Google is offering some users of its Blogger website access to a new version of the blog-hosting service allowing user-definable templates, tagging of posts, multiple authors and faster publication of new posts, the company announced on its own blog. It will also integrate use of the blogging service more closely with other services through changes to the account log-in process.The new features bring Google’s Blogger service closer to that offered by competing blog-hosting services such as Six Apart’s TypePad and Automattic’s WordPress. Google Screenshot However, the new features will be available only to users who log in using a Google account, not their Blogger account, and only a small percentage of users will be invited to switch their accounts over initially, Google said: “If you’re one of them, you’ll see a blue box in the sidebar of your dashboard highlighting the new version of Blogger.”The account change doesn’t affect the contents of the blogs, or users’ Blogger profiles, and will make it easier to use Google services like AdWords, the company said. The two account systems will run in parallel for a while, but eventually Google will remove the option to log in with a Blogger account. Google Accounts are better protected against fraud, impersonation and abuse than Blogger accounts, the company said. Among the other changes to the service, Google will enable drag-and-drop creation of site layouts, add support for RSS 2.0 and Atom 1.0 feeds so that more readers can follow a blog without having to visit its website, and allow authors to restrict access to their blog to certain users. Google said it has also changed the terms of service, but the terms and conditions linked to on Thursday had not changed since the version archived in May by The Wayback Machine.-Peter Sayer, IDG News Service (Paris Bureau)Related Links: Google Blogger Frustrates Users Google Blogger Hobbled by Technical IssuesCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost From edge to cloud: The critical role of hardware in AI applications The rise of generative artificial intelligence By Broadcom Jun 06, 2023 5 mins Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence brandpost The new value calculator: Levers for business optimization Squeezing maximum value out of your data is not only about cost-savings—it’s time to create significant potential by transforming your competitive position. By Sandrine Ghosh Jun 06, 2023 5 mins Data Management brandpost The new wave of data observability Innovative ‘applied observability’ can detect issues and diagnose their root causes swiftly and effectively. By Sandrine Ghosh Jun 06, 2023 4 mins Data Management brandpost Let Business Needs Guide Your Winning Data Team With skill shortages continuing, IT leaders must optimize their data science team investment. Start with your organization’s key objectives. By Paul Gillin Jun 06, 2023 3 mins Business Intelligence Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe