Atom RSS?

As a sideline follower of the development of the Atom syndication format and API, I was at first taken aback; then amused; by this phrase I saw on John Porcano’s blog:

“By the way, he added Atom RSS”

Has “RSS” really become so common that it no longer refers to a particular technical specification, but instead refers to blog syndication generally?  Has it really joined the ranks of Kleenex and Xerox?

If this is true, then of course we need to determine the appropriate pronunciation – is it “are-ess-ess”?  “russ”?  “ers” (as in, ‘terse’)?

Comments

  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2004
    Think of RSS as a smart bookmark list.
  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2004
    Interesting point.
    And more ... it shows how ATOM is deeply naturalizing itself in RSS world ;)
  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2004
    NewsGator does rule - I have no regrets about that $30.
  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2004
    I was wondering about John's statement too. I figured whether it was a typo or a new way or referring to syndication formats, I still knew what he was talking about. I was hoping the ATOM guys had formed a truce with the RSS guys. So much for that idea.