Today Google made a very sad announcement. In an attempt to focus of more important tools and services that Google provide, Google is shutting down Google Reader. The service which is used by many ( in our estimate millions of users ) for their daily RSS dose. Ofcourse its not closing the doors right on our face, the brilliant web app would be closed by July 1st 2013. Till then you can keep using it as you do. But post July 1st, you would need to move on to a different service or completely stop using a RSS Reader.
No one took this news positively as Google might have expected, everyone is against this shut down. @christophmccann has started an online petition to Keep Google Reader. You can sign the petition here.
Google is not just shutting down Google Reader but a bunch of other web services too. Check the complete list of other services which soon would be closed.
In regards to Google Reader, this is what the company had to say
We launched Google Reader in 2005 in an effort to make it easy for people to discover and keep tabs on their favorite websites. While the product has a loyal following, over the years usage has declined. So, on July 1, 2013, we will retire Google Reader. Users and developers interested in RSS alternatives can export their data, including their subscriptions, with Google Takeout over the course of the next four months.
Of all the services which are being shut down, Google Reader is the most shocking closure and the most upsetting one. If you still aren’t sure why this news is upsetting to everyone, then keep reading.
From the Google Reader Blog
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.
To ensure a smooth transition, we’re providing a three-month sunset period so you have sufficient time to find an alternative feed-reading solution. If you want to retain your Reader data, including subscriptions, you can do so through Google Takeout.
Thank you again for using Reader as your RSS platform.
Google Reader is not just a RSS reader, over the years many apps have used the Google Reader API to run their app over it. With the shutdown of Google Reader, the Google Reader API too gets the axe. Which means all the related RSS services which relied on the Reader API code have to start building their own thing to transition out from Reader API. Post July 1st, all the services this API would be non-functional if not done so. This effectively means the shutdown could affect a wide selection of Apps which has been used by many users almost daily.
While most services/app using the Google Reader API are some how working very hard to keep the boat from sinking, many are shutting down their services post the Google Reader shutdown news.
Flipboard says,
We’ve Got Your RSS Covered! Save Your Google Reader Feeds Now
Feedly on the other hand is experiencing a surge of new users and has added new servers immediately to accommodate all the new users
If you are a Google Reader, give feedly a try before July 1st, and you will be able to migrate seamlesly:
If you are developer using the Google Reader API, Feedly is personally is helping you out integrate with them.
While all these services are keeping the best they can to keep the Google Reader Ecosystem alive and running, FeedDemon has announced they would be closing the service altogether.
This is a hard post for me to write…………………… But it’s time for FeedDemon to die.
If you are like us and an avid Google Reader user, then there are few things you can do to not get completely affected by this news.
- Go to Google Takeout, and export your Google Reader Feeds.
- Check out these alternatives which you can use to switch to and import your Google Reader Feeds into.
- Feedly ( Cloud / Browser based )
- NetVibes ( Cloud / Browser based )
- NewsBlur ( Cloud / Browser based )
- Bloglines ( Cloud / Browser based )
- Outlook/Thunderbird ( Desktop Client )
- Feedemon ( Windows Client )
- NetNewsWire ( Mac & iOS )
- Flipboard ( Android / iOS App )
- Reeder ( Mac & iOS )
- SharpReader ( Windows Client )
- AmphetaDesk ( Desktop Client )
- Import to Google Reader Feeds to any of these services.
Ofcourse this can’t emulate your Google Reader experience but could help you retain your RSS subscriptions you might have worked on for years to accumulate.
If you want to start completely fresh you can use IFTTT and Yahoo Pipes together to make a very robust RSS news monitor. This setup would defintely need patience, a lot of time and some work from your side to make it happen. Its not easy for the ton of subscriptions you might have on on Gogle Reader but good if you have a very small bunch of feeds to monitor.
There isn’t any hurry to pick one and start using, you can experiment with all the possible ones till July 1st. And end up using the one you are comfortable with. After the shutdown news, chances are many of the services/clients might update their service and make their apps the closest to Google Reader experience.
With all the outburst and outcry from users as well as developers, we can hope Google responds and takes back the decision to shut down Google Reader. Though the chances of this happening are very slim, we can still hope they do.
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