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Google Kills Its RSS Subscription Browser Extension Too

techcrunch.com

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Re: Google Kills Its RSS Subscription Browser Extension Too

#2

Post by anon1385 »

>The extension, which previously placed a small, orange RSS icon next to the website’s URL in the Chrome address bar, no longer functions even on Chrome browsers where the extension is installed and enabled.

So how have they disabled it in browsers where it was already installed? Does it use some backend service that they have taken down? Or was it disabled by a silent Chrome update?

Re: Google Kills Its RSS Subscription Browser Extension Too

#4

Post by fjarlq »

anon1385 wrote: post #2

>The extension, which previously placed a small, orange RSS icon next to the website’s URL in the Chrome address bar, no longer functions even on Chrome browsers where the extension is installed and enabled. So how have they disabled it in browsers where it was already installed? Does it use some backend service that they have taken down? Or was it disabled by a silent Chrome update?

It, RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) v2.2.0, is still installed and working in my Chrome. It does not seem to use any backend service. It just reads RSS information on a webpage and creates subscription links for you that go to the RSS webreader of your choice (I've been using Google Reader with it).

But, the extension's website has been removed: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nlbjncdgjeocebhnmk...

I believe that version (the original) was written by a Google employee, Finnur Thorarinsson (finnur at chromium.org): https://plus.google.com/104317586100499660731/posts

Another extension claims to be a fork, but I don't know any specifics: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/rss-subscription-e...

Re: Google Kills Its RSS Subscription Browser Extension Too

#7

Post by onemorepassword »

I'm one tinfoil hat away from believing this isn't just about discontinuing unprofitable products, but a concerted effort to kill off support for open standards (RSS, CalDAV, what's next?) and turning the Google universe into a Facebook/Apple style walled garden called Google+.

Evil plan or not, the days of Google as the champion of the open web are over.

Re: Google Kills Its RSS Subscription Browser Extension Too

#8

Post by Achshar »

anon1385 wrote: post #2

>The extension, which previously placed a small, orange RSS icon next to the website’s URL in the Chrome address bar, no longer functions even on Chrome browsers where the extension is installed and enabled. So how have they disabled it in browsers where it was already installed? Does it use some backend service that they have taken down? Or was it disabled by a silent Chrome update?

It will be there, but it wont sync to new systems. It will be treated like a local install.

Re: Google Kills Its RSS Subscription Browser Extension Too

#9

Post by sergiosgc »

marban wrote: post #6

Hate the GR shutdown but that seems just like a logical house cleaning consequence.

Only if you assume the extension existed to support the Google Reader service, which is false. RSS is a standard with many uses outside Google Reader.

Re: Google Kills Its RSS Subscription Browser Extension Too

#10

Post by marban »

sergiosgc wrote: post #9
marban wrote: post #6

Hate the GR shutdown but that seems just like a logical house cleaning consequence.

Only if you assume the extension existed to support the Google Reader service, which is false. RSS is a standard with many uses outside Google Reader.

Sure, but what was the default service?
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