They're shutting down Google Reader this year.
On it's official Google blog, Urs Hölzle, SVP Technical Infrastructure and Google Fellow announced in a post titled, 'Second Spring 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.
REACTIONS:
Fans of Google Reader start Keep Google Reader
In an interesting development, fans of Google Reader have started Keep Google Reader Alive, a petition to fight to keep Google Reader alive launched by user @christophmccann. You can visit the site here > http://keepgooglereader.com/
Some of the interesting reactions on the site... to save Reader say:
* I love Reader, but it is also a bad sign of Google's policy - what if a better email service comes along and the GMail userbase declines... will they cut that too? It makes me reluctant to use any future Google products: Alex Bowe
* It's my portal to every news and entertainment article I read. I spend all day on Reader getting the latest updates from my favorite blogs. I don't know what I'll do without it: Margaret Czarney
* I use it every single day, multiple times a day, on both my phone and desktop. It's the best reader out there by far: David Harpe
* I depend on Google Reader every day. It's an invaluable tool in helping me keep my site's visitors up to date with the latest news. I am beyond saddened to hear it's leaving and hope my voice can help add to the outcry: Steve M
* The web will be a barren place without Reader. Please don't end it: Michael Hartman
On YouTube
And... other reactions to the news include a meme update. Hitler finds out Google Reader is shutting down
On Twitter
And ofcourse, Twitter went crazy too. Google Reader is trending worldwide on number one position. Here is Google Reader's tweet followed by some of the posts.
@mollywood: Really, though. They're shutting DOWN Google Reader? Like how hard is Google Reader to maintain? Compared to moon trips and autonomous cars?
@nixxin Question: Why doesn't @Google open source Google Reader? Why just kill it? Let other build on top of it.
@nikster007 "OMG google reader which I hardly use is being shut down so let me announce that I'm looking for alternatives which il never use " -everyone
@daddy_san Now that they're closing Google Reader how will I visit it once a month, "Mark All As Read" and get on with my day? :'(
On the Google Reader blog,
'Powering Down Google Reader' an update posted by Alan Green, software engineer at Google says:
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.
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