End of Google Reader opens up RSS aggregator space

Google has declared it will close down its popular RSS feed aggregator Google Reader on July 1, causing an uproar in the world of technocrats. As users complain and make the shift to other readers, the closure of the RSS feed also provides an opportunity for local sites to develop their own services and attract users.

Xie Chuang, a graduate of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and a developer, still cannot believe Google Reader is shutting down so suddenly.

It had become a routine for him to open Google Reader and Sina Weibo every morning as he woke up. He had found it quite useful.

"I subscribe to a bunch of feeds that appeal to non-mainstream tastes, so that's why Google Reader is convenient to me in terms of bringing together many diverse resources," he said.

Xie subscribes to technological blogs, friends' blogs and tech news sites such as Solidot. If it weren't for Google Reader, he'd have to individually visit all these sites, which wastes time and proves inconvenient to a developer who needs to be aware of updates across the world of technology.

Zhang Meng, a programmer at cosmetics group-buying site jumei.com, agreed it feels weird that Google Reader will not be part of his life for much longer. He switched to the next best choice, which he believed lots of people have already done.

"I started using Feedly. You can directly log on using your Google account and transfer your old data, categories, labels. It's convenient to use," he said.

However, for local services, what some users might consider a burdensome digital migration presents an exciting opportunity for development and attracting new users.

Xianguo.com, a news aggregator site, developed its reader about seven years ago. But the shutdown of Google Reader has provided it with an opportunity to break into a larger market.

Zhou Yonglin, the marketing manager of Xianguo, said that as of 10 am on March 20, about 100,000 users have moved from Google Reader to Xianguo.

"For companies like Xianguo, which provides RSS service both on computers and cell phones, this is an opportunity," she said. "The traditional RSS feed services are challenged by services that are more personalized, socialized and mobile."

She also thinks Xianguo can stand the competition against other local services who deliver RSS feeds, saying Xianguo focuses on the reading experience and will keep updating to make the user experience more personalized.

William Long, who runs the famous independent IT blog Yueguang, also listed options for people to use when Google Reader is gone. Besides Feedly and Xianguo, he also named Youdao, Rssminder, QQ mail and Douban 9.

He listed pros and cons of using these services. Xianguo supports feeds coming from outside the China's Great Firewall, but Youdao, QQ mail and Douban don't, giving Xianguo an advantage.

However, Long said the user experience of these products is not as good as Google Reader, possibly because there are too many transfers currently.

For the users, it might take some getting used to.

"The overall experience of local services are okay, their functions are a little weaker than Google Reader," Xie said. "But after Google Reader shuts down, users will have to transfer to these places. It might help with their improvement and upgrades."