Google Apps will drop support for older browsers starting August 1 according to a post on the company's blog.
Google says it's making the change because newer technologies like HTML5 are required for new features in Google Apps, and that older browser just "don't have the chops."
Culling support for older browsers also means that Google doesn't have to do as much testing when it releases new features.
So on August 1, Google will support only the current and one-prior "major" release of each browser. (For instance, Internet Explorer 7 will no longer be supported, as IE8 and IE9 have come out since.)The company won't guarantee that new features will work right in older browsers.
This is actually kind of a big deal for companies who have standardized on Google Apps -- it now means that every time a new version of their preferred browser comes out, they will have to upgrade users who are on the two-ago release.
Ironically, it could be a particularly big problem for Google's own Chrome browser, which gets a major release every few months.
Avoiding time-consuming desktop software upgrades is one of the big justifications for cloud computing apps like Google Apps. But this is a good reminder that even Web apps rely on one very important piece of desktop software -- the Web browser.
For the latest tech news, visit SAI: Silicon Alley Insider. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
See Also:
- Eric Schmidt Is A Mac, Not A PC
- Here's What Happens In Households With Both An iPad And An Android Tablet
- Google Was Ready To Pay $100 Million To Record Labels
Want To Use Google Apps? Better Upgrade Your Web Browser (GOOG)
No comments:
Post a Comment