Mark Lucovsky, of Google, posted that Google has replaced its SOAP API with its AJAX Search API.

That’s interesting because it’ll hurt Visual Studio developers (VS likes SOAP and WSDL, not AJAX).

Yet another defining moment. This is Google’s way of saying that “we don’t care about Windows applications anymore.”

Last week I posted a video with Lucovsky where he shows off some of the things that are possible with the AJAX Search API.

Lucovsky writes: “While the AJAX Search API does not provide server-side access to search results, it has a number of more powerful features, including access to Video, Maps, Blog Search, and News search results.”

What do you think? How will this hurt or help Microsoft and/or Google?

UPDATE: Dave Winer wants to string up the developer and/or team that came up with the just shipped Del.icio.us API.

UPDATE 2: Yesterday Dave Winer chimed in on the Google API deprecation. He thinks it leaves opportunities open for Google’s competitors.

UPDATE 3: David Cooley likes Google’s new API, says “they listen.”

Whew, look at TechMeme today and you’ll see we’re on an upswing in the news cycle. I remember the days when only one or two people got on TechMeme, now I can’t read everyone that’s on there.

I am trying, though. I’m adding RSS feeds to my reader at a pretty fast pace lately. I’m getting close to my breaking point, though. I think I can’t read more than about 400 feeds. Not enough time.

Anyway, I still notice that smaller stories get on my link blog than get on TechMeme. I pick some of the same stories that are on TechMeme, but there’s a lot of “flavor” that TechMeme filters out. Algorithms are sure efficient, but they often miss the cute little stories. TechMeme will never point to Cute Overload, for instance. I don’t often point there either, but it’s fun to mix in a cute cat photo into a mix of 100 tech stories.

One thing I caught going through my aggregator is Om Malik’s NewTeeVee blog interviewing my boss, John Furrier, about PodTech. Oh, remember that guy who said he hated my videos? Yeah, we signed him up for our network too. Welcome 1938 Media! And don’t you dare stop attacking me.

Speaking of which, I gotta have a talk with Christopher Coulter. He’s been too quiet lately. He’s the best hire I ever did, though. He’s amazing.

Yeah, I am back in full-blown RSS addiction. Sorry Microsoft, your new SaaS site sucks. I used to say that marketers that don’t put RSS feeds should be fired. Now it’s even worse. You want into my daily reading behavior? You gotta provide an RSS feed. With an icon. With automatic subscription for the popular readers. Hint, if Google Reader can’t see a feed there isn’t one. Oh, yeah, I’m not even gonna link to your new site. I hate sites that try to force me to come to them.

In other news from my feeds: Dennis Howlett reports that Sam Sethi rises from the dead. Turns out Sam got two sponsors and landed on his feet. I knew he would. Don’t bet against people who have relationships.

Anyway, I’m off to bed. My feed reading is done and my link blog is up to date.