by Dietrich Schmitz
If you depend on Google Reader, hopefully you've made plans for the switch being turned off, Monday July 1, 2013.
It was one of those tools that I found indispensable and used for the longest time. I started using Akgregator, then BlogLines because it was always available from any PC with a login to the subscription. Then I discovered Google Reader and have been using it since around 2006 to present.
The good news is that there are a few really good choices for you to consider as a replacement for Google Reader.
The first is Feedly. I started using Feedly last year because it read my Google Reader subscription of RSS feeds automatically and the magazine format was nice and easy to use and read.
Feedly comes in plugins for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox and the Feedly mobile application is available for Apple's iPad and iPhone and Android devices.
Another excellent contender for doing full-time duty and will probably be liked by many who are accustomed to the Google Reader layout and interface is INOReader.
I've got it installled and it automatically imported all of my Google Reader settings and was instantly usable because of its familiar layout, look and feel.
It would behoove you to go directly to your Google Reader account to export to a file all of your RSS feeds, so that you can import them to another aggregator of your choice. To do that open Google Reader, click the wheel at the far right, then click 'Settings':
The click on the Import/Export tab in the Setting screen and click on "Download your data through Takeout" link.
Once you've clicked the link for Takeout, your screen will transition to Google Takeout where pressing the red button marked "Create Archive" will generate an archive. Then click the Download button to download to your local drive:
That takes care of exporting all of your RSS feeds from Google Reader. The OPML format is readable by many applications, so your reader should be able to import it without difficulty.
Well, if you've become as dependent on aggregators like Google Reader as I have, then you'll be relieved to know you have options now that Google Reader goes off-line on Monday.
Good Luck and happy feed reading!
-- Dietrich
It was one of those tools that I found indispensable and used for the longest time. I started using Akgregator, then BlogLines because it was always available from any PC with a login to the subscription. Then I discovered Google Reader and have been using it since around 2006 to present.
The good news is that there are a few really good choices for you to consider as a replacement for Google Reader.
The first is Feedly. I started using Feedly last year because it read my Google Reader subscription of RSS feeds automatically and the magazine format was nice and easy to use and read.
 |
| Feedly extension shown running on Google Chrome 28 |
I've got it installled and it automatically imported all of my Google Reader settings and was instantly usable because of its familiar layout, look and feel.
 |
| INOReader running on Google Chrome 28 |
 |
| Click the wheel on far right, then click 'Settings' |
The click on the Import/Export tab in the Setting screen and click on "Download your data through Takeout" link.
 |
| Click "Download your data through Takeout" |
Once you've clicked the link for Takeout, your screen will transition to Google Takeout where pressing the red button marked "Create Archive" will generate an archive. Then click the Download button to download to your local drive:
 |
| After pressing Create Archive, select Download to download the archive to your local drive |
Well, if you've become as dependent on aggregators like Google Reader as I have, then you'll be relieved to know you have options now that Google Reader goes off-line on Monday.
Good Luck and happy feed reading!
-- Dietrich
