The problem with this technology stuff is that you just can’t rely on it to keep working. It’s not just the bits and bobs inside the device, but whether the business plan will keep it going.
This week, myself and judging by the internet several thousand other users, realised the consequences of the removal of Google Reader.
The Google service processed RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds, a means of quickly distributing headlines and news stories across the web. For example the Broadband TV News Twitter feed is fed from the RSS feeds you find on our website.
It wasn’t just those using Google Reader that were directly effected by its (well-publicised) demise. If you were using one of the third-party apps that synchronised through Google you might have also seen a blank page.
Some of these apps had simply stopped development, which others embarrassingly announced the updates wouldn’t be ready in time. This happened to my app of choice, so for me it was off to find another app.
Google incidentally is giving users until July 15th to retrieve their data.
But it’s not just Google, Twitter has also shut out the means of changing its feeds into RSS, cue site that sprung up to do it for you.
As always there are parallels with broadcasting. I’ve recounted before the story of the BBC press conference when it was said that its online radio feeds would continue in Real Audio.
And think of all those connected TVs that are apparently frozen in time, despite the promises of manufacturers that they would be updated.
At least few will be complaining about the loss of 3D, but maybe that’s the point.
