Google Reader has been my #1 source for news aggregation in an easy and quick way to peruse through the news. Sure, RSS is old and simple, but it is a very powerful tool in finding the required information without actually visiting the site. It even triumphs over the socially saturated media by allowing the user to customize what he or she wants to view.
Upon speculation, one of the reasons could be that Google Reader has very few opportunities for a company to harvest user information and sell it for money such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus. Another possibility is that the majority of users can already be found on these social networks. With the increasing popularity of Google Plus, one would be less inclined to maintain a lesser popular items with less corporate benefits. Thankfully there are a few alternatives available as online readers.
As of now, I am currently investigating Feedly and “The Old Reader”. Feedly is good for the trendy peeps out there that like streamlined interfaces. Unfortunately, Feedly requires the user to install their add-on for any pc Web browser. It is also highly doubtful that Linux Web browser variants are supported such as uzbl, luakit, jumanji, etc. The Old Reader is shaping up to be a great alternative since it strives to emulate the old Google Reader with additional enhancements. The user has grown large enough that the developer has announced plans for an android app in the future.
Between the two, The Old Reader looks to be more transparent and considerate of the users such that it does not intrude one’s news feed with its own recommendations. Plus, this reader allows the option for the user to quickly skim through the articles by titles. In short, I’ll be using Feedly on the tablet until The Old Reader comes out with their own app. On pc, I would recommend the latter since Feedly requires additional installation.