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Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

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Re: Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

#3
The new "x people like this" widget is really irritating. One of the nice things about Google Reader (and most Google apps) is the subdued interface. So why add these random screamers that give me absolutely no useful information? I really couldn't care less how many people liked this article. If they really must give me this information, keep it consistent with the rest of the UI, not popping out in an eye-catching colour.

Re: Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

#4

The new "x people like this" widget is really irritating. One of the nice things about Google Reader (and most Google apps) is the subdued interface. So why add these random screamers that give me absolutely no useful information? I really couldn't care less how many people liked this article. If they really must give me this information, keep it consistent with the rest of the UI, not popping out in an eye-catching…

Especially since it's global across Google Reader. I couldn't care less that some random person in Florida that uses reader liked an article that ended up in my rss feed. I wish I could turn it off.

Re: Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

#5

The new "x people like this" widget is really irritating. One of the nice things about Google Reader (and most Google apps) is the subdued interface. So why add these random screamers that give me absolutely no useful information? I really couldn't care less how many people liked this article. If they really must give me this information, keep it consistent with the rest of the UI, not popping out in an eye-catching…

I all against those social features introduced in GR.

In my opnion they should focus on core functionalities missing (such as feed filters), their social features are way beyond what you can find elsewhere to share content (Friendfeed, Facebook...).

The "like" feature is plain terrible, the smiley face is distracting me from the content of the feed because it's on top and bright yellow. It was an awful idea to put it there.

Re: Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

#6

The new "x people like this" widget is really irritating. One of the nice things about Google Reader (and most Google apps) is the subdued interface. So why add these random screamers that give me absolutely no useful information? I really couldn't care less how many people liked this article. If they really must give me this information, keep it consistent with the rest of the UI, not popping out in an eye-catching…

When I noticed it I found the number to be the most annoying thing about it. It shows a stark contrast between what is popular and what isn't, and I don't care for that at all. I read feeds because I have found the authors to have consistently high quality content, not because its popular. When I want that, I go hit up a social news site.

At the very least, they should be limiting it to only people on your contact lists. I couldn't care less how many random Google users liked the same thing I did. If, on the other hand, I could see that people I know liked it, maybe I would want to discuss it with them.

Re: Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

#8
i haven't read the article or checked my google reader, but I have always thought that the thing RSS was missing was social capabilities. this is why sites like yc are such a big hit, there is a need for this on the internet. RSS + voting for stories is great as far as i'm concerned, just give people the ability to turn it off if they don't like it.

Re: Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

#9
The guy on this article insists that any user must use all of the available sharing option (like, share, share with note, email and comment) and that is, obviously, not the point. The idea is to allow user to share whatever they want using the way they want to.

* For people who don't use reader: email it;

* For articles no one has shared: share with note and express your thoughts;

* For items already shared: share and input a comment with your thoughts;

* For things you like but don't have much of an opinion: like it.

It's naïve to blame Google for trying to make one of its services more social, as this is the way people want it. I'm glad they implemented all those sharing features. Now I have access to lots of interesting news, and can also share them easily without all the "emailing" hassle.

Re: Must Google Reader copy Twitter and Facebook? "Features" add clutter

#10

The new "x people like this" widget is really irritating. One of the nice things about Google Reader (and most Google apps) is the subdued interface. So why add these random screamers that give me absolutely no useful information? I really couldn't care less how many people liked this article. If they really must give me this information, keep it consistent with the rest of the UI, not popping out in an eye-catching…

I wouldn't mind if there was a way to turn the new features off. But the typical Google fashion of introducing features is to initially force them on people, then give an option to turn them off several months later after people have been constantly complaining (like SearchWiki).
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