The Death of Google Reader

google-reader
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?



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What were we looking for in 2012?

If anyone knows what we’re looking for, it’s Google. They see millions of searches each year and at the end of each year they publish their Zeitgeist to tell us about the most popular searches across a range of categories.

You can check out the full Zeitgeist 2012 or get a quick summary by watching the video below. It’s well worth watching.



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What Were You Searching in 2011?

What did the world want to know in 2011?

Every year Google lets us know what the world has been searching to find. They publish the most common search terms in their annual zeitgeist.

The top ten things we wanted to know about globally, according to Google, are as follows:

1. Rebecca Black
2. Google+
3. Ryan Dunn
4. Casey Anthony
5. Battlefield 3
6. iPhone 5
7. Adele
8. (Fukushima I Plant)
9. Steve Jobs
10. iPad2

You can visit the zeitgeist page to see results broken down by various regions.

This year Google has also created a video to give us an overview of the year in searches. Watch the video above to see what we wanted to know this year.



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Google+

Now that it’s finally available for those of us using Google Apps accounts, I’ve jumped on board with Google+. I did create an account with my old Gmail address some time back but didn’t want to do too much with it until I could connect it with my own domain.

So now that I’m up and running …. what have I missed? Is Google+ really going anywhere? Can you see it replacing Facebook or is it just another “must have” online service?

Have you been using Google+ for a while and if so, what do you see as its advantages over other social networking? Will it really gain traction or slip away in coming months or years? I’d love to hear what you think.

And of course, you’re welcome to add me to your circles. You’ll find my Google+ account here.



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Google Plus

Most people that wanted them have had invitations already but yesterday Google Plus became available for everyone. It’s apparently Google’s attempt at taking market share from Facebook in the world of social media.

I have a Google Plus account which lies quietly in the corner feeling neglected. I interact with most friends on my Facebook account but thought I should grab a Plus account when I got an invitation a couple of months ago.

I’m not even really sure how it all works but I’ve added few friends to my circles. That’s the interesting thing with Google Plus. With Facebook you simply add friends, with Plus, you categorise everyone in circles that you create. I’ve got a circle for friends, one for family, one for blogging and social media contacts, but what happens when someone turns up and you’re not quite sure where to put them? Will someone feel offended if I put them in my acquaintances circle rather than my friends circle. It’s all too hard.

What about you? Have you jumped on the Google Plus bandwagon or will you stick with Facebook? Will you have both or maybe neither. Let me know which way you’re going with social media.



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