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The Old Reader Will Stay Open To the Public Thanks To US Corporation

Posted by samzenpus on from the bail-out dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Old Reader, a popular RSS service and alternative to Google Reader, last week revealed it would be closing its service to the public in two weeks. Soon after the backlash, there was hint of a stance reversal, and now it's happened: The Old Reader will remain open to the public, thanks to a bigger team and 'significantly more' resources, both provided by a new corporate entity located in the US. While details about this 'corporate entity' are indeed scarce, we do know the announcement was authored by an individual named Ben Wolf. He promises his team consists of 'big fans and users' of The Old Reader who want to help it 'grow and improve for years to come' and who will be introduced properly in the coming weeks."

61 comments

  1. Oh right, like we're going to believe that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    A "friendly" "corporate entity" will be taking over, all just to be nice to us!

    1. Re:Oh right, like we're going to believe that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google!

    2. Re:Oh right, like we're going to believe that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      NSA?

    3. Re:Oh right, like we're going to believe that. by ls671 · · Score: 1

      We want your wealth and we will get it.
      Who are you?
      -That's not important.
      Are you a wolf?
      -Yes but not like the one in the little red riding hood...

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
    4. Re:Oh right, like we're going to believe that. by cellurl · · Score: 1

      are they mining our interests like Nielsen?

      Help eliminate speeding tickets.

    5. Re:Oh right, like we're going to believe that. by rea1l1 · · Score: 1

      My first thought, exactly.

    6. Re:Oh right, like we're going to believe that. by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      No, the NSA is known as "the Agency" or sometimes "The Fort".

      "The Company" is the CIA.

  2. Absolutely by frovingslosh · · Score: 1

    Not only are they doing it just to be nice to you, but the N.S.A. is doing it anonymously so that you won't feel that you owe them any thanks.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  3. Obvious astroturfing is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    This slashvertisement astroturfing couldn't be more obvious.

    No one has heard of this "Old Reader" crap.

    1. Re:Obvious astroturfing is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Please turn in your geek credentials at the door. Thanks in advance.

    2. Re:Obvious astroturfing is obvious by jamesh · · Score: 2

      Please turn in your geek credentials at the door. Thanks in advance.

      "Papers, please"

    3. Re:Obvious astroturfing is obvious by the+grace+of+R'hllor · · Score: 2

      Actually, I've been using the Old Reader for a few months, mainly due to it's interface being very similar to Google Reader.

      It's slow as shit, though. And they recently had a few day's outage and data loss.

    4. Re:Obvious astroturfing is obvious by hubs99 · · Score: 1

      When they announced the "shutdown" I jumped over to inoreader.com and I couldn't be happier. Better features, faster, decent android app.

  4. It's Levee Labs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I don't know them, but a Ben Wolf runs it and their twitter mentions two exciting new projects to be announced soon.

    Sources: Google, LinkedIn, Twitter

  5. Self-hosting is an alternative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just go with TT-RSS and host your RSS aggregator yourself if you have the skill/hardware. The Old Reader will still need to find a business model. Feedly announced their cash grab earlier today. The lunch will not be free anyway in the long run.

    If you don't want to host it yourself, go with one of the up-front honest for-pay services. "No cost, hosting for free!" obviously means "no reliability" in this new era of online feed aggregators.

    1. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by englishstudent · · Score: 1

      I ended up going with tt-rss. I'm very happy with it. Just wish I could work out the shortcut key for saving tags.

      --
      We'll never make it.......oh! we made it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWf3iJjqYCM&list=FL7kKrE4eTs17mQl7eyvJIOg
    2. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by xaxa · · Score: 1

      I installed TT-RSS yesterday. It was straightforward to install (from the Debian package) and import my existing feeds into.

      (It's running on an Odroid-U2, which I'm also pleased with. Using something like 2W, and I've successfully replaced the server running my personal website + backups, which consumed over 100W. The Odroid should pay for itself in power savings within a year.)

    3. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by yotto · · Score: 2

      Yeah the day they announced they were dropping public support I downloaded RSS-Owl and other than continually forgetting to run it (because I'm used to a browser window opening up to my RSS feeds) it's working great.

      Screw the cloud and all its uncertainty.

      --
      Pulp Audio Weekly - Geek News and Reviews
    4. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I remember correctly, Catch.com was also a paid service. So was Mobile.me or Megaupload.com. Looks like having payed some bucks doesn't guarantee anything, either.
      --
      Dimitri

    5. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by intermodal · · Score: 1

      Seconded. I've been doing this since shortly after the announcement that Google Reader was closing. It's the smoothest RSS system I've used yet.

      --
      In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
    6. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by Bacon+Bits · · Score: 1

      "[I]f you have the skill/hardware" is a horrible prerequisite for using software. And people wonder why Linux isn't more popular.

      Let's put it this way: The Internet has offered unlimited, free pornography since 1995, but it took 10 years for 75% of America to get access at home.

      --
      The road to tyranny has always been paved with claims of necessity.
    7. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was a skeptic of Feedly at first and an avid proponent of TOR...however, after the initial announcement that they'll be shutting down (open to limited group of ppl who signed up before March 13, 2013), I finally gave in and started using Feedly. I have to admit, I like it a lot better. I mean ALOT. Its snappy and has a free and payable service. Every downside I read about Feedly, like 80% deadspace etc has been amended. You can select different views for different categories of your feeds. If you mainly read texts, there's an option for that which eliminates most dead space. If you like pictures, there's an option for that etc.

      I like free services but also like a sustainable business model that'll enrich the users' experience as well as the business themselves.

    8. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by darjen · · Score: 1

      I thought about setting up an apache server and going with the self hosting option. I decided to just give up on RSS completely. I realized that I was wasting too much time reading blogs and news and not reading books. Ultimately, there are very few websites that I feel the need to check regularly. I can count them on one hand. I do now read Google News more. I like the new variety it gives me that I wasn't getting with just my chosen feeds.

    9. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by Aerosiecki · · Score: 1

      You can also give NewsBlur a try, and if you like it you have two choices: pony up for a full account or self-host, since it is totally open source: https://github.com/samuelclay/NewsBlur

      --

      Cherish. Live. Dream.
    10. Re: Self-hosting is an alternative by ncc74656 · · Score: 1

      This. I tried a few alternative services when I first heard that Google Reader was going away. Most left something to be desired. Someone here mentioned TTRSS. I gave it a shot and haven't looked back since. A mobile skin is available that works acceptably on iOS, and there are apps for Android that are even better. (I'm kinda partial to this one.)

      --
      20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
    11. Re:Self-hosting is an alternative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "[I]f you have the skill/hardware" is of course a prerequisite for using any software.

      Self-hosting obviously can't work without hardware; in this case a box on which to run it. You can run it on your local desktop computer, but unless it's "always on" the service will be crippled as compared to "cloud based" variants if you e.g. want to access the service from a remote device.

      It's not for everyone, but for the ones that frequent Slashdot it is most likely a viable option; not least since "the cloud" is often spoken about in negative terms here.

  6. Too late by jpkunst · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Too late, I don't trust them anymore. I switched to Digg Reader and I'm not going back.

    1. Re:Too late by JackieBrown · · Score: 3, Informative

      I switched to inoreader after reading the recommendations here. Of course, I had started using oldreader based on the recommendations here so we will see how that goes.

      I'd set up TT-RSS, but my work blocks all ports (at least the ones I tried) except for 80 and I am using that for other stuff at home already.

    2. Re:Too late by c_g_hills · · Score: 1

      I looked at Digg Reader and The Old Reader. In the end, I went with AOL Reader as it seemed to be more feature complete and usable. I think they have done a really good job with their feed reader.

    3. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the other stuff you're using port 80 for is also a web server, TT-RSS works fine under a subdirectory/subdomain.

      That's how I set up mine, as I had already a web server I was running other stuff on.

      Another option is to get together with some like-minded friends and host one TT-RSS instance for all of you (you can have multiple user accounts).
      Either have one of you host it a home, or spring for some cheap hosting. I understand some people are dropping their installations in the Amazon cloud thingy.

    4. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And InoReader is much better then theoldreader.

    5. Re:Too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A explendid work by those bulgarians. I just hope they don't sell my activity to russians KGB, FSB (the NSA of the other side).

    6. Re:Too late by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 1

      They're welcome to know what webcomics I read, along with seditious blogs like Topless Robot, and knowing when HPMOR gets updated.

      --

      Technoli
  7. thanks, U.S. Corporation! by Trepidity · · Score: 2

    As always, the munificence of U.S. Corporation in making life better for us all is deeply appreciated.

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    1. Re:thanks, U.S. Corporation! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed.

    2. Re:thanks, U.S. Corporation! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      is it better than the Umbrella Corporation ? or is this the merge of Umbrella and State Corporations ?

  8. Financial trends company by loufoque · · Score: 1

    My bet is on this one.

    1. Re:Financial trends company by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's either the Conspriacy Imaging Association, the New Software Alliance or Freedom Bits International.

  9. I don't understand the problem... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What's wrong with subscribing to the different feeds using a good old fashioned program ?
    Opera has an rss reader, Thunderbird has one, then you have Juice another rss program.
    And on linux rss readers are a dime a dozen. So why on heaven's sake would you spend (throw away) money for something you get for free ?

    1. Re:I don't understand the problem... by iamagloworm · · Score: 1

      syncing

    2. Re:I don't understand the problem... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because it takes three clicks to sync we should pay a corp to do it for us?

    3. Re:I don't understand the problem... by kav2k · · Score: 1

      Syncing between different machines you're using it from.

  10. can you SUCK your own PENIS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    have you ever been able to SUCK your own PENIS?

    if so, how far down did you get and did you climax?

    extra points if you did it while wearing a mask and/or hulk gloves

  11. magic balls by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    what's anal sex like the first time?

    1. Re:magic balls by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No different to any other - you still have to wash the shit off your dick.

  12. Too Late by Goody · · Score: 3, Informative

    I switch to InoReader after the Old Reader told me they were dumping me and everyone who signed up after the Google Reader announcement. And that was after a two day outage and several other small outages. They had a prime start-up opportunity and they blew it when they lost their cool and alienated a lot of users.

    --
    Tired of being "punished" by the Slashdot $rtbl since 2002. I'm now over at http://soylentnews.org/ .
  13. Yahoo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is Yahoo the corporate entity? They're throwing good money after bad like they have some sort of psychological disorder. A lot of the things they're buying like Rockmelt and the news app center on organizing and presenting information.

  14. It's Dice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Don't you get it? Several ./ front page articles about a truly obscure service, complete with coments about how great it is, how sorry we are it is going away... BULLSHIT. This whole thing is an engineered story with engineered commentary. I bet even this comment gets downmodded to oblivion.

    If the corporation isn't Dice itself buying it, it is somebody who is paying for the slashvertizement.

    1. Re:It's Dice by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      Honestly, why do you give a shit?

      Just ignore the fucking article if it bugs you so much.

    2. Re:It's Dice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he cant, his assburgers wont let him.

    3. Re:It's Dice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, Pluto is no longer a planet and assburgers is no longer a disease. Which must be maddening to Autism Spectrum Disorderers.

    4. Re:It's Dice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just bend over and take it, eh? Do not complain citizen, now pick up that can!

    5. Re:It's Dice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This isn't the government you jackass

  15. informative 6naagnaa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    LeaviNg core. I From within.

  16. Travelers Insurance by tepples · · Score: 1

    is it better than the Umbrella Corporation ?

    That depends on whether you're referring to Travelers Insurance or to the company that bought it and borrowed its umbrella for a decade. But then isn't Travelers more Katamari than Resident Evil?

  17. Goggle still open by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wasn't Google Reader supposed to be closed months ago? I still use it.

  18. Keep the random cat pictures! by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 1

    I know they were just there while the reader wasn't working, but that was one of my favorite features.

    --
    Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
  19. Too late by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 1

    I already switched to Inoreader.

    --

    Technoli
  20. Old Read it in the stars by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    > Ben Wolf

    Ben 3
    Wolf 5
    Old Reader 9

    Wolf 359. ZOMGFFFF!!!!!1!1122!!

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    1. Re:Old Read it in the stars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ben 3

      Halflife 3 confirmed.

  21. No thanks by ericdano · · Score: 1

    No thanks. I don't want some corporation mining what I read. I will stick with the one person (who is doing an EXCELLENT JOB) operation at NewsBlur and know for sure that my info and habits aren't being sold.

    --
    It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
    I moderate therefore I rule!
    --