Google has announced that it will be retiring its RSS feed aggregator, Google Reader, from July 1.
Originally launched in 2005 as a service to help users collate their RSS subscriptions, keep tabs on favourite websites and discover news and features, Google Reader will be dropped as part of Google’s “spring cleaning”.
Due to a declining user base and an attempt to consolidate its efforts into fewer products, Google has decided to pull the plug on Google Reader, offering users the Google Takeout service to transfer their data to other RSS aggregators.
“We know Reader has a devoted following who will be very sad to see it go. We’re sad too,” Google said in an official blog post.
“We launched Google Reader in 2005 in an effort to make it easy for people to discover and keep tabs on their favourite 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.”
Google Reader is another victim of the search engine giant’s self-imposed spring cleaning regime. Since the re-focusing, which began in 2011, Google has closed a total of 70 services and features including Google Reader.
“We’re living in a new kind of computing environment. Everyone has a device, sometimes multiple devices. It’s been a long time since we have had this rate of change – it probably hasn’t happened since the birth of personal computing 40 years ago.”
More casualties of Google’s streaming efforts will be the Google Voice App for BlackBerry users, who will be urged to use its HTML5 app, the Google Cloud Connect plug-in and the sales of the desktop version of its Snapseed photo editing application.
Did you use the Google Reader RSS feed aggregator? Or do you use another RSS feed tool like Reeder or Feedly? Give us your thoughts on the matter via the TrustedReviews Facebook and Twitter pages or the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
