People have used RSS feeds since 1999, but they're still a fantastic way to keep up-to-date on blogs and websites. In fact, they're so helpful that Google really wants to give it a new coat of paint with its new "follow" feature in Chrome.
Google Chrome's New Follow Feature
Over on the Chromium blog, Google is cooking up something interesting. The internet giant laments that it's tricky to keep tabs on all the incoming notifications you get online, such as mailing lists and RSS feeds.
Google's goal is to consolidate all of these incoming notifications into one manageable feed. This feed will build on existing RSS technology and give it a modern makeover via a "Follow" button.
When you visit a website with an RSS feed set up, your browser will show you a button to follow it. When you click it, Chrome adds the website to your feed. You can view this feed in a dedicated "Following" section that appears every time you open a new tab.
By doing this, Google puts a fresh new spin on the RSS feed. Instead of relying on an RSS extension that prods you every so often, you'll get all the latest updates on your favorite websites every time you open a new tab. If you see something you like, you can click on it to load it in the new tab you just opened, thus preserving your existing ones.
It's an intriguing idea, but it does rely on people having and maintaining active RSS feeds. Google asks web admins to blow the dust off of their old feeds and start filling it with new content so that people can begin following their website through Chrome.
If you want to give the Follow button a shot, it's a little tricky to get right now. First of all, you need to download Google Chrome Canary on your Android phone specifically. Then, you have to wait for Google to flip the switch on your device to activate the update.
Once you get the update, you'll see a little Follow button every time you open the browsing menu. Tap this, and it'll save in your feed and keep you notified every time you open a new tab.
Google doesn't reveal when this new feature will release fully on mobile, nor does it hint at any current plans to bring it to Chrome Canary on desktop. However, if this feature proves helpful, it's bound to make the jump to larger screens sooner or later.
Arise, RSS: A New Feed for Google Chrome
Some people may not remember the last time they used an RSS feed, but Google aims to change that. With its new Follow feature for Chrome, the old tech gets brought into this side of the 21st Century and given a fresh modern makeover.
Did you know that you can subscribe to weather RSS feeds? With websites such as AccuWeather and the National Weather Service using RSS, you could theoretically subscribe to them via this Follow feature and get weather updates every time you open a new tab.
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