RSS is changing the way people get their news, but it's also having an interesting impact on broadband content delivery as well. We mentioned recently how Lindows is distributing their product via a modified version of BitTorrent, but the possibilities inherent in using RSS and BitTorrent together have been exciting many bloggers for the past three months.

While RSS is a simple concept for syndicating content on the web, its primary use now is to keep tabs on news-sources and blogs. By keeping track of changes to an RSS file, you're kept up to date concerning updated content via your delivery method of choice. BitTorrent, which we've often talked about, is an efficient peer to peer method of exchanging files between broadband users. The distribution method it uses is explained at the Bit Torrent website.

Many bloggers are thinking of combining these two technologies in order to create the perfect content delivery system. Since a Steve Gilmour column for Ziff-Davis last December, the discussion has spread like a virus among many bloggers (Techdirt, Ernest Miller, and even ex-Tech TV host Chris Pirillo, for example). However it's Scott Raymond whose entry best explains what has everyone excited:

"I want RSS feeds of BitTorrent files. A script would periodically check the feed for new items, and use them to start the download. Then, I could find a trusted publisher of an Alias RSS feed, and “subscribe” to all new episodes of the show, which would then start downloading automatically — like the “season pass” feature of the TiVo."

While illegal ideas abound, such as the instant download of every South Park episode the second it hits the net, the idea lends itself to a great number of ideas that could turn traditional distribution models on their heads, giving smaller operations a new opportunity for content distribution. Like in Lindows case, the system leans on the benefits of BitTorrent, where expenses are virtually non-existent; each downloader of a file shares a portion of the distribution cost.

RSS feeds layered on top keep track of the content, and because BitTorrent does cryptographic hashing of all data, subscribers to the feed can be sure they're getting what they think they're getting, whether that winds up being the latest Sopranos episode, or the latest Sveasoft firmware upgrade.

Despite ample discussion, one of the first practical applications of this idea has only surfaced this month. Programmer Andrew Grumet has announced the release of a beta version of an RSS+BitTorrent integration tool for Radio Userland's news aggregator, available (with additional detail) here.