See Ya Later, Google Reader.
If you’re not a blogger or an avid blog reader, chances are you’re not aware of google reader and it’s demise which is happening… today. Google reader is essentially an “organizer” of all the website feeds that you wish to add, and I’m sort of devastated because it basically saved my life back in 2009 when I first started blogging and had to wake up everyday to go to a job I loathed. Google reader was permanatly open on my computer and it hasn’t closed since. I have HUNDREDS of blogs in my reader. Hundreds.
Since many of you subscribe to this little site by the soon-to-be defunct reader, I’d hate for you to miss out on my oversharing and immature talk for who knows how long. I’m going to be switching to feedly – and I’d love to tell you that I’ve tested it out over the last few weeks and am thrilled with it, but I’m way too much of a procrastinator for that. I did, however, import my google reader lists (it only takes ONE click! super fast.) last week and have been really liking feedly ever since. I also downloaded the app on my phone – it seems to be the best one I’ve ever used.
Another option is bloglovin and I know absolutely nothing about that. What are you currently using? How do you read your favorite blogs? More importantly, are you hungry for a donut right now?
If you don’t use an RSS organizer, you can also have every blog post delivered to you by email. Subscribe in the right sidebar for an obnoxious overload (not really, only when I post a blog) of How Sweet It Is posts delivered straight to your inbox.
And to shamelessly pimp this site out, you can also follow along on facebook, instagram, twitter, google+ and pinterest if you wish.
And if you’re interested in lots of rainbow sprinkles.
All the time.
44 Comments on “See Ya Later, Google Reader.”
Oh my gosh I was so upset what google first announced the reader was closing. I hunted and searched for the right replacement, i signed up for over 5 different ones and settled on feedly as well! I tried bloglovin, but it just didn’t fit.
Switching to Feedly as well! And yes, google reader is what gets me through my misery of a job. I LIVE across the street from a DD Jessica- you are nottttt helping squelch my doughnut cravings. Sprinkles- why can I not resist decorated food?
I’ve been using Bloglovin’ and am pleased but hear such great stuff about Feedly that I might need to try it out just to see which I like better.
I switched over to Feedly as well. I’ll miss Google reader though – i like that it looked like an email inbox – the more advanced these things get, the more confused I get!
I started using http://www.goread.io/ “Go Read” about a week ago and I love it. It reminds me of Google Reader the most and it’s simple to use.
BTW Love your recipes!
I use blogshelf but have Feedly also. I want a RSS that let’s me comment right from the app without having to open the web browser separately. Someone told me Feedly will do this but u find that it sometimes does…mostly doesn’t. Not sure if it would make a difference if I upgraded to Feedly Pro? Anyone know?
After much procrastination, yesterday I made the switch to Feedly. I was really hoping Google would come to their senses and say “haha, just kidding about closing down Reader”. No such luck. It will take some time to get used to Feedly but I think after awhile I will love it as I did Google Reader.
I switched over last week, but I was really hoping the same thing. Pretty happy with Feedly after trying a bunch, I think it’s where 95% are ending up. I will switch back to using Reeder (standalone Mac app) when the syncing is available. I like being able to go to a website to read my feeds but I prefer the robustness of an actual app.
Right now I am using blog lovin, but I have read so many good thing about Feedly! I might look into switching. Oh and yes, I am seriously starving for a doughnut!
I’ve been using Bloglovin’ before I even started my blog in January. I love it and will probably never use anything else. It’s easy to find posts you’ve ‘liked’, organize the blogs you follow into groups and the iPhone app works really great too.
I use Mac’s Reeder. Like Google Reader but way more user friendly. And who knows if it will work…tomorrow. I’ve been using it for about 6 mos, since when all the Reader drama broke out, I decided to try something new and I love it way more than any other service I’ve used or tried, including those you mentioned. They’re ‘okay’ but I love Reeder way more!
Reeder is actually a Google Reader client so you might lose your feeds when it shuts down! An update to make it work isn’t going to be ready by July 1. You may want to look into switching to Feedly or Feedbin (my personal preference, which will work with Reeder once it is fixed). Best of luck!
More from the people that make Reeder… http://reederapp.com/reader/
I switched several months ago (when my Google reader would not stop nagging me with the news that it would indeed be leaving me) and came up with something called Protopage. Now that I see all my favorite bloggers suggesting Feedly, and people commenting with even more readers that I haven’t tested out, I feel like I need to do a whole new round of investigation!
I’m using Bloglovin’ but I don’t think there’s a rule that says I can’t use more than one great app for the same purpose! Just downloaded Feedly and will let you know what I think!
Xo
Dana Ivy
http://www.iadorewhatilove.com – check out my blog!
This may be a dumb question but is google reader the same as reading the blog via gmail? Does gmail= google reader?. If so then I have a lot of work to today !
no no – if you subscribe by email, you’re still good! the emails will still come. reader is more like one website that consolidates all of your feeds (websites that you read) into one place!
I’m a little lost as well. In my blogger page, will I still be able to see “My Blogs” ? Is the only thing Google Reader is affecting the RSS feeds?
I looked at the alternatives and imported, but I just found Digg reader yesterday. I hate change and since it looks most like Google reader I think I’ll go with it.
I’ve been using Feedly for the last few weeks and really like it. I had only been using Google Reader for a year, so I wasn’t as attached as you were, though :) I wonder why Google chose to get rid of it…anyone know?
I use bloglovin, I like it!
I switched over to Bloglovin’ a couple weeks ago and it’s been great. I actually like it more than Google Reader.
I’m also a big fan of the Bloglovin’ app on my iPhone.
Every day Google Reader’s been reminding me that it won’t be available July 1. Every day I click ok and ignore it. I can’t quit you, Google Reader.
But for real, I moved my stuff over to “the Old Reader” because I heard it’s the most similar. I haven’t really tested it out though, I did log in a couple weeks ago just to make sure my feeds were in there. I’m sticking with GR right to the end. ;)
I am such a procrastinator – I just switched to Bloglovin’ today!
I became a FEEDLY subscriber a couple of months ago and I love it. Very easy to use and I love the simple, yet colorful design on its app.
I love your blog by the way. :)
Already following with Bloglovin :)
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
I found Net VIbes right around the time they announced that google reader was going to be no more. It looks pretty much the same (like an email inbox, as someone mentioned) and apparently it has a whole bunch of other functionality if you pay for the Pro Plan or whatever.
But the rss reader is free, and I haven’t had any problems with it.
I’d be curious about one a reader that has an iOS app though, as Net Vibes does not. I think Feedly does, but I tested Feedly and didn’t like it at all.
I switched to Bloglovin’ as soon as Google announced it would be abandoning me. I don’t like to hang around in doomed relationships. I really love it. They’ve made some improvements on their mobile app as well.
Thank you for posting the link to feedly. I signed up and luuuuuvvvv it! Actually, way more beautiful than blogger reader was anyway. Thanks thanks thanks
Thank you thank you for the reminder! I just switched over to both feedly and bloglovin. First impressions: I like feedly better.
I love bloglovin! Switched using my phone about a month ago and the whole process took about fifteen minutes while I was also making risotto. Plus they have an awesome android app, so I’m happy! :)
I also switched to feedly soon after they made the announcement. Some things are important in life like keeping up on my blogs, nevermind getting the kids to school on time. I tried bloglovin also but liked feedly better and have even figured out how to add new blogs to my feed! And I love the mobile app!
I use bloglovin, but i have to admit it’s kinda strange. It has weird glitches that are hopefully being worked out. Soooo i’m on feedly too! And since i had to transfer over a 1000 (yep it’s sad) blogs, i was pretty particular about my reader. I’ll try them both out until i pick a winner.
and i meant “transfer over a thousand blogs” guhhh it’s late and i may or may not be imbibing alcohol.
Feedly lost me when it required me to download a browser plugin-although they’ve changed that. Only saving 24 days of old feeds and the inability to search made it unappealing as well.
I switched over to the old reader. Looks exactly like reader (was developed a few years back to echo the previous version of reader) and provides me with the things I liked about reader. theoldreader.com
Because you included a photo of a donut this is my favorite bye Google reader post yet!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Don’t forget about the switch to BlogLovin’!
try INOREADER.COM. JUST LIKE GOOGLE. I switched over mid may maybe, shortly after google announced it, So far, loving it.
1. I am equally as devastated by Google Reader’s death sentence.
2. There’s no such thing as shamelessly pimping out your site — and therefore I will mention that my co-blogger and I write a Tech Blog aimed at women — and we just wrote a couple of posts about Google Reader alternatives, as well as a more in-depth write-up about Feedly in particular (our favorite of the bunch). It’s called Tech in Real Life (www.techinreallife.com).
3. Your blog is PHENOMENAL. I ALSO follow hundreds of blogs, and yours is top 5 without a doubt. I love your recipes (even though I am the world’s most pathetic cook). I like to stare at the pictures and imagine what it would be like to be able to create (and eat) such food masterpieces. And your writing is the perfect entertainment for those work days where the 30 min between 5:30 and 6:00 pm seem to drag on for an eternity. So, you have been officially migrated over to Feedly :)
4. Donuts are my kryptonite. I simply cannot turn them down. Even a gross one. A stale one. A flavor I “don’t like.” I eat them all. I’m glad there are others that are as weak as I am.
I agree, feedly is easier for me to use than bloglovin. Particularly because it’s easier to share links. In bloglovin, if you click onto a blog title, you are linked to the blog site, not the bloglovin site for the blog. It’s just easier to be sent to the real source. And now I want a doughnut with pink frosting and sprinkles.
I got Feedly when I got my iPad because I wanted something that worked with Google Reader. Then Google made the announcement and Feedly began adding features so that was great. I love the iPad app but in the past few days since the cloud went online, things have been a bit twitchy. I’m trying to be patient though while it gets sorted.
For our blog, we also have a bloglovin link but that’s new for us since a lot of people like bloglovin. I’m sticking to Feedly
Switched to Feedly too. I like it!
I switched to NewsBlur. It reminded me the most of Google Reader and so far has been working out pretty well! Occasionally I still have the urge to go to my old Google Reader, though…
I use my Flipboard. So far it seems to work great!
I was also in denial about Reader’s death until it actually went offline. I have YEARS of starred recipes from food blogs (it was my pinterest before pinterest!).
I have been using OldReade for a month. Now I have been switched to http://silverreader.com. I do like SilverReader speed and simple user interface. You should check it out