Sad news today for those of us still using Google Reader to stay up to date with a range of blogs and news websites. Google’s killing it off on the 1st of July.
We have just announced on the Official Google Blog that we will soon retire Google Reader (the actual date is July 1, 2013). We know Reader has a devoted following who will be very sad to see it go. We’re sad too.
There are two simple reasons for this: usage of Google Reader has declined, and as a company we’re pouring all of our energy into fewer products. We think that kind of focus will make for a better user experience.
There’s already a website dedicated to saving Google Reader.
I don’t think it’s the death of RSS but it will change how it’s used.
Lifehacker has already posted The Best Google Reader Alternatives but I guess that with fewer people using RSS aggregators of any kind to read content we need to look at other ways of staying up to date.
If you’re looking for other ways to stay in touch with what’s happening here at RodneyOlsen.net, maybe you’d like to use my Facebook Page. If you ‘like’ the page you’ll see whenever I post something in your own Facebook timeline.
You could also follow me on Twitter. Along with other tweets you’ll be able to see links to new posts as they are published.
Are you, like me, one of the dying breed of Google Reader users? What do you intend to do from here? Find another service or start relying on social media to stay in touch?
bummed… i am someone who still uses Google Reader
dean invites you to read Coffee and Christianity
I was not amused when I read the news.
Rodney Olsen invites you to read Nice place to visit … glad I don’t live there
I have google reader, but I tend to use it more as a “read later” than an actual RSS – I can’t remember the last time I sat down to check all my subscribed blogs. Also, twitter is closing down posterous in April (I think?), so now I have a blog to re-house
You need to go WordPress.
Rodney Olsen invites you to read What Can I Do?
Darnit. I was enjoying Google Reader. Thanks for the link to the list of alternatives.
Neil Shearing invites you to read Google Panda Update On The Way
Great to hear from you Neil. I’ve just checked out your blog and I’ll have to add it to my Google Reader ….. er ….. perhaps not.
(I’ll have to find another way to stay in touch with your posts.)
Rodney Olsen invites you to read The Death of Google Reader
I got this same stupid message this morning. TakeOut. What is the world is takeout except for food ordered but not eaten on the premises? I still use GR. What were they thinking?
bill (cycleguy) invites you to read Perfection
I love your take on Google’s TakeOut.
Rodney Olsen invites you to read The Death of Google Reader
I’m not sure we’re a dying breed. The official petition on Change.org is up to 87K signatures!
While an increase in Twitter followers and Facebook fans is a plus, I think RSS is much more likely to reach dedicated readers than social media will. Especially when you consider Facebook Edgerank and that Twitter is rumored to be putting in their own Edgerank-like system.
Kristi Hines invites you to read Google Reader Alternatives: 3 Web Based RSS Readers to Manage Your Subscriptions
Thanks Kristi. I’m hoping the petition will change Google’s mind but I wonder if it might only delay the inevitable.
I’ve added my voice and hopefully the numbers on the petition will just keep rising until Google takes notice.
Rodney Olsen invites you to read Beating Bullying and Violence
Thanks for the heads-up Rodney and the link to the alternatives. I am a major Google Reader user well I think I am major anyway and found it a great way to keep in touch with blog posts in my own “read it later” mode. Twitter and for that matter Facebook (which I don’t really use) cannot match the ease which a RSS feed allows one to keep in touch with a blog.
I have signed the petition but honestly don’t see it achieving much so I have signed up to Netvibes and with Feedly. With a little playing around I have managed to get a Google Reader like interface at both so hopefully one will work out to be a substitute worthy of continued use.
Andrew Priest (Aushiker) invites you to read Huon Genesys Autumn Cycling Training Camp 2013
yeah I went with NetVibes, and though not as fluid as GR, it will do I guess.
Deano invites you to read Resurrection Sunday