Google Reader shuts down on July 1, 2013

I logged in my favorite RSS reader today only to find a popup message saying:

Google Reader will not be available after July 1, 2013

Google’s main reasons for closing down Google Reader is that it’s usage has declined and that Google wants to focus on fewer products.

News that the Google Reader service will be taken down started various online petitions and protest websites such as saveGoogleReader.org.

On it’s official blog, Google, said that it is performing a second spring of cleaning:
“We’re living in a new kind of computing environment. Everyone has a device, sometimes multiple devices. It’s been a long time since we have had this rate of change—it probably hasn’t happened since the birth of personal computing 40 years ago. To make the most of these opportunities, we need to focus—otherwise we spread ourselves too thin and lack impact. So today we’re announcing some more closures, bringing the total to 70 features or services closed since our spring cleaning began in 2011”

“We know Reader has a devoted following who will be very sad to see it go. We’re sad too.

I have tens of RSS subscriptions so I need to find an alternative fast. An alternative that both works on PC and Android. At least there is a way to get all your subscriptions and settings and take them to another service. Here is the way:

How can I download my Reader data?

Google Reader will be retired on July 1, 2013.

If you’d like to download a copy of all your Reader data before then, you can do so through Google Takeout. You’ll receive your subscription data in an XML file, and the following information will be downloaded as JSON files:

List of people that you follow
List of people that follow you
Items you have starred
Items you have liked
Items you have shared
Items shared by people you follow
Notes you have created
Items with comments

Once downloaded, your subscription data should be easily transferrable to another product, where you can continue to keep up with your online reading.