GRRRRRRR! what a sucker punch!
Mar 13th, 2013 by Cathy Jo Nelson
Dear Google,
What a sucker punch! Yes, please know that it was quite a shock to read today that Google Reader will be shut down in July. This has been probably my MOST USED 2.0 tool.
From the Google Blog (one of my feeds in Google Reader, no less!)
You just don’t realize how many teachers I was able to pull over to a 2.0 way of thinking by spending a little time showing off Google Reader and what it could do. This was true for friends, colleagues, and well yes, even students. Sigh. So okay, I’m now reading/exploring my options. My reader is full of suggestions, which is great–and okay, yes I have to thank you for letting Google Reader deliver that news to me today. This one tool truly transformed my teaching practice, impacting me in many ways. When I ignored other aggregation tools, I stayed faithful to this one.
Google, I felt shattered by this announcement.
Funny because it wasn’t that long ago (back in July) that I was sharing about iGoogle going by the wayside, and offering alternatives too my readers then. I should have seen the writing on the wall, no? Now I wonder how many other of the G-Apps I use are considered for an early demise? I think I could have handled this better had there been some rumors from my own PLN so I already had a heads up. This just feels like a sucker punch.
Jury is still out on what I’ll use. Today I’m checking out Feedly at the recommendation of friends Diane Cordell and Vicki Davis. And Feedly connected with my existing Google Reader feeds and has assured me it has my back when GR goes away, I’ll still have my feeds. Thanks Feedly. Right now you are the front -runner for my new feed service. I may never say GR again. Grrrrrrrrr.
Please, Google if there are more plans like this, give a little indication and seek feedback from users. I think it will soften the blow if I have already heard it before the actual official announcement.
Related articles to check out:
C|Net discusses five worthy alternatives
Transitioning to Feedly (from Feedly)
Picture attributions:
- Shattered By Cayusa Licensed Creative Commons (with some rights reserved) on the date of use.
- Screenshot from The Google Blog today.
Another alternative that I suggest you try is called Feed Fiend. It is very easy to use, and has a one-click subscribe tool that makes it easy to find new feeds. Feed Fiend is not based on Google Reader like many other RSS readers are, so when Google Reader shuts down, Feed Fiend won’t miss a beat. It is also completely free.
I plan to have a Google Reader import tool available very soon so you can get your Google Reader feeds into Feed Fiend.
You can check it out at http://feedfiend.com
Aaron Wright
FeedFiend.com
I agree, it was unexpected and totally annoying. Thanks for the write-up. I’m working on my own post to spread the word. Sheesh.
Neil.
Neil Shearing´s last [type] ..Google Panda Update On The Way
I’m giving Feedly a try as well. Have you found anything to replace iGoogle?
http://blog.cathyjonelson.com/?p=2594