Google Reader has died. Hail to Netvibes!

Today's news of the imminent termination of Google Reader support was very very unpleasant surprise for many. During the lifetime of the service is able to take a leading position in its category and become a reliable working tool for the vast number of users.

We will not discuss here the causes and consequences of this unexpected decision, "the corporation of good." This beautifully written by our editor. Let's look at a very real alternative to Google Reader, which can be a real way out of the situation.

online service Netvibes I started back in 2005, even a little earlier than Google Reader, but it was always in the shadow of its famous competitors. This is not surprising, because the first time the service was positioned as a customizable home page and more browsers compared with iGoogle. But then, the service has gone through some major updates, the developers are gradually introduced all the new features and Netvibes today can surely be called the most heaped online RSS-reader.

Widgets and feeds

Netvibes functionally consists of two large parts - desktop and RSS-reader, Wherein each has its display mode. Mode desktop It allows you to add special widgets that display the information you want and arrange them as you comfortably. It could be hours, weather widget, email, notepad, calculator and so on - a variety of widgets, there are many. This brief description of the Desktop mode, and we shall confine ourselves, as the article is devoted to how to Netvibes RSS reader means.

RSS reading mode is divided into two parts, the window, the left will display your belt, and on the right - their contents. Adding new subscriptions, as well as the new widget is done by the green button Add in the upper left corner. In general, RSS client has a simple and clean well, customizable interface that does not contain advertising or any superfluous elements.

The main functions of RSS reader

As you can see in the screenshot, you have the opportunity to organize a subscription on the themes folder. You can use simple drag and drop elements in the correct directory. When you click on the name of the contents of the feed opens in the viewing area. It can be represented as a simple list, expanded form or in the form of rings. Switching between modes is done by the buttons in the upper right corner of the window.

When you hover over the name of the news buttons appear, through which the article can be marked as not read it, share with friends on social networks, to link to or add to your list of deferred reading. And (attention!) To open the full text of the article directly in Netvibes interface.

As you can see, Netvibes offers us a very convenient and practical way to read RSS-feeds. Moreover, thanks to the special widgets you can keep in one place all your information streams, such as a letter from Gmail, news from Facebook and Twitter and so on.

settings

Window service settings is called using a special button on the top panel. Here you can hide or show some service elements, such as the search box, turn on keyboard shortcuts, turn off the visual effects, change the language and so on. A separate section is allocated to customize the appearance of the reader. Here it is in the Google Reader is clearly losing. Here we can choose from hundreds of ready-made styles or customize the appearance of a completely individually.

How to move to Netvibes

You can quite easily move to a new location by following these steps.

1. Export your subscriptions from Google Reader. To do this, go to the settings of this service, go to the tab Import and Export and find the link at the bottom Download your data through Takeout.

2. Save to list feeds the computer. Service Google Takeout give you your data from Google Reader in a zip-archive. Open the file and extract the file subscriptions.xml.

3. Import subscriptions Netvibes. press Add in the upper left corner, and then click the following link OPML: Import. Feed the file subscriptions.xml received from Google Reader and all your subscriptions at its best will appear in your new chitalke.

In my opinion the service Netvibes is the main contender for the role of the main RSS-reader to place the dying Google Reader. It's free, beautiful, fast, and on the part of the functions, perhaps even ahead of the king. Of course, such a move may not happen very smoothly and there will always be users who will miss the favorite features or do not like that at other places button. But today I do not see another alternative. And you?

Netvibes