Google shutting down Google Reader

[CriticalityEvent]

http://www.engadget....pring-cleaning/

 

Last spring, Page and Co. retired iGoogle, Google Mini and other services as part of a 'spring cleaning' initiative to help it better focus its efforts, and another clean-up round has just begun. This time around, Google Reader and seven other services are getting the axe, bringing the firm's total of features closed since 2011 to 70. Mountain View says it's sunsetting the feed reader because it has "declined," and that turning it off will allow it to pour its energy into fewer products. Reader will keep the lights on until July 1st, and diehard users will be able to keep their data and subscriptions by using the outfit's Takeout tool.

Other products being put out to pasture include the company's Building Maker, Cloud Connect, Apps Script's GUI builder and five UiApp widgets, Search API for shopping and the CalDAV API (for developers who aren't whitelisted, that is). The internet giant also announced -- and confirmed our fears -- that it'll no longer sell or provide updates for Snapseed Desktop for Mac and Windows. Blackberry's Google Voice app is being shelved as well, but the company suggests its HTML 5 experience is a nice alternative. By the sounds of it, CEO Larry Page is still making good on his promise to keep Google focused on fewer things. Hit the bordering source links for more details.

 

 

D-:

 

I use this thing to sync saved articles across all of my devices in conjunction with Feedly (which, coincidentally, is trying to prepare for this: http://www.engadget....after-google-r/).

 

Still, I don't want to be locked to Feedly; I use Flipboard with some regularity which is also based off of my Reader feeds/starred items. While it will likely do nothing, I signed this petition: http://www.change.or...-reader-running

[irev210]

This drives me bonkers.

 

I spend an absolutely ridiculous amount of time using the Google Reader app on my android phone and on my desktop.

 

RSS feeds are absolutely awesome.

 

 

It's annoying that google is turning evil - I am getting sick of them trying to force everyone onto google+.

 

A platform change is probably in my future. Hello microsoft/yahoo.

[S4GRU]

This drives me bonkers.

 

I spend an absolutely ridiculous amount of time using the Google Reader app on my android phone and on my desktop.

 

RSS feeds are absolutely awesome.

 

 

It's annoying that google is turning evil - I am getting sick of them trying to force everyone onto google+.

 

A platform change is probably in my future. Hello microsoft/yahoo.

 

Well said. The whole thing wreaks.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 with Tapatalk HD

[iansltx]

Did you see any ads within Reader? Well, there ya go...

 

Sad to see Reader go, but if it's losing Google money with no upside, they can't rightfully be expected to keep pushing it.

 

Glad to see Feedly providing an alternative though.

[irev210]

Did you see any ads within Reader? Well, there ya go...

 

Sad to see Reader go, but if it's losing Google money with no upside, they can't rightfully be expected to keep pushing it.

 

Glad to see Feedly providing an alternative though.

 

Well, the upside is the amount of time I spend using all google services in the google ecosystem.

 

I get it, reader doesn't have ads, doesn't have the analytics that google+ has - but google used to just offer innovative products because it would lead to more usage of all google services.

 

That's changing.

[MacinJosh]

Well, the upside is the amount of time I spend using all google services in the google ecosystem.

 

I get it, reader doesn't have ads, doesn't have the analytics that google+ has - but google used to just offer innovative products because it would lead to more usage of all google services.

 

That's changing.

 

Even Yahoo has gone that way. I wouldn't be surprised if Yahoo Messenger get shuttered this year.

[bigsnake49]

Well, the upside is the amount of time I spend using all google services in the google ecosystem.

 

I get it, reader doesn't have ads, doesn't have the analytics that google+ has - but google used to just offer innovative products because it would lead to more usage of all google services.

 

That's changing.

 

Blame Motorola or blame Google buying Motorola. They made a bad buy and they're still losing money. Taking a license would have cost a lot less. Glad to see that they're not infallible like some people think around here.

[shawn_kc]

I use it daily also. I'm trying feedly, but not sure I like it. If anyone finds any other readers that they like please mention them on this thread.