Google killing Google Reader three months from now. Bad, bad Google!

internet, sux

I’m in a panic. I’ve been using Google Reader as my primary source of news since 2007. I love its lean interface, how it syncs seamlessly across all my devices. Nothing compares to it when I need my industrial-strength firehose of information, and the almighty Google is killing it. The thing about Reader is that nobody talks about it because it’s so damn perfect, it does exactly what you want in a compact form that allows for a quick perusal of hundreds of news sources at a glance with dead-easy sharing. While lots of sites only offer short bits of their content, many still offer their full articles in their RSS feeds… which takes away traffic from the full pages containing ads, from which Google makes most of its revenue. Traffic, or audience, is the currency of the digital advertising world and the search giant is one of its biggest players through AdWords and DoubleClick. This isn’t about Reader usage, it’s about killing the entire API upon which so many apps rely on, such as FlipBoard because RSS is threatening their ad revenue.

The laconic announcement on Google’s Official Blog hammers a cold blow to my most used piece of the web:

We launched Google Reader in 2005 in an effort to make it easy for people to discover and keep tabs on their favorite websites. While the product has a loyal following, over the years usage has declined. So, on July 1, 2013, we will retire Google Reader. Users and developers interested in RSS alternatives can export their data, including their subscriptions, with Google Takeout over the course of the next four months.

The Google Reader Blog note from the developer is a little less business-cold (always appreciated):

We have just announced on the Official Google Blog that we will soon retire Google Reader (the actual date is July 1, 2013). We know Reader has a devoted following who will be very sad to see it go. We’re sad too.

Only Google knows the real number of users, but the uproar is already quite vocal on every piece of social media out there. A petition is raking in signatures from thousands of outraged and desperate netizens who suddenly don’t know how to browse anymore! Reader is too good and I plead guilty to using it out of my information addiction, here’s the evidence from my very own Trends:

Since April 16, 2007 you have read a total of 282,433 items.

Ouch. That’s a lot of stuff I’m gonna have to learn to read differently, so what are the choices? Feedly and Netvibes are currently crumbling under the assault of panicked Reader aficionados trying to find a replacement solution, with the former having announced their intention to be a drop-in replacement for Google Reader and the latter requiring a small monthly payment in order to manage more than 64 feeds. I’m reading things about other online RSS readers such as The Old Reader, NewsBlur and other initiatives but have yet to check them out. Count on me to report on my findings.

This sucks.

 

How NASA Solved a $100 Million Problem for Five Bucks

Uncategorized

How do you read a digital display when you’re an astronaut siting on top of a giant vibrating rocket blazing through the atmosphere at mach 20? Good question and NASA is lucky to have plenty of teams they could consult to solve issues.

A few years ago, back when the Constellation Program was still alive, NASA engineers discovered that the Ares I rocket had a crucial flaw, one that could have jeopardized the entire project. They panicked. They plotted. They steeled themselves for the hundreds of millions of dollars it was going to take to make things right.

And then they found out how to fix it for the cost of an extra value meal.

Great example of lateral thinking here, akin to what happened in the 60’s when astronauts needed pens that could function in zero gravity. The Americans had a company spend a bazillion dollars to develop a pressurized ink ballpoint pen while the Soviets used pencils.

via GIZMODO – How NASA Solved a $100 Million Problem for Five Bucks.

Lytro Launches its Amazing Focus-Free Camera for $399

cool, hardware, links, tech

Lytro camera

I can’t wait to put my hands on one of these, despite the limitations, this is quite a revolution in the world of photography! I wonder what Nikon, Canon, etc. are thinking, while Lytro’s investors are probably wetting themselves at the mere thought of all the licensing opportunities ahead of them.

I’d love to see Lytro’s technology applied to some SLR with a choice of lenses, which would be devoid of focusing elements. This could lead to seriously awesome lenses, a lot smaller in size and much better optical quality and wider apertures. The possibilities are endless.

Remember Lytro, the camera that could care less about focus? The one that captures all the information in its light field, so you can play with the focus after the fact?

Well, it’s no longer just a nice idea. Lytro (the company) just started taking pre-orders for Lytro (the camera) on its website. You won’t be able to get one until early 2012, but you can order one now for $399 (and $499 for a more advanced version).

via MashableLytro Launches: Amazing Focus-Free Camera Will Cost $399.

Lytro’s site