Google is phasing out Gears, phasing in HTML5

Filed under: Business, Developer, Web services, Google

Google Gears has been pushing web applications forward since 2007, allowing them to use local data and run offline. Although Gears is still relevant, Google has announced plans to let it fade away in favor of emerging HTML5 features that do the same things. The big difference is that HTML5 will be universal, and won't require Google to offer support and ensure compatibility.

Google told the LA Times "We are excited that much of the technology in Gears, including offline support and geolocation APIs, are being incorporated into the HTML5 spec as an open standard supported across browsers, and see that as the logical next step for developers looking to include these features in their websites." There are still some issues, though, because HTML5 is still far from universally-adopted, and Google isn't supporting Gears for some browsers. Even Google's own Chrome doesn't work with Gears on a Mac.

Google will continue keeping Gears up and running so that existing users don't experience problems, but it's encouraging developers to choose HTML5 in the future.

[via VentureBeat]

Google is phasing out Gears, phasing in HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments