Hear that? That's the sound of millions of news junkies on the Web scrambling to find an alternative to Google Reader.
As you may have heard, Google Reader will soon be no more. The search giant has announced that it will shutter its much-maligned -- though still widely used -- RSS reader, which will, no doubt, leave many users in a tizzy, searching for other ways to subscribe to their favorite RSS feeds. Sure, Google Reader may not have been the most beautifully designed product to come out of Mountain View, Calif., but it sure was convenient. And now that it's going away, it's evident just how valuable it has been.
With that in mind, we've put together a list of what we think are the best replacements for the soon-to-be-late Google Reader. Plugged-in types won't want to miss a beat once Google Reader sees its sunset, so getting familiar with these alternatives now could be key.
That said, we also thought it important to mention a couple of services (at the bottom) that are only available on Android and iOS, simply because we know that they're viable alternatives, and more people than ever are reading on mobile devices these days anyway.To us, an ideal RSS reader should be available on desktop computers and as native mobile apps for both iOS and Android. That's what Google Reader brought to the table, and we tried our best to focus on similarly versatile services.
And if you're looking for a solely browser-based RSS reader, then Netvibes is one we like. It doesn't have native mobile apps like Google Reader does, but it does have mobile sites that can be accessed through your mobile browser. Also, CNET's Seth Rosenblatt has put together a nice roundup of standalone desktop software for your RSS reading pleasure.
Finally, when you're ready to make the jump, be sure to check out the Data Liberation Front's primer on exporting your Reader data using Google Takeout.
With Google announcing the retirement of its popular news reader service, Google Reader, users of the service have been anxiously looking for alternatives, after the initial burst of outrage. Fortunately, there are a number of other services and apps that let users of the popular news reader service migrate seamlessly. In fact, three Stanford University students have created a websiteReplaceReader.com, that aims at finding the best Google Reader alternative via a Twitter hashtag poll. We take a look at 5 of the most trending Reader alternatives.
1) Feedly
The RSS reader app that allowed users to sync their Google reader feed and read it in a magazine-like format, appears to be the biggest contender when it comes to acquiring the news reader of choice throne, with more than 500,000 new users flocking to it within two days of Google announcing the retirement of Google reader. Feedly is working on a project called Normandy, which is a Feedly clone of the Google Reader API - running on Google App Engine. This means that Feedly will seamlessly transition to the Normandy back end when Google Reader shuts down, allowing people to transition without any impediments.
Feedly Android and iOS apps for mobile syncing, and works in Firefox, Chrome, and Safari on the desktop.
2) NewsBlur
The web and mobile service is similar to Google Reader and allows users to subscribe to RSS feeds in addition to offering customisation and sharing capabilities. However, the service is based on a freemium model, with the free version allowing users to subscribe to a maximum of 12 sites, update once, and share only publicly. The paid version costs $24/year but removes these limitations.
3) Bloglovin
Bloglovin allows users to follow their favourite blogs and each time there's a new post, it updates their feed. The service also offers an iPhone app. It also lets users explore new blogs in categories of their interest.
4) The Old Reader
It's a social RSS reader based on the old version of Google reader. The service allows users to import their Google reader feed through their Google reader account or via OPML file import. The service is web only at this point in time but allows the same level of sharing and organisation as that of the old version of Google Reader.
5) Bloglines
Bloglines allows users to find and track their favorite websites and blogs in real-time, customize the user interface with multiple view options, drag and drop organization, and widgets. The service claims to have 2 million users, and is available via a web interface on both desktop and mobile apps.
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