Slog Comments
The Death of Google Reader
1
I use MacNewsWire to view RSS feeds ... which syncs with Google Reader ... but works as a standalone app on the Mac (and iPhone and iPad) as well.
http://netnewswireapp.com/mac
http://netnewswireapp.com/mac
3
I'm going to have such a hard time adjusting to whatever reader alternative I settle on unless it has massive keyboard shortcuts for everything. The ability to scroll through hundreds of articles in an hour is the reason I'm so addicted to Google Reader.
4
Google Reader's been getting steadily worse for months, ever since they shifted all sharing into Google+. I'm very happy with NewsBlur and haven't had any issues so far. The interface is actually much smoother than Reader ever was.
5
I'm watching the news closely for alternatives. I actually feel a little bereft and unsure how I'll go on. Ridiculous, I know, but.
6
A friend of mine has been trying to get me to use Feedly for ages, so I guess I'll look into it now.
7
Shit! I use Reader for both blog reading via RSS and managing my podcast feeds for playback via my phone. I've got two workflows to replace now.
8
@1: Thanks for the tip.
@5: I feel you.
@6: I'm trying out Feedly now. (I'm also trying out NewsBlur and The Old Reader.) I'll let you guys know which one I prefer in the next few weeks, once their server issues die down a bit.
@5: I feel you.
@6: I'm trying out Feedly now. (I'm also trying out NewsBlur and The Old Reader.) I'll let you guys know which one I prefer in the next few weeks, once their server issues die down a bit.
13
Fuck.
There have been plenty of "nice try but not quite" moments with Google, but this is the first time I can remember actually being angry at them.
I thought we had something, Google.
There have been plenty of "nice try but not quite" moments with Google, but this is the first time I can remember actually being angry at them.
I thought we had something, Google.
14
I have friends who are upset too; they shared this: http://blog.feedly.com/2013/03/14/google…
I haven't used Feedly but from what I gather from this post they're making a Google Reader clone?
I haven't used Feedly but from what I gather from this post they're making a Google Reader clone?
19
Lifehacker has a comprehensive review of the major alternatives. http://lifehacker.com/5990456/google-rea…
20
I went to Bloglines after the Google Reader redo a couple years ago. (I absolutely *hated* how the reader looked after the redo.) Bloglines is the way I thought the new Google Reader was going to look like. I need a web-based reader because I switch computers a lot, so it has worked really well for me. I also have hundreds of feeds, so I didn't like the limit some people placed. It is crapping out right now, though. (Note: this is the first time I've had problems with the Bloglines servers.)
You have to do some customization at first. You have to switch from the widget to reader view in the upper left. Also, Bloglines insisted on signing me up for local blogs (which I quickly deleted.) It also shows newest first, and I haven't been able to figure out how to switch it to oldest first. Bloglines' search function is also pretty much crap. But I can live with those problems just fine.
You have to do some customization at first. You have to switch from the widget to reader view in the upper left. Also, Bloglines insisted on signing me up for local blogs (which I quickly deleted.) It also shows newest first, and I haven't been able to figure out how to switch it to oldest first. Bloglines' search function is also pretty much crap. But I can live with those problems just fine.
21
I was devastated at first, like an old man lamenting the decline of print media. Then a friend suggested feedly. The transition took less than five minutes, it preserved all my subscriptions, and the layout is far nicer. I'm ok again.
22
From your 316 subscriptions, over the last 30 days you read 65,640 items, clicked 1,252 items, starred 6 items, and emailed 31 items.
Since November 12, 2012 you have read a total of 300,000+ items.
Since November 12, 2012 you have read a total of 300,000+ items.
23
Nooooo!!! The irony is that I learned about this via Google Reader. :( this is a pain in the butt.
24
I just transferred all my google reader feeds into feedly (using Chrome) in less than a minute. So far it seems adequate, but not as well organized as gr. Have just begun to compare, but all the feeds seem to be there and up to date
25
I'm most upset that I'm losing all my starred items. Once G+ launched I've been starring and giving a +1 to all the posts I want to keep track of, but it's so frustrating to think I'm losing all that saved info.
I don't understand why they would shut down the service as opposed to rolling it into G+, like as an RSS 'Circle'. It would give people a reason to visit or activate their G+ page and keep most loyal Readers happy.
I don't understand why they would shut down the service as opposed to rolling it into G+, like as an RSS 'Circle'. It would give people a reason to visit or activate their G+ page and keep most loyal Readers happy.
26
#FUCKYOUGOOGLE
I'm trying Feedly. So far it's barely working. Not good enough. Reader is how I use the internet, mostly, except for Slog and Facebook. It's how I found out about this.
#FUCKYOUGOOGLE
I'm trying Feedly. So far it's barely working. Not good enough. Reader is how I use the internet, mostly, except for Slog and Facebook. It's how I found out about this.
#FUCKYOUGOOGLE
28
I've never found an adequate substitute for what Google Reader does, which seems quite fucking straightforward: take in all subscribed RSS content, and sort it by time appeared. This straightforward concept seems to be beyond the comprehension of every other RSS so-called "aggregator", which insists on keeping each feed in its own box.
I eventually gave up and pared my RSS feeds down to a couple dozen, and proceeded to make separate boxes for each of them on Protopage. I realized I was only reading about 40% of all my GReader content anyway.
As for Google: It doesn't pay to rely on anything Google. It will die. I give web search about 4 more years. I'm not entirely joking, either.
Incidentally, the last few years I had been exclusively reading my GReader through iGoogle -- which is also slated to die soon. I can't imagine I'm the only one.... so by killing iGoogle and driving everyone away, they effectively knee-capped GReader.
Whither GMail?
I eventually gave up and pared my RSS feeds down to a couple dozen, and proceeded to make separate boxes for each of them on Protopage. I realized I was only reading about 40% of all my GReader content anyway.
As for Google: It doesn't pay to rely on anything Google. It will die. I give web search about 4 more years. I'm not entirely joking, either.
Incidentally, the last few years I had been exclusively reading my GReader through iGoogle -- which is also slated to die soon. I can't imagine I'm the only one.... so by killing iGoogle and driving everyone away, they effectively knee-capped GReader.
Whither GMail?
29
You got as much out of it (and support) as much as you paid into it.
First World Problems, indeed.
First World Problems, indeed.
30
I guess there's just no advertising revenue to be made off of Reader, and in fact, we mostly by-pass it if we don't go to the actual posting. This really is how I read most things on the Internet. The alternatives pale in comparison - they try to do too many things, or they just aren't simple enough. And simplicity is what Reader is all about. It just works, it isn't annoying, and it allows you to browse a lot of information quickly and find things that you are interested in reading. I think my experience using the Internet is going to really change if I don't find a good substitute. I'll definitely spend less time in the Google "ecosystem"...
31
Like others, Google Reader IS the internet for me. It's how I browse all of the sites and blogs and comics that I read. It's how I experience (parts of) craigslist, Twitter, Wikipedia, and other sites. Reader is a big part of what give my Google account value; it's the site I use throughout the day, every day. Other Google services seem less integral to me without that daily interaction.
Giving Feedly a try, goddammit...
#FUCKYOUGOOGLE indeed.
Giving Feedly a try, goddammit...
#FUCKYOUGOOGLE indeed.
33
@28 Has a real point, it doesn't pay to rely on anything from Google. While Google reader was something that lots of people used it apparently did not result in enough revenue for Google. No wonder they're killing it.
34
I never liked the idea of giving Google that much access to my information. Will other companies abuse it? Perhaps. But they won't disrespect me like this. I loved google reader. Now I can't stop looking for an alternative. Google's loss, I was just starting to warm up to them. Anyone know a good email service?
35
It's seems that Feedly is emerging as the best alternative at the moment. In fact, Feedly has even posted a statement on their blog promising current Google reader users their reader feeds and other data will seamlessly transition to Feedly servers when reader shuts down for good.
I just started using Feedly since the reader shut down announcement and I am finding it to be a somewhat suitable replacement. For your average Google reader user the default user interface will seem overly visual or magazine-like. Thankfully, Feedly is super customizable allowing for users to recreate a Google reader like interface.
A major downside of Feedly is that it only works as a downloadable browser extension or smartphone app. I hope that Feedly comes out with a simple browser based option. One great thing about Google is that most of their products can function on any browser. I hate downloading needless software.
Anyway, now that I have had a day to process the loss of reader I am now feeling hopeful that some other companies will step up and offer, perhaps, an even better product.
I just started using Feedly since the reader shut down announcement and I am finding it to be a somewhat suitable replacement. For your average Google reader user the default user interface will seem overly visual or magazine-like. Thankfully, Feedly is super customizable allowing for users to recreate a Google reader like interface.
A major downside of Feedly is that it only works as a downloadable browser extension or smartphone app. I hope that Feedly comes out with a simple browser based option. One great thing about Google is that most of their products can function on any browser. I hate downloading needless software.
Anyway, now that I have had a day to process the loss of reader I am now feeling hopeful that some other companies will step up and offer, perhaps, an even better product.
36
Opera Mini (iPhone, Android, BB, etc) does an outstanding job at reading RSS links, like it was HTML. Its pretty easy to create an HTML document thats nothing but RSS links, but I wish Opera Mini would let you load them locally.
Install it on your phone, then click on this link.
http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&topic…
Install it on your phone, then click on this link.
http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&topic…
37
@28: I'm with you! iGoogle has been my launch page for years. It shows me what I need, all in one place, at one time -- email, news, Reader (of course), weather... I will not use G+ to replace it. You're losing screen views, Google.
#FUCKYOUGOOGLE!
#FUCKYOUGOOGLE!
38
@28 & 33. I agree. Seems short-sighted on Google's part. They are really encouraging folks to find other ecostructures. Sad.
39
@29: I pay Google for storage, and I need a lot of storage, so there's that. I am a paying customer. I just don't pay for Reader. I would, though.
40
Feedly currently sucks because 1) they want me to give them my google credentials. WTF, no thanks. Just let me create a feedly account. And 2) they require a browser extension. Again, WTF, what could they possibly be doing in that browser extension that they couldn't do as a web app? I'm guessing that #1 will go away when they launch their new service, but I'm pretty skeptical they can deliver it in time, and I'm not giving them my google credentials in the meantime, so I guess I can't even try them out.
41
To the feedly guys that I hope are scouring the internets for feedback right about now: Both of those above points are deal-breakers. I'd provide this feedback on your suggestion box like you ask, but you require login for that.
42
Whichever service offers something like google reader sharing gets my feeds. Any suggestions? I have that one thing where you create an RSS feed by digging through your account and finding your unique ID (sorry, I tried to find it...), but no commenting, only viewing.
Comments (42) RSS