So, I suppose you’ve probably heard about the closing of Google Reader in July. Lame sauce, yeah?! Google Reader is my preferred method for reading through my favorite sites. Unfortunate, yes. Avoidable, not so much. There are lots of posts with alternatives for Google Reader, so I’m just gonna shoot you toward my new Reader replacement and then I’ll suggest some three, it is Top Three Thursday after all, other posts to check out if you want to scope out more options…
Like a lot of the other “alternatives for Reader” posts I read, Feedly is at the top of my list. It’s very “Reader”-esque in features and shortcuts, but it’s a little more visually appealing than Reader with lots of fantastically-sized graphics. I am a visual girl and this definitely appeals to me. In the week that I’ve been using the site, I haven’t had any problems with extensive load times and the refresh interval is great for someone who checks their feeds a couple to a few times a day. It seems pretty quick and up-to-date. But the thing that pushed it to the tip top of my list: it’s also got a mobile app for both iPhone/iPad, Kindle and Android devices. The mobile app for Android is clean, quick and sharp. I love that I can flip through the posts so easily and the continuity is seamless. The mobile app is just as, if not more, appealing than the web version. I do most of my reading on my cell phone or tablet, not my laptop or desktop, so this is ideal for me. I also found the mobile app to be a lot less intimidating or daunting than the web version. Maybe it was the smaller screen, which led to less ‘new layout’ at one time.
Another big selling point: you can link it to your Google account and it will import all your current subscriptions. It’s fabu-tastic! Super simple integration and I don’t have to worry about losing or missing one of my fave sites in the transfer. I was dreading this part of finding a new Reader. But all I had to do was log into Google and BAM! Everything was there, only prettier and more colorful. The site can be a little overwhelming coming from Google Reader, what with all the graphics and slightly different layout, but it’s intuitive and you’ll make the adjustments rather easily I think.
And. And! You can organize your feeds into categories for easier searching. If I need an activity idea for my kiddos? Well, I head right over to the kid’s blogs category and check out what some of my favorite bloggers are doing with their kids for ideas. Sweet tooth? Pull up my recipes and cooking feeds and I’m sure to find something to settle the craving with. Love this option.
Feedly is free for both web use and in the Android Play Store. I don’t know about the App Store, sorry Applers, you’ll have to check that out.
I do believe this will be my replacement for Google Reader. And I might not even be sorry about that or sad to see Google Reader go…
If you’d like to check out some other options, take a look at these awesome posts. There’s no reason for me to say what they already have…
– For more info on other mobile readers, check out this post at arstechnica.com. They have a great list.
– The Verge has a great post on some other Reader options. Find it HERE.
– And my nerd-geek husband would disown me if I left out the article on Pop Sci. It’s got lots of great alternatives to replace Reader, definitely a good one to check out if you’re on the fence or confused and need a starting point.
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