Going beyond Google Reader, RIP

Don’t euthanize something so vital to so many.

Google just announced that they are going to shut down Google Reader, a very powerful and (until now) reliable RSS reader.

This is very bad news for my work.  I’m a researcher, and spend a lot of time in GR every single day.

So what next?  What alternatives are there? Is there a good replacement that’ll pick up my pile of GR feeds?

I’m firing up this post with the first answers I discover, and will update as they come in.

To be clear about my requirements: I need something for a laptop environment, primarily.  RSS feeds my research, which means lots of writing, multi-app work, etc.  Secondly, it should synch to Android, the phone platform I use.  That’s where I RSS when traveling.

Possible successors to the Google Reader crown:

• Newsblur.   Currently in the lead in Hacker News’ poll.  It’s hard to assess its quality, as the Blur site is apparently being hammered.  No luck with OPML upload yet.
• Netvibes.  A browser-based dashboard tool. Here’s their guide to importing your OPML. (thanks to Veronica Pejril for the reminder)
• Bloglines.  Old-school reader.  Sometimes I use this when teaching RSS, because of its simplicity.
• Feedly.  Aimed at mobile devices.  It does play on the Windows desktop.  Instructions on migrating there from GR.
• Prismatic. Looks Feedly-ish.  Can’t tell if it imports OPML yet. (thanks to Amanda Sturgill)
• Fever, a/k/a Feedafever. Looks like you have to install it on your own server – here’s one description of the process. And another. (thanks to D’Arcy Norman and Steven Kaye)
• The Old Reader. Seems to be a Web-based reader.  Currently overwhelmed by GR refugees. (thanks to Dimitris Tzouris and Grant Wythoff)
• PressForward.  A WordPress plugin from the Center for History and New Media.  Currently in alpha.
• BlogTrottr.  Sends RSS feed content to your email inbox.  Accepts OPML files easily. (Thanks to Michelle G)
• Taptu. Looks like it’s best for mobile devices, not desktops. (via CNet)
• Feedbooster. Web-based client a la Netvibes.  Imports OPML quickly.  Runs some interesting searches on the results.  (thanks to Mark Justman)

Which is best?  What else is there?

We should expect a burst of RSS reading innovation over the next few months, as eager developers rush into the Google-shaped space.  Feed Wrangler, for example, is in the works (more here).  Digg says they’re working on one (thanks to Our Level).

ADDED: More reactions, including a White House petition to nationalize Google (!), and Hitler’s inevitable response.

(thanks to Steven Kaye for the sad alert)