The giant has blinked and is considering support for RSS webfeed* technology, in addition to Atom, according to CNET. CNET notes it is a step towards neutrality while the technology evolves.
Personally, I think that Google is taking baby steps to head all the way over to RSS and abandon Atom. They simply do not want to cause a stink similar to the one emitted when Google's Blogger endorsed Atom. Note to non-techies—I also had to re-read, "Google's Blogger endorsed Atom," to make sure this was English. But I digress.
Google is a leviathan. The gravity around their technology decisions could sway a new technologies adoption if they endorsed it early enough. I mean, people are seemingly selling their kids on eBay to land an Orkut invite or Gmail account. Unfortunately webfeed technology was already out of the gate by the time they sided with Atom.
Bottom line: Google would not need to offer RSS unless it was clearly emerging as the dominant webfeed technology.
Webfeed news shows us the storied evolution of this technology as it struggles to not become the next Pointcast. From RSS being wrapped into browsers, to folks worrying that RSS readers will clog the Web, webfeed technology makes for a good story. You can follow some of that story here. But for an excellent source on RSS overall, visit PR Opinions.
My gut tells me that Atom is the Betamax of webfeeds. Sooner or later, I believe, Atom will concede victory and bow out. My newsreader (Gush) doesn't support Atom and I've noted that several blogs I like have resorted to feedburner in order not to be excluded from people's daily blog-feed consumption. Only time will tell, I suppose.
Posted by: Billy McCormac | 06/10/2004 at 03:46 AM
webfeed makes more sense. However, I think that RSS is here to stay.
Billy, I agree RSS will remain the dominant technology.
John
Posted by: john cass | 06/28/2004 at 12:44 PM