Google Reader has a small but deeply passionate fanbase, and yesterday that fan base saw its beloved program die. So, Google is keeping their data around for a little while, right? Yeah, not so much.
Google is flushing any Reader data you may have down the digital toilet July 15th, so if you’ve got data, now’s the time to grab it. But what, precisely, should you do? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
- Get over to Google Takeout, and get your data. Sadly, you won’t be able to get just your Reader Data; instead Google will email you a .zip file with all your Google data.
- Open up the zip file. There’s probably a lot there, but you’re looking for a file marked “subscriptions.xml”
- Import that file into your Reader replacement, and everything should be up and running.
As for Google Reader replacements, we have a few suggestions.
NewsBlur is… well, visually it’s kinda ugly. But it’s ugly in service to a point: It’s lightning quick and full of clever touches. For example: Want to open an article in a background tab? Hit “o”. Seriously, that’s all you need to do. It also lets you nest folders. If you’ve got multiple topics to stay on top of, it’s probably your best choice for now, although you will be paying $1 a month for unlimited feeds. Feedly splits the difference between a magazine-style app like Flipboard and Google Reader, and it’s generally the preferred replacement for casual use. Digg Reader is a work in progress, but it’s already drawing attention and growing rapidly, and it’s also got a simple import function.
Finally, if you just can’t let it go? There’s The Old Reader. It is exactly what it sounds like, if you fear change.
So long, Google Reader. You will be missed. At least until we find a replacement to get excited over, and then also watch as it tanks.
(Image via Lionsgate Home Video)