The end of Google Reader: a scientist’s perspective

Since 2005, I have started almost every working day by using one Web application – an application that occupies a permanent browser tab on my work and home desktop machines. That application is Google Reader.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably aware that Google Reader will cease to exist from July 1 2013. Others have ranted, railed against the corporate machine and expressed their sadness. I thought I’d try to explain why, for this working scientist at least, RSS and feed readers are incredibly useful tools which I think should be valued highly.

Google Reader subscribers Greasemonkey script

Via Google Operating System: a useful Greasemonkey script, Google Reader subscriber count. For any page with a feed, overlays a clickable count (click to subscribe) of GReader users subscribed to the feed.

Of course, people use services other than GReader for their feeds. Go on though, admit it – you still want to know how many subscribers you have :)