Google broke the news on their company blog March 13, 2013 in a post titled “A Second Spring of Cleaning”:
“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.”
Contrary to Google citing ‘usage has declined’, the internet exploded in a virtual uproar with Google Reader lovers signing a petition (at the time of the post it had over 123,000 signatures) to stop the Google assisted suicide.
But it’s going to happen. It’s time to prepare.
Alternatives to Google Reader
1. Feedly
Feedly has added over 500,000 users in the past few days alone. Check out this post to learn more about Feedly for iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox and Safari.
2. Taptu
Similar to Feedly, Taptu is an app-based reader with visual appeal. With “DJ your news” as its slogan, Taptu has a social media edge to its applications, making it a top pick of the social media lovers.
3. Netvibes
Netvibes is a social aggregator as well as a dashboard service while still keeping true to the standard usage of RSS. Although Netvibes offers paid levels of service, the basic package is free and simple to use.
Yes, that’s actually the name: The Old Reader. And guess what? It looks very similar to the old reader…the old Google reader that is. A quick sign in using Facebook or your existing Google account and your old reader feeds can be imported to The Old Reader in no time.
A great alternative to those not wanting to change.
Of course there are myriad other more visually stunning options like Flipboard or Pulse, but to each his own.
We’re curious: if you use Google Reader, what will you be migrating to before Google lays the tombstone on Google reader on July 1?