Sunday, June 16, 2013

Blogger Alert, Google Reader Ending in Two Weeks


First, can I tell you how much I love my iPhone 5?  Who could have imagined
a photo like this could come from a phone?

But that's not the reason for this post.  I used this pretty picture to lure you here
to make sure you're aware that Google Reader is ending in two weeks.

If you're on Blogger, this means your reading list will be going away!  I also believe, but 
cannot confirm, that if you have a blog roll on your blog, it will also go away.  So if you
read blogs using your Blogger Reading List or from another blogger's blog roll, you need to
find another way to keep track of the blogs you like to read.

I did some research a few months ago when this was first announced to find some alternatives.
It seems that most people are switching to Feedly or Bloglovin' and if you google "feedly vs.
bloglovin,'" you should find some posts that list the pros and cons of each one.

I looked at Feedly very superficially and when I saw I needed to download Firefox,
I moved on to Bloglovin' (just because Firefox is incompatible with software
I have at the office). I signed up for Bloglovin' and not only found the process
very easy, it automatically imported my Blogger Reading List. 

***UPDATE***

Tracy left me a comment that Feedly didn't require Firefox so I went back and
clicked "Get Feedly for Chrome."  (I don't recall seeing that when I went a few
months ago.)  It automatically imported all the blogs from my Blogger Reading List.
Also very easy.  It will take me a little white to get the settings the way I want them,
but it's also looking like a great option.

***********

Bloglovin' provides a list similar to the Blogger Reading list showing the lead photo in
the post as well as preview of the text in the post.  If there are posts you don't want to
read just from the preview, you can "mark as read" and it will gray out.  Further, if you
refresh or reload your reading list, any post you "mark as read" will disappear leaving
only the unread posts.  There is also a list of your blogs on the left of the screen similar
to Google Reader.  It took a few days to get used to but I've been using it exclusively for
a few months.  It's good but it's not perfect.  I can't explain why but I can't comment on
some blogs (like Bow Street Flowers).  I think it's the blogs that have comments in a
pop-up box.  But even despite the few problems, it's better than the problems I had with
the Blogger Reading List...and it's better than nothing.

Feel free to share experiences with other reading lists or ask questions.  I think that this
will be the nail in the coffin for many blogs who have thousands of followers that will
suddenly be gone.  Check out Feedly or Bloglovin' soon.  If you join Bloglovin' and already
have a reading list, all of your blogs (including mine) should automatically be added to
your new reading list.  If you're already on Bloglovin', you can follow me here.

Don't put it off!

40 comments:

  1. i really did like google reader, but i've been researching alternatives. i added feedly to chrome, and it works fine that way. i also got "the old reader" http://theoldreader.com/ and like it better. it really is pretty much like the old google reader. i haven't tried bloglovin' yet, but i will. thx for the recommendation.

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  2. Bummer. I still do all my reading through Google reader. Time to get on another train, I guess. Thanks for the notice and the suggestions. I wasn't aware at all. And yes, camera phones are nuts, arent they?? Some of the images are so great. This roses one looks like a high tech camera (you know what I mean). I was at the Elephant Trunk flea market in Connecticut this morning, thought of you several times. Road trip...

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  3. Good reminder! I enjoy your feed in Feedly :) I love Feedly. You're not confined to Firefox. I use it with Chrome on my desktop and the mobile apps for my phone & ipad.

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  4. Thanks for letting me know, Tracy; I didn't realize that. I'll give it a try so I can compare them.

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  5. Thanks for letting us know, Steve. I've made the switch to Bloglovin'. We'll see how it goes.

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  6. I went to Bloglovin' and entered all my info. But, it said there were no blogs from Google Reader to import. I am too elderly to know what I might have done wrong. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.......any advice?

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    Replies
    1. Kim,

      Can you tell me how, or where you go, to read your blogs right now? It doesn't appear like you have a blog so is there a website you go to to read your favorite blogs?

      Steve

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    2. Kim, try it again a couple of times if you have to. I've had Reader tell me I didn't follow any blogs (there are at least 2 dozen on my list), and not list any. Then when I'd close it and go back in, it would show them. So maybe it's not "seeing" them temporarily?

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  7. That's it. I'm getting an IPhone. And I have successfully moved to Bloglovin'! Thanks Steve!

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  8. Oh no! It's so convenient. Thanks for the heads up and the tips.

    Gorgeous pictures. That ruffly rose looks like something out of a fairy tale.

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  9. I signed up to receive posts via email - so simple, and I'm finding I am keeping more up to date with my blog reading too. There were a few which didn't have that option, but when I requested it most immediately installed the button to receive posts via email.
    Just two blogs left now that haven't - one I will find a way of not losing, but the other doesn't post often so I'm viewing it kind of collateral damage in a sense.

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  10. Steve,
    Geez, I read my blogs via my side blog list / roll. Can I create a similar list by joining bloglovin?
    Sorry for the dumb ques. Thx!

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  11. Call me Grandma, but I hate change! GRRRR! One more thing to do after I get rid of the spyware on my PC.
    Thanks for the heads up though.

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  12. Steve, It seems you have us all movin'. I successfully moved everything, but I don't see where to comment? I know I just need to play a little more; I am feeling Kim's pain. Thanks for lighting the fire. Now if I can figure out how to claim my blog...tomorrow is another day! I echo Jane....

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    Replies
    1. Bonnie,
      Did you do Bloglovin' or Feedly? When I click on a post in Bloglovin' the blog looks exactly the same as when I view the blog in Blogger so the comments are at the bottom of the post. Sometimes when there's no comments, it's hard to see. What blog are you looking at and I'll see if I can find the comments.
      Incidentally, I also signed up in Feedly and I can't see where to comment in the posts there so I'll have to look in to that more.
      Steve

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  13. Wow, thanks for the heads up. I clearly haven't been paying attention -- this is all new to me. Will definitely check out Bloglovin' and maybe Feedly, but, then again, if the first one works fine, why bother with the alternative? (I use Safari, btw, so will have to see if there are issues with that.)

    Beautiful photo, by the way!

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  14. Good Lord. I just want a chip installed in my head that takes care of all this computer crap. Thanks for the warning!

    xo Terri

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    Replies
    1. Agree with Terry

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    2. if we don't use either and just find you on an
      I-phone using Safari, do we have to sign up?
      (if we dont have a blog ourselves, that is) Are we using Google Reader & not aware of it?)
      Thanks, Steve.
      Disne in Denver

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    3. Disne,
      If you just go straight to the blog using Safari, you're not using Google Reader and you should be fine.

      Delete
  15. Thanks for the heads up...I have been avoiding the move like the plague! Done thanks to you....at least I think!!

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  16. That is an incredible photo! I have an older iphone and love it but this makes me want a new one. Now I guess I better deal with this. I always read my blogs by clicking on my own blog roll. I will miss the blog roll if it goes away. I've been on Bloglovin or awhile but don't use it. Guess I'll have to start.

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  17. Thank you! I am going to try it.
    But I am not good at all with the computers thing :(

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  18. this is the first I've even heard of this! OH NO! Guess I know what I'll be doing over my lunch break today *sigh* change.

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  19. Funny you should post this. I just moved my list to bloglovin' last week and really like it. Actually much better than reader - so no loss I suppose.

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  20. Oh my gosh!!! This is horrible news. I hate to have to join another site now and still have to prepare posts/edit my blog in blogger. I will have to check out bloglovin very soon.

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  21. I put Feedly on my toolbar a while back ( Lifehacker reported on the alternatives a while back and gave it a decent review), but it's just now that I am actually using it. It's fine. Like everything else on the 'net that changes, people get used to it-think about how often FB changes!

    Phones are so awesome these days-when we visit our older friend Maryann-she's 90-she freaks out over what we can show her via the phone...pictures, crazy cat videos, our calendars-she's in awe.
    I can only imagine what the nextgen phones will be able to do!

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  22. I promise to do this this week... but, i asked a question on my blog last week and the main answer i got was that it is Google Reader that is going away and not Blogger Reader. She thought that it (Blogger Reader) might be next.

    You are basically saying that they are one and the same. Right??

    I'm too darn old for this!

    Thanks for the very helpful post.

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    Replies
    1. Webb,
      Now that you ask that question, you might be right. I just looked in the help section and someone "thought" that Blogger people following Blogger blogs would still be in the Reading List but nonBlogger blogs. I guess joining Bloglovin' is like buying batteries for the new millenium. We take a few precautions and just wait and see.

      Delete
  23. I knew about google reader, but I had no idea my blog roll was in jeopardy! I do keep a separate reading list in my blogger account, which is not the same as my google reader account. It will be interesting to see if it disappears too. I kept it only because I prefer to comment on blogger blogs using my blogger identity, rather than with my real name, which is what would appear if I commented while logged into google reader. That has been a huge pain, and isn't an issue with feedly, thank goodness. Thanks for the heads up.

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  24. damn you steve putting me to work. i need to do this. i need to...

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  25. OMG I didn't know, how did I not know? Thank you Steve for letting us know because now I can put my computer geek of a man to work this weekend setting me up. I'm helpless at this computer stuff most times and the husband does it so easily so this job is his. Thanks for the update! Gorgeous rose too!

    XXX
    Debra~

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  26. all the changes are so annoying..but your flower photo is NOT..it is wonderful!

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  27. Thank you for the update! I love reading your blog so will be sure to follow along on alternative readers!

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  28. OK. I think I understand.
    Google Reader is disappearing and possibly Blog rolls but not our blog reading lists?
    I have Google reader and never check it, just use my reading lists or if it's a Wordpress blog, I follow via email.
    Some I follow through Facebook. Jeez, I feel like I'm all over the place.
    I do like blog lists though. I've discovered many blogs that way, so that's irritating that they could disappear. Grrr.
    I'm even on Twitter and get Tweets although I'm never over on that either.
    And then Pinterest and Flickr...
    All I need is an iPhone so that I can get on Instagram!
    Guess I will try that Bloglovin thingie...
    when my head stops hurting.

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  29. Have no idea what all this means...even after reading this post. Maybe I better read the comments for further instruction. Damn I hate technology.....

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  30. I'm with Sherry...I might have to hire someone to help me...I hate technology too!

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