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Google Makes Google Reader More Personal

Google has added some new things to Google Reader in order to deliver a more personalized experience for the user. The company compares the features to how personalized search improved search results based on search history. Google thinks the new changes will have a similar affect on users' reading experience.

Google Reader Gets Much Needed Social Features

Google has added a number of new features to Google Reader. The biggest one, which is long overdue, is the ability to share content on other social networks. This seems like it should have been available for ages, but it has been MIA until now.

How Google Reader Sharing Contributes to Real Time Search

Google has announced that Google Reader has begun adoption of the PubSubHubbub protocol for shared items. This is a simple, open, server-to-server web-hook based pubsub (publish/subscribe) protocol, as defined on this Google Code page. Here's a visual overview of what that means:

Google to Handle NewsGator RSS Products

Google Reader is becoming the online companion to and synchronization platform for NewsGator's RSS readers including FeedDemon and NetNewsWire. Users have until August 31 to migrate to Google Reader, when NewsGator will shut down NewsGator Online.

Use Google Reader from Your Desktop

This week, Google launched a Google Reader gadget for Google Desktop. The gadget allows users to track their feeds and Google Readers subscriptions directly from their desktop. To use the gadget, you (of course) have to have Google Desktop installed. Then to use it just:

Google Reader Continues to Get More Social

Google has been adding social elements to Google Reader lately. A while back, they added the commenting feature. Just this week, they introduced Friends Trends and improved the comments feature (among other updates).

New Google Reader Feature Spotlights Chatty Cathys

Here are a few simple facts: some people talk more than others.  Also, some people are more interesting than others.  And a new Google Reader feature called "Friends trends" may help you determine how the folks you interact with online score in both of these categories.

Google Slows to a Crawl

Update: Google has addressed the issue on the Official Blog. The company says:

Google Reader Gets More Social With Commenting

Google has added a lot of sharing-based features to Google Reader in recent memory, but it has now launched the ability to have conversations among those who are sharing items. Google acknowledges that this is a key element of sharing that the service has been lacking. I would have to agree.

Google Rolls Out Reader Improvements

Back in December, Google rolled out a redesign of Google Reader. Opinions were mixed (naturally), but I think it went pretty well overall. I know I've gotten used to it.