Though their numbers have been dwindling, some people do, and they will shift to alternatives like Feedly. Alternatives like G+ do the same thing but provide also the option of interactive rating, sharing, discovery. Those features aren't desired by all, but may be ignored if that's the case.

It's possible that you don't personally use all the features of Google Reader, but AFAIK, Google+ lacks one of the most basic (and, IMHO, useful) features of Google Reader: the ability to maintain the state of read/unread articles. Not to mention that the Google Reader's API makes this state available across multiple devices.

If Google+ can't manage this fundamental task, it will be a fail (to me) as a replacement for Google Reader. But I don't think replacing Google Reader is Google's goal; if it were, it might have been better for Google to build Google+ on top of Reader than to try to recreate all the Reader functions into Google+.

My current RSS subscriptions are all managed through Google Reader with an RSS Reader on various platforms that links into Google Reader. Is there a way to now export the feeds in Google so that they can be re-subscribed through another reader or do I have to input them all myself?

Google is becoming more like Apple all the time. Refuse to provide services that folks want/need to force them into something that benefits Google (like Apple did with Flash). Rather than innovate, Google stops innovation in order to foist something on folks that benefits their elimination of privacy (by building a dossier & tracing folks) and attempts to drive revenue.

Look at last week's news that they have blocked ....... Plus from the Google Play market. Congrats, Google, by doing so, you have caused me to move to Firefox Mobile, which despite a few shortcomings allows me to easily use ....... Plus on my mobile browser.

Absolutely: http://mashable.com/2013/03/14/expor...google-reader/

I did this and successfully imported my feeds into 4 other services.

Google is nothing like Apple. Google provides *choice*. They allow you to opt out of services, move your data freely, and they even allow competing software and devices to interact and port. By ceasing to invest in a service that has waning interest and a superior (and more profitable) alternative, they aren't "forcing" anything. They know that many users will flee to similarly antiquated services in the short-run, and this is a calculated loss. They will work to win those users back with a better (and also free) product in G+.

Another difference from Apple is that they offer many of their products free, supporting them with ads rather than charging huge premiums. That's not necessarily better, but it opens to door to those who can't afford Apple premiums.

Regarding the ads themselves... Google has succeeded by working to make ads targeted and useful rather than annoying and without value. To many, it's an appealing alternative to paying for products and subscriptions directly. Google has every right to protect their platform against poaching and free loaders. Asking them to allow ....... would be like expecting Microsoft to allow updates of cracked versions of their software. Apple, on the other hand, does it very differently. They aren't merely trying to stop their products from being abused/stolen; they block competing products because they fear the competition.

I just switched over to Feedly. It easily transfers not only your old google reader feeds but also all your saved posts, which is the biggest thing I wanted to save.

I find it hard to believe I am so far outside the norm, but Google has killed basically every one of their tools that I regularly used. Very frustrating! Luckily there are other tools out there waiting for our business.

You and I will have to disagree.

While your statement is the potential *promise* of Google, it is NOT the way business is being conducted. I see plenty of signs that Google is purchasing companies with the intent to shut them down. You cannot opt out of some Google tracking - and if you want to use the contacts list on your Android you cannot keep it local... it will be sent to their servers.

At one time Google offered choice. It no longer does.

From my perspective, as long as Google offers a "store" the failure to impartially offer products is wrong, even if it allows folks to do something that alters the "business model". If it were true "choice", I would have the choice to purchase a product and not see ads (or have my movements tracked).

I will stand by my statement that Google is becoming more like Apple on each and every day. I am far from being an Apple fan-boy, and I used to like the promise of Google, but their actions ranging from removal of apps from the store to their stated disdain for intellectual property rights is very troubling.

Much of what I said is fact, not opinion. Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and many other big companies readily acquire smaller start-ups strategically to utilize their tech, add market share, and other competitive reasons. Not unique to Google and isn't inherently restrictive of choice.

You can opt out of not only ad tracking, but various aspects of all services. All in one place: Google Dashboard. Of course, you have the ultimate control of simply not using or not adding information, and if you do and change your mind later, simply removing it and closing your account.

Again, you do have choice. Google is one of the biggest privacy and open-platform advocates in the world, and that extends to their Play Store as well. The limitations in place are vastly less restrictive than Apple's, and prohibit things like phishing, porn, spam, illegal activity, etc. Their decision to exclude software designed to steal from Google (harming other users as much as Google) is hardly an attempt to limit free choice.

Back to the topic of Reader... Google gave fair warning and isn't hoarding your data. They are all for free choice, and they know that millions will flee to Feedly and similar services. They are simply taking a business decision that is their prerogative to encourage users to migrate to a superior service they now offer, rather continue to offer a free service that is waning in popularity.

Thanks Katja, I will sort the transition out over the next few days.

And the winner is (for me only, YMMV) is NetVibes.

TheOldReader never managed to import my feeds (overloaded servers). Feedly seems to be the front runner for a lot of people, but I couldn't persuade it to just list articles chronologically - it insisted on being clever and giving me a magazine type layout. NewsBlur was down a lot and just tended to take a long time to refresh and notice new articles. Sadly, none of them do what Google Reader used to do well and still manages to do poorly - provide code to populate a blogroll on my website.

+1 for Feedly. Transferring over was fast and painless. The real test will be when Google Reader shuts down and Feedly will have rely on their own back end sytem.

I made a video to help people switch from Google Reader to Feedly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZwBB90IZuc


I had the same problem. I just want the headlines, so I can skim through them fast. This article off the Feedly blog should help solve that problem:

Tips for Google Reader users migrating to feedly

Click on the "gear" icon in the upper right to get into the settings. Under "Views," click on "Titles." That will give you the headline-only view similar to Google Reader. This screenshot should clear things up.

Yup, I tried that a dozen times. Either I have really poor mouse skills (always a possibility) or ...

I'm disappointed in this news too. I'm trying Feedly. So far I don't like it as well as Reader, but hopefully it will grow on me as I get used to it.

I use Goodnoows for all of my news feeds. Haven't experimented much with importing other feeds but it presents articles in a very clean manner.