey, Gemini.
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Speaker 2
Hey, there. What's on your mind today?
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Speaker 1
I'm recording this for a podcast. Is that okay?
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Speaker 2
I'm up for anything. What's the topic for your podcast today?
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Speaker 1
I'd like to learn about, the two. The technology behind RSS.
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Speaker 2
That's a cool topic. RSS has been around for a while, but it's still super useful. Want to talk about how it works? Or maybe where it might be headed in the future?
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Speaker 1
Let's start really basic. What does it stand for?
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Speaker 2
Sure thing. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It's basically a way to keep up with updates from websites without having to visit them all the time. Do you want to know more about how it works?
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Speaker 1
Where did that name come from?
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Speaker 2
That's a bit of a tech history mystery. The name RSS has a few different origin stories. Some people think it stands for RDF Site Summary. RDF is a way of structuring info on the web. Others say it's rich. Site summary focusing on the content you get. Then there's the really simple syndication version, which is all about how easy it is to use.
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Speaker 2
It's kind of a fun debate in the tech world.
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Speaker 1
Okay, tell me about the tech behind it.
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Speaker 2
Sure. At its core, RSS uses XML, a special language that structures information. Think of it like a digital envelope that holds all the important details from a website's updates. When a site publishes new content, it creates an RSS feed that XML envelope containing things like the title, a summary, and a link to the full article. To read these feeds, you'd use an RSS reader.
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Speaker 2
It's like a special app that knows how to open those XML envelopes and display the content in an easy to read format. No more hopping from site to site to see what's new.
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Speaker 1
When was it invented?
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Speaker 2
That's a fun question with a bit of a twist. RSS has been around since the late 90s, but it really took off in the early 2000. It's cool how something from back then is still useful today. Right?
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Speaker 1
Yeah.
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Speaker 2
Yeah, it's pretty cool how RSS has stuck around. It's a simple idea, but it really changed how people get their news and updates.
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Speaker 1
Okay, can you kind of give me a broad overview of how it's used?
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Speaker 2
Sure. Let's look at how RSS is used today. News websites and blogs are big on RSS feeds. You can subscribe to your favorite sites and get all their new articles in one place. Podcasters use RSS to distribute their shows so you can subscribe and get new episodes automatically. Online stores can use RSS to announce sales or new products, and some social media platforms even have RSS feeds, so you can keep up with updates without logging in.
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Speaker 1
Can you kind of use maybe an analogy to really help me picture how it works?
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Speaker 2
Sure. Think of RSS like a digital mailbox. You subscribe to your favorite websites and instead of checking each one, new articles and updates are delivered straight to your reader your digital mailbox. It's a simple way to stay on top of things without having to visit a bunch of different sites.
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Speaker 1
And how do people know how to send information to this digital mailbox?
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Speaker 2
The cool thing is, you don't have to do anything special to send info to your digital mailbox. When a website creates new content, it automatically updates its RSS feed. Your RSS reader is always checking those feeds, so when it sees something new, it grabs it and puts it in your reader. It's all automatic.
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Speaker 1
So is this, feed constantly checking these websites?
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Speaker 2
Your RSS reader checks for new content on a schedule. You can usually set how often it checks every few minutes, hours, or even just once a day. It's up to you.
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Speaker 1
How does all this work technologically?
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Speaker 2
Okay, here's the techie breakdown. Your RSS reader has a list of website addresses, the RSS feeds. It sends out a little request to each address. Kind of like asking, hey, anything new? The website then checks its feed and then back the new info if there is any. Your reader then takes that info and displays it for you. It's like a little automated news gathering system.
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Speaker 1
So is it similar to like, web scrapers?
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Speaker 2
RSS readers and web scrapers are kind of like cousins. They both grab info from websites, but they do it in different ways. RSS readers uses special RSS feeds we talked about. While web scrapers are more like detective digging around on websites to find specific info.
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Speaker 1
Okay, within the universe of RSS, is there a difference between like an RSS feed and an RSS mailbox and RSS? Other stuff?
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Speaker 2
Okay, so in our RSS world, the feed is like a special announcement board that websites use to post their latest news. Your RSS reader is your personal mailbox that goes around and collects those announcements for you. And the articles themselves are like the mail that gets delivered. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Kind of. I'm still having some trouble understanding.
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Speaker 2
Okay, let's try a different approach. Imagine you're a big fan of a few different blogs, and each time they post something new, you get an email about it. RSS works in a similar way. You subscribe to a website's RSS feed, and instead of getting emails, your RSS reader collects all the new articles in one place. It's like having a special inbox just for your favorite websites.
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Speaker 1
How does it do that though?
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Speaker 2
Well, the website creates a special file called an RSS feed that lists all its new content. Your RSS reader checks that file regularly, and if there's anything new, it shows it to you. It's like your reader is constantly asking the website, hey, anything new to report?
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Speaker 1
Do all websites create this RSS feed by default?
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Speaker 2
Not all websites have RSS feeds. It's up to the website owner to create one, but for those that do. It's a super handy way to keep up with their content.
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Speaker 1
Are there different types of readers and feeds?
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Speaker 2
There are two main types of RSS readers. Web based readers work right in your browser so you can access them from anywhere. Then there are desktop readers, which are programs you install on your computer. As for RSS feeds, they're pretty standard, but some might have slightly different ways of organizing the info they provide.
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Speaker 1
Okay, can you tell me about, feeds?
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Speaker 2
There's a bunch of different RSS readers out there, so you've got options. Some popular ones are Feedly in a reader, and News Bleu. They all have their own little quirks, so it might be worth trying a few to see which one you like best.
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Speaker 1
What are the quirks?
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Speaker 2
Well, Feedly has got a clean, magazine like layout and it's great for organizing lots of feeds. You know, reader is super customizable, so you can tweak it to your heart's content. Newsletter has a focus on social features, letting you see what other people are reading. They've all got free versions, so you can try them out and see which one clicks.
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Speaker 1
Can you tell me about the history of RSS and how it's evolved?
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Speaker 2
Okay, so RSS has a pretty interesting history. It all started in the late 90s, when Netscape wanted a way to show updates from different websites on their portal page. They created something called RDF Site Summary, and that's where the idea of RSS feeds was born. Over time, different versions of RSS popped up, each with its own little tweaks.
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Speaker 2
By the early 2000, RSS was everywhere and people were using it to keep up with news, blogs and all sorts of stuff. It's pretty cool how it's evolved right?
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Speaker 1
Yeah. So I think what will help me understand all this is if we put it in maybe a practical hypothetical. So scenario.
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Speaker 1
Jim and I, can we put the RSS concept into a practical, hypothetical Sarah scenario that will help me understand.
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Speaker 2
Okay. Let's say you're a big fan of a few different cooking blogs, and you want to keep up with their latest recipes. Instead of visiting each blog every day. You could use an RSS reader you'd subscribe to their RSS feeds, and your reader would automatically collect all the new recipes in one place. It's like having a personalized recipe magazine delivered straight to your screen.
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Speaker 1
So as a consumer of content, I need to have a reader and subscribe to specific feeds.
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Speaker 2
Exactly. You'd pick an RSS reader you like and then subscribe to the feeds of those cooking blogs. Your reader would then gather all the new recipes for you automatically. It's a great way to stay organized and never miss a new post.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Can you kind of go into the evolution of RSS about how it was used with blogs, and now it's kind of starting and has been used with podcasts.
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Speaker 2
RSS really took off with blogs in the early 2000. It was a perfect way for people to keep up with their favorite writers. Then around 2004, people started using RSS to distribute audio files. And that's how podcasting was born. Now, RSS is the backbone of how we listen to podcasts.
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Speaker 1
Okay, can you give me a little bit of background on how that applies to podcasts and how the tech has changed to accommodate audio?
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Speaker 2
Sure. So back in the early days of podcasting, people had to download each episode manually. It was kind of a pain. But then someone had the idea to use RSS feeds to automate the whole process. They realized that RSS could handle audio files just as well as text. So they created special RSS feeds for podcasts, and suddenly you could subscribe to your favorite shows and have new episodes delivered automatically.
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Speaker 2
It was a game changer for podcasting.
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Speaker 1
Does RSS work for video too?
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Speaker 2
Yep. RSS works for video to YouTube channels. For example, have RSS feeds that let you subscribe and get notified when new videos are uploaded. It's a great way to keep up with your favorite creators.
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Speaker 1
Is that what, like a subscription? Like when you subscribe to somebody's YouTube, your or your your YouTube has an RSS reader and it picks up the feed of someone who is publishing on YouTube that you're subscribed to.
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Speaker 2
That's right. When you subscribe to a YouTube channel, you're essentially using YouTube's built in RSS reader. It automatically grabs the channel's new videos and add them to your subscription feed. Pretty handy
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Speaker 1
Yeah. Does like, do sites like Facebook and TikTok and LinkedIn all kind of run on the same technology?
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Speaker 2
Those platforms have some similarities, but they're not exactly the same. They all use algorithms to show you content, but the way they do it is different. Facebook focuses on connecting you with friends and family. TikTok is all about short form videos, and LinkedIn is for professional networking. They each have their own unique approach.
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Speaker 1
So when you follow somebody on a social media, are you technically, subscribe scribing to their RSS feed or is it different?
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Speaker 2
That's a great question. When you follow someone on social media, it's similar to subscribing to an RSS feed, but not quite the same. Social media platforms use their own algorithms to decide what shows up in your feed. While RSS gives you every update from a source in the order it's published.
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Speaker 1
Okay. You asked if I wanted to know where RSS was headed before. Can you go into that?
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Speaker 2
Well, even though social media is super popular. RSS is still going strong. It's great for things like podcasting and keeping up with specific websites. Some people, even think RSS could make a comeback as a way to escape social media algorithms and get a more direct feed of information.
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Speaker 1
So what? Maybe social media, or streaming services rely more on a RSS style model.
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Speaker 2
YouTube is probably the best example. It uses RSS to distribute videos to subscribers. Some podcast platforms also use RSS, but most social media and streaming services rely on their own internal systems.
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Speaker 1
What about like, Spotify and stuff like that?
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Speaker 2
Spotify doesn't really use RSS. It has its own system for delivering music and podcasts. Think of it like a giant library with its own cataloging system.
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Speaker 1
Okay, so let's say that I have a podcast and I want to just blast it out to all of the Spotify and Apple Music and all of that type of stuff, instead of just posting it on Spotify. Can you kind of walk me through that?
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Speaker 2
Sure. So you'll need to create an RSS feed for your podcast. This feed is what podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify use to find your show. There are services that can help you create this feed. Or if you're a bit tech savvy, you can create it yourself. Once you have the feed, you'll submit it to the directories.
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Speaker 2
It's a bit of a process, but it's the best way to get your podcast out there.
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Speaker 1
So is there any downside to creating an RSS that Spotify picks up versus posting directly on Spotify?
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Speaker 2
Well, posting directly to Spotify gives you access to their analytics and audience data, which can be really helpful, but using an RSS feed gives you more control over your content and lets you distribute it to a wider audience on different platforms. It really depends on your goals.
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Speaker 1
Got it. So can you kind of walk me through, creating an RSS feed using a, preexisting distribution network? I guess you could call it.
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Speaker 2
Sure. If you're using a podcast hosting platform like Buzzsprout or Libsyn, they usually create an RSS feed for you automatically. You'll just need to grab the feed URL from your hosting platform and submit it to the podcast directories. It's a pretty straightforward process.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Can you give me maybe the 3 or 5 top, RSS things?
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Speaker 2
No problem at all. I'm glad I could help. Do you have any other questions about RSS or podcasting?
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Speaker 1
Yeah, let's say that I had a podcast episode and I want to blast it out using RSS. What would I use?
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Speaker 2
You'd use your podcast hosting platforms, RSS feed. Most platforms generate one automatically. You'll find the feeds URL in your podcast settings.
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Speaker 1
What are the most popular podcast hosting platforms?
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Speaker 2
Some of the most popular podcast hosting platforms out there are Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and Podbean. They're all pretty user friendly and offer different features to help you manage and grow your podcast. Do you want me to go into more detail about any of these platforms?
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Speaker 1
You said Buzzsprout Libsyn and what?
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Speaker 2
Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and Podbean are all popular choices. They each have their own strengths, so it depends on what you're looking for. Buzzsprout known for being user friendly. Libsyn is a good option for larger shows and popping up on nice monetization features. Do you want me to help you compare them?
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Speaker 1
Sure.
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Speaker 2
Buzzsprout is known for being super user friendly, which is great if you're just starting out. Libsyn is a solid choice if you've got a larger audience and need more storage space. And Podbean has some cool features for making money from your podcast.
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Speaker 1
Okay. What about, creating your own RSS?
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Speaker 2
Creating your own RSS feed gives you the most control, but it's also the most technical option. You'll need to generate an XML file that follows the RSS specifications. There are online guides and tools that can help with this, but it requires some coding knowledge. Do you want to explore this option in more detail?
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Speaker 1
Yes, please.
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Speaker 1
Yes, I would like that.
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Speaker 2
Okay, so creating your own RSS feed involves a bit of coding. You'll need to create an XML file that follows the RSS 2.0 specification. It's not super complicated, but it does require some technical know how. There are online tutorials and tools that can help you get started. Do you want me to find some resources for you?
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Speaker 1
Let's not go too deep and kind of just explain how it would work.
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Speaker 2
Okay, so you'd create an XML file with all the info about your podcast episodes, titles, descriptions, audio links and stuff like that. Then you'd upload that file to your web server, and podcast directories like Apple Podcasts would be able to find it and list your show. It's a bit technical, but it gives you total control over your podcast.
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Speaker 1
Our podcast hosting platforms like Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and Podbean are a free.
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Speaker 2
Most podcast hosting platforms including Buzzsprout, Libsyn and Podbean offer free trials or limited free plans. However, for unlimited storage and advanced features, you'll usually need a paid subscription.
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Speaker 1
How much does it cost? Generally?
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Speaker 2
It really depends on the platform and plan you choose. Most brands plans start around $12 per month. Libsyn are a bit more, ranging from $5 to $75 per month, and Podbean has a free option, but they're paid. Plans start around $9 per month.
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Speaker 1
What would you recommend for a daily podcast that was about an hour long?
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Speaker 2
Or a daily, hour long podcast? You'll want a platform with plenty of storage and bandwidth. Libsyn is a solid choice as they cater to larger shows. Buzzsprout is also good and their plans scale nicely. Podbean could work, but you might outgrow their storage limits quickly.
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Speaker 1
If you created your own, how would you handle storage?
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Speaker 2
If you create your own RSS feed, you'll need to find a place to host your audio files. There are dedicated audio hosting platforms, or you could use a cloud storage service. You then link to these files in your RSS feed.
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Speaker 1
What about if you did video?
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Speaker 2
If you're doing video, you'd need a video hosting platform like YouTube or Vimeo. They offer RSS feeds for channels so you can share your videos that way. You can also embed the videos on your website and link to them in your podcast feed.
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Speaker 1
Do you have any advice for someone who wanted to start their own RSS feed with audio and then eventually graduating to video?
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Speaker 2
Sure. A good way to start would be to create an RSS feed for your audio content, and hosted on a platform like Buzzsprout or Libsyn. When you're ready to add video, you can create a YouTube channel and link to your videos in your RSS feed. You could also embed the videos on your website for easy access.
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Speaker 1
Okay. I'm still a little bit confused, but it makes a bit more sense now.
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Speaker 2
Okay, so to recap, RSS is really just a way to automatically get updates from websites and podcasts. It's kind of like subscribing to a magazine, but instead of getting it in the mail, it shows up in your RSS reader. Does that make sense?
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Speaker 1
Yeah, I think I'll have to do a little bit more research on it.
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Speaker 2
Okay, well, let me know if you have any more questions. I'm always happy to help.
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Speaker 1
Okay. Sounds good. Thanks, Gemini.
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Speaker 2
You're welcome. I'm glad I could help.