So Google announced a new project called Google Wave. And I gotta say it looks pretty cool. They classify it as “What email would look like if it were invented today“. I do like the look and feel of it. The built in IM features are pretty slick and it has a lot of potential to go future then even Google could probabaly think up (which is why they made it an open source).
The major drawback is that it does rely highly on HTML 5, which if you ask me is a huge issue, being a web developer for 10+ years now (wow I’m old) one of the first things you learn is that people don’t upgrade their web browser and if you site wont work in their crazy old IE 6 then it’s your fault and not theirs. It’s sad and pathetic, but the number version of IE 6 out there is just ridiculous.
Also keep in mind that HTML 5 isn’t supported in IE7 or Firefox yet either. So far IE8 which is still in Beta, Safari 3 and Chrome will support parts of it and of course as always Opera is way out ahead of the pack with the most support of HTML5
I’m sure eventually Google Wave could grow to be something pretty cool. And it will definitely be something loved among the tech savvy crowd, but by the time the rest of the world catches up I am sure there will be something even better a bigger out. Which they will probably not see until the next cool thing and so on. Will this cycle ever end?
If you missed it and want to hang out a watch the 1.5 hour presentation, I have posted the video below. Also be sure to tell me how wrong or right I am about or what you think about Google Wave.