MakeUseOf - Google Reader

Is RSS Dead? A Look At The Numbers

Guy McDowell — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 22:00:00 GMT

RSS has taken some big hits recently. Of course, people have been announcing the death of RSS pretty much since it came into existence, but when Google Reader bit the dust on July 1st, 2013, many were ready to place a wreath at the headstone and walk away.

Get the Perfect Self-Hosted Feedreader Solution With Tiny Tiny RSS

Kev Quirk — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Back in July, Google Reader bit the dust, and RSS lovers everywhere flocked to Feedly in droves. Feedly is really great, and a lot of people actually think that it's better than Google Reader, but what if you don't like Feedly? Or what if Feedly decide to close their doors, just like Google Reader did? Where can you go then? Well, the answer in both scenarios is Tiny Tiny RSS.

Replace Reader: 3 Best Desktops RSS Clients for Mac OS X

Justin Pot — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 20:00:00 GMT

We've told you about the main web-based alternatives to Google's beloved but departed RSS service, which defined the RSS reading genre so well most competitors stopped bothering to compete. Feedly is probably the most feature filled, Newsblur is easy to use and Feedbin, while not free, is worth the $2 a month.

Is ReadKit The Perfect Reeder Replacement For Mac? (Yes)

Justin Pot — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 21:30:00 GMT

Reeder, which was the best Google Reader client for Mac, stopped working when Google Reader did back in July. And while Reeder2 for Mac is supposedly on the way, users can be forgiven for their impatience at this point.

BazQux Reader - A Worthy Minimalist Replacement To Google Reader

Mark O'Neill — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMT

If you are a power RSS reader, I'm sure you mourned the passing of Google Reader a few months back. But once we were past the initial gnashing and wailing of teeth, we began to search for replacements. A lot of my colleagues swear by Feedly or Digg, but I never really melded with either of them. Instead, I was looking for something really simple, minimalist, and perhaps similar in appearance and functionality to Google Reader. And something that just worked. I'm afraid I'm rather picky about what web apps and software I will continue using.

Feedly, Reviewed: What Makes It Such A Popular Google Reader Replacement?

Erez Zukerman — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 00:00:03 GMT

Now that Google Reader is but a distant memory, the fight for the future of RSS is truly on. One of the most notable products fighting the good fight is Feedly, a powerful RSS reader about which David Pogue of the New York Times quipped, "Feedly is what you needly." We've reviewed Feedly's Firefox add-on, and even its iOS app way back in 2011.

AOL Reader: Feedly Competitor Or A Google Reader Alternative Runner Up?

Kannon Yamada — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:00:43 GMT

Like a phoenix, Google Reader’s death led to its resurrection. After its death, half-a-dozen alternatives arose from Google Reader's ashes – some of which barely work. Others, however, eclipse even Google Reader’s functionality. One such beta software comes from a surprising source: America Online, or AOL.

Only One More Month: Turn Google Reader Into CommaFeed Or Reedah In A Few Steps

Craig Snyder — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 06:30:01 GMT

Right when the bad news hit the web, MakeUseOf was quick to bring our readers information and alternatives regarding the eventual closing of Google Reader. Google Reader was my web-based RSS reader of choice and it still shocks me that they've come to the decision to part ways with it, but we've got to accept it and adjust.

Local Reader - 6 Excellent RSS Extensions For Chrome

Saikat Basu — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:31:20 GMT

The RSS game is wide open. RSS aggregators are back in the feeding frenzy. But then, the tribe of feed readers was already there…we mostly had time for the king. Google Reader will be dead in a couple of months. Long live the King! Now, it's time to look at the princelings. We have looked at quite a few interesting Google Reader alternatives. Feedly is perhaps the heir apparent. Then there are the interesting characters like FeedRoller and FeedBooster. Throw in some slicker Google Reader wannabes and you have your crowd.

Swim In The Sea of RSS: Curated Content Alternatives To Google Reader

Joshua Lockhart — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:31:29 GMT

As mournfully described in verse by Justin, Google Reader has flown the coop. However, dear readers, this is not a time to cry. It is not a time to lament. It is not even a time to rise up in anger. Instead, it is a time for change.

What Should Have Been Culled Instead of Google Reader? [You Told Us]

Dave Parrack — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:31:37 GMT

The company which has its many and varied tentacles wrapped tightly around all four corners of the Web recently announced the culling of Google Reader. This decision annoyed many people, some of whom immediately began looking around for alternative RSS readers. The chances of Google culling other services in the future are high, as the company has these spring cleans regularly.

Disappointed To See Google Reader Go? Use Twitter Lists Instead

Nancy Messieh — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:31:50 GMT

With Google Reader on its way out, people have been scrambling to find alternatives to get their RSS fix. We've even come up with a list of solid alternatives to Google Reader to make sure you aren't left wondering where to go next. But what if you were to ditch the concept of RSS altogether? You could do that by opting instead to get your news and blog post fix using Twitter lists.

Feedbin: A Google Reader Replacement That May Be Worth $2 Per Month

Erez Zukerman — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:00:08 GMT

Google Reader is sun-setting and shutting down on July 1st. Like most Google services, it was free – and in a world where many Web services are free, it's easy to forget that developers need to eat, too. If you're not the one paying for their lunch, then the money comes from advertisers. And that means you're the product, not the customer: Those developers will use what they know about you to tailor ads that are likely to be relevant to you.

Google Reader's End Is Nigh: Prepare With These Alternative RSS Readers

Justin Pot — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:30:37 GMT

Google Reader is dead. By July the Internet's premier RSS service is shutting down forever, leaving users to find a replacement on their own. If you're looking for an equivalent to Google these are just a few of the web's best alternatives to Google Reader – one of them is bound to be right for you. If not, wait: we're sure others will be built in the months to come.

How To Download Your Google Reader Feeds As An EPUB Or MOBI File

Justin Pot — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 01:31:23 GMT

Download your Google Reader feeds – or the individual RSS feed of any website – as an ebook. NewsToebook is a free service that connects to your Google Account, downloads any feed you like and even marks the things it downloads as read. With output for EPUB and MOBI, it supports basically every eReader on the market, and can even directly convert an RSS feed to an eBook if you're not a Google Reader user.

Bring the News to Life With These Slick Google Reader Alternatives

Guy McDowell — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:00:06 GMT

At a very basic level there are really three major components to the World Wide Web and the information we get from it. Google, Facebook, and...well...porn. Seriously, porn accounts for over one-third of all Internet traffic. That pretty much leaves the other two thirds to Google and Facebook. Google gets the lion's share of that.

Minimalist For Everything – The Single Reason To Consider A Simpler Gmail & Google Reader [Chrome]

Saikat Basu — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:01:33 GMT

We might not notice it, but minimalism is everywhere. In art, architecture, lifestyles, and of course in web design. Minimalism is a movement and though one can say it is about simplicity, it may not be entirely true. It is about getting to the essence of something by removing the non-essentials. So, when one talks about Gmail and Google Reader, the non-essentials have a long list of their own.

Combine Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Google Reader To Make Sense Of Real Time News

Saikat Basu — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:31:56 GMT

Bottlenose is a strange name for a web service that aims to tie together your social networks in one place. But then this new application is all about ‘smarter collective intelligence’ that it gathers from your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Reader accounts. It makes sense to name it after a dolphin – one of the most intelligent creatures we know about.

Sync Posts Between Facebook, Twitter, Google+ & Your Links [Facebook Tip/Hack Of The Week]

Angela Randall — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:31:27 GMT

If you're a fan of Facebook, you're probably a user of a few other social networks too. You might have an account on Twitter or Google+, which you might use for work or just as a place to chat. You might also collect links in Google Reader, Delicious or Evernote. But do you know how easy it is to link them all together in just the right ways?

How to Easily Strip the Unnecessary Clutter From Google Reader

Justin Pot — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:31:38 GMT

Flush away the crap you don't need in Google Reader and get back to what's important - reading. "Google Reader Readable" is both a Chrome extension and a userstyle that removes basically everything from Google Reader except for you what you want - the article you're reading right now and your lists of feeds.

Add Style & Interactivity To Your Google Reader With NewsSquares [Chrome]

Jeffry Thurana — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:31:32 GMT

Are you the kind of person that keeps up with the latest news? If you are, then you will be familiar with RSS feeds. One of the most well-known names in the realm of online RSS clients is Google Reader. Even though the service has gradually improved its interface, it's still just lists of texts.

Feedly Mobile - Keep Up With News & Google Reader Feeds On The Go With This Stylish App [iOS & Android]

Tim Brookes — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:30:57 GMT

When I first went looking for a suitable news and RSS reader for my iPhone, I had two prerequisites – no price tag (the feeds are free, after all) and Google Reader integration. At the time Feedly was a paid download, and my unwillingness to pay for content I was already getting for free (albeit in an attractive wrapper) put me off.

2 Effective Ways to Browse Through Google Reader Feeds

Ann Smarty — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:31:53 GMT

Google Reader is yet another reason to love Google: it's free, offers unlimited features and is very flexible. It also has a very powerful search platform that makes it easy to explore your feed archives. I rely on Google Reader to monitor all my blog subscriptions, track my online reputation, store my personal Twitter updates as well as Twitter search archives, and more.

How RSS Feeds Work In Simple Terms [Technology Explained]

Dave Drager — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:31:13 GMT

The reports of RSS's death have been grossly exaggerated. RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, got its start in 1999 under the direction of Dave Winer for his Scripting News website. Since that time, RSS has been used in many applications across the web and is useful in many ways which you might not even be aware of. So what is RSS and and how can you use it to help increase your daily productivity?

3 Great Ways to Read Your Google Reader Feeds

Angela Randall — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:31:04 GMT

I bet you've got lots of feeds in Google Reader. Maybe you have so many feeds that you've turned off the unread count so it doesn't drive you mad. You've probably organised them into folders so you can read feeds according to your mood. Yet, if you're anything like me, you probably still just never get around to really reading those feeds often enough.

Access Your Other Google Services in Gmail With Integrated Gmail for Firefox

Ryan Dube — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:31:04 GMT

I have to admit that over the years I've slowly gravitated toward utilizing Google apps for just about everything. First it was Gmail. Then, it was Calendar and Tasks. Finally I started using Google Reader, Google Notepad and most recently Google Voice.

7 Must-Have Google Desktop Gadgets for Productivity

Matt Smith — Mon, 31 May 2010 12:30:05 GMT

Google Desktop is a great tool for social networking. The Twitter and Facebook gadgets allow you to keep up to date with your friends without even having to launch a full web browser. Other Google Desktop gadgets, like custom clocks and computer performance meters, just flat-out look cool.

Desktop Google Reader - An Awesome RSS Reader Which Syncs With Google

Varun Kashyap — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:31:30 GMT

With all the attention and buzz around social networks, some people predicted the demise of RSS. RSS however soldiers on and in fact, most of the social networks either directly provide RSS feeds for things you might be interested in, or there are clever hacks to get RSS feeds for your favorite pages.

iPod Touch : 10 Cool Productivity Apps For Offline Use

Jessica Cam Wong — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:49:52 GMT

With 100,000+ apps in the App Store, we can find apps for a variety of uses, such as turning your iPod Touch/iPhone into a professional camera/photo editor (for iPhone), an external hard drive, a reference book, or a radio, yet productivity apps that integrate with Google services, which are free and which we can use without Wi-Fi are harder to find. Not every place we are in will have Wi-Fi, especially if we are on-the-go or commuting a lot. That's when apps with offline capabilities come in handy.

4 Cool Ways To Make Use Of Twitter Lists

Mahendra Palsule — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:21 GMT

Earlier, we saw how to create, discover, and follow Twitter Lists. Now let's see some more useful and fun ways how to use Twitter lists.

Synchronize Your Google Contacts, Calendar & RSS In Thunderbird

Mark O'Neill — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:01:38 GMT

Today I started using the desktop email client Mozilla Thunderbird [Broken URL Removed] again. Gmail is an excellent email application but if I am out and about with my netbook and I have difficulty finding a wireless connection, then the ability to download all my emails beforehand to Thunderbird is a lifesaver.

Two Online Services To Clean Up Your RSS Feeds

T.J. Berte — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:01:05 GMT

As I've said in the past, RSS feeds and web syndication have become the de facto standard of delivering new content to the world. Whether it's on a blog, a news site, a social network or a podcast, it doesn't appear that there is anything that can't be converted into an RSS feed of some kind these days. The delivery of the content is one thing, but how users will receive it is what is important to us and to our readers.

10 Essential Cheat Sheets To Download

Aibek Esengulov — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:44:12 GMT

Ever wanted to master the keyboard shortcuts and get more productive on the web? Here is everything you need - 10 quick cheat sheets for some of the most widely used tools on the web. Download, print and stick them somewhere near your desk.