Ack! Google Reader is Shutting Down

Google Reader is going away. I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of bloggers suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Seriously, this is a big deal for bloggers. The only way I can keep up with everything is using some kind of RSS aggregator. I just don’t have the time to visit individual blogs, and Reader was a wonderful way to keep track of everything on any desktop, mobile device, tablet, etc. I’m looking for a PHP-based alternative, because I think if I migrate, I want to migrate to something I control. Years ago I used to use Bloglines, but I found Reader’s interface better and switched.

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24 thoughts on “Ack! Google Reader is Shutting Down”

  1. Chrome, Firefox and Safari all have built in RSS readers. There’s also a large number of free and great software readers. Also hootsuite, which I use to manage all my social networking stuff, as a great RSS reader in it (which is what I’ll be migrating my RSS feeds to).

  2. Bah, I switched to Google when feedly changed the UI, guess I’m switching again.

  5. I’ve been using Feedly, mostly, and they’re already set up to do a seamless transition for anyone using Google Reader.

    It’s not perfect, but it’s one of the better ones I’ve found. Really, the only thing that irks me is that there’s no “pure” web interface – you have to install their plugin into your browser – which means that if you’re out of luck if you’re not allowed to install anything on the computer you’re using (say, at work, or a public library).

    1. Ack. Yes. This is why I use Google Reader. It’s a pure cloud/web service and it’s there if I can log into my Google account. It’s the same RSS reader no matter the device, network, software, OS, physical location, time of the day, hardware, zodiac age… whatever.

      Hell, I even can use it on a kindle paper white in their “experimental web browser” and be able to keep up to date with sites/blogs that can’t even be browsed on that device.

      *sigh*

      Goooooogle…. WHYYYYY….?

      1. I’m also going with Feedly for the moment, but I have the same irritation; I prefer either something entirely under my control on my own server, or entirely web-based so that I can use it anywhere.

        That said, my current work doesn’t provide me with any Internet access at all and I can’t carry my phone to work, so the only time I’d be looking at the news is at home or on a mobile device under my control anyway.

      2. Because it wasn’t used very much and they were losing money on it.

        Turns out Google is not a public service.

        1. Here’s what I’m waiting for. In my initial research for a replacement, a LARGE number of the readers touted synchronization with Google Reader. If you dove a little deeper, you discovered THAT’S how they were providing feed portability. They were sitting on top of Google’s ecosystem and leveraging that for their back-end, while just focusing on the front-end.

          Even Feedly did this. If you currently go to set up a new account, it takes you to Google’s account creation screen. Even if you personally never log into or utilize Google Reader, it seems that Feedly was doing that on the backend for you.

          I got the distinct impression that other RSS aggregators were doing the same thing. I wonder how many customers are going to be in for quite the rude shock when Google Reader gets shut down and all these front-end only aggregators die a horrible little death because they depended on that service.

          It shall be quite interesting. Honestly, it’s also one of the reasons why I settled on Google Reader in the first place. I (mistakenly) assumed it was a product that had longevity. Well, I guess in the internet world a 7 year run is fairly decent, but still.

        2. So…. they make it pay to play. I already pay them for the drive space and some of my clients pay them for email.

  6. I’m going to be switching to NewsBlur once they get things settled down. They’re a bit overwhelmed by new users since the Google Reader announcement. The source is also open and available if you want to run it on your own server too. It’s up on github if you want to give that a try.

    1. I think I might like the look of it better than Feedly, I’ll give it a shot when the server isn’t getting hammered. Thanks

  8. I thin I’m settling on Feedly. 1) It integrates with Reader currently, so it pulls in your current subscriptions automatically, with no need to export/import your OPML file. 2) They are working on their own back-end engine using the Google Apps API so they can do a seamless cutover from GReader to their own backend. 3) Yes, it requires browser plugins, but they also provide mobile device apps that give you a better experience on them (if you use them). The concern about not being able to install is somewhat mooted thanks to portable apps. Now, if they’ve locked down USB ports as well you’re hosed.

  9. I want something that is web based so I can check it from anywhere and it will remember where I left off and what I read.

  10. Perhaps the one major downside to Feedly is that it’s Chrome & Firefox only. There is no IE support at all, and they’ve fairly plainly stated they won’t develop a plug-in/extension/add-on for IE. I’m not sure if they have Opera support or not.

    I really wish they’d move to a pure web-hosted experience, but using Firefox or Chrome it’s the closest I’ve found yet to the GReader experience.

    1. I checked earlier today, and it doesn’t look like there’s any Opera plugin.

      And I honestly can’t blame anyone for not supporting IE – it’s nothing but a big ball of fail, on multiple levels, including the fact that M$ treats well defined standards as little more than vague suggestions.

  11. netvibes – exported by google reader subs and imported/configured in 10 minutes.

  14. I have the app on my phone so I can keep up with what’s going on. It is the only way I can scan my favorite blogs. I will really miss the easy access.

  15. Great crispy crap! What will I do without Reader? Whatever you decide to do, probably.

    I’ve missed goog411 (before I had an Android phone), Google Notebook and now Reader. Why do I only love Google products that lose money and shut down?

  16. I have been using Bloglines FOREVER and love it – give it a try it’s free – http://www.bloglines.com/ – apparently many are switching to them – “If you’re experiencing slowdowns or feed latency, please bear with us as we work hard to handle a huge amount of new users. Thank you for your patience”

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