Yes it is true unfortunately. Announced on the Official Google Blog a few days ago and further explained in the Official Google Reader Blog with the simple caption of “powering down.” Google Reader has been around since 2005. It offered an easy way to sort through RSS feeds and simply put any other online resource that updated itself. Google provided a short explanation on why they have decided to pull the plug on Reader:
“There are two simple reasons for this: usage of Google Reader has declined, and as a company we’re pouring all of our energy into fewer products. We think that kind of focus will make for a better user experience.”
Google has assured users that it will give subscribers to Reader what they’re calling a three month sunset period. In that time users can download their information from Reader using Google Takeout or simply find an alternative to Reader and sync their stories with that. Many alternatives are out there, if you haven’t caught that drift yet from my writings. The good people at LifeHacker have posted the five best user submitted alternatives to Google Reader. Being that Google Reader was the immediate starting point of this blog I thought providing a solid farewell was due. It’s been a great run Reader, but Google is telling users that it’s time to let go. Next week I will be posting a review of what is being talked about as the best replacement for Google Reader. It’s an app called Feedly and Reader users might be impressed to find out the functionality. The Google Reader mobile app has already been pulled from the Google Play Store as well as the iPhone App Store. Stay tuned. In the mean time check out this CNET Update on Google Reader’s departure:
Good bye Google Reader, you will be thoroughly missed.
Update:
The end to Google Reader has more than just bothered some people. A change.org petition as well as a strongly worded letter has launched to attempt to keep Google Reader alive. Many are reporting that this effort is futile but we shall see what comes of it. As of this posting there are a total of 138,545 signatures with a total of 150,000 set as the goal.
-AJ
and iPad) as well as Android, both phone and tablet. It is also available for the Kindle Fire and the Nook. The view of stories can be arranged by categories much like how folder act in Reader. However Pulse provides a graphical interface much like Currents. Squares are dedicated to each story and typically display a featured image if one is available for the particular story. As said before, not unread counts, and locating stories from your favorites sources is easy. Pulse even provides the option to add their own trending sources from various topics such as fashion, technology, and others. With these, top stories from multiple sources will display as your discretion. If you’re a Google Reader user and you want to transfer over all of your currents feeds, no problem. Pulse can do that too. Currently it can only sync any feeds you have in Reader now, it will not sync read stories, or add or delete stories you have in Google Reader. My favorite part about Pulse (besides how pretty it looks) 
is that Pulse is so far the only news reader i’ve found with a companion website. That’s right, sign into your account via the Pulse website and you’re instantly connected to all of your news sources currently syncing with your smart phone and tablet. Update are always being pushed out and new features are always being added. I’ve tried using other news reader apps before and I continually return to Pulse. Pulse takes the beautiful graphical interface, improves social connection through Pulse.me, syncs from just about anything, and on top of all that contains a companion site just in case you’re on your PC and want to check what’s trending. Hands down Pulse has got it all. Take it for a test spin, I guarantee you’ll love it. Oh yeah, best part about this app, it’s free. Completely, one hundred percent free to you. Just download and enjoy. I firmly stand behind Pulse and its developers. Try it, you won’t be disappointed.