Digg Reader Goes Official, Android App Pending
Betaworks, the company that bought news site Digg last summer for $500,000, launched its eagerly anticipated Reader app today.
Digg Reader had launched in beta on June 26, rolling out first to survey participants, then to the entire pack of early-access users.
“This beta version is aimed first and foremost at Google Reader users looking for a new home in advance of its imminent shutdown,” the Digg team wrote in a blog post.
The company has been cranking away at its software, having made the iOS app available earlier this month. Now the the Web version is available, with only the Android app pending. Digg’s iOS app has been updated to include the newly launched Digg Reader. This includes the ability to import your current Google Reader feeds right into the app.
Google announced in March that it would shut down the RSS reader, blaming a decline in use. This led to a plethora of other companies ramping up their efforts in creating the perfect replacement.
A Google account will be required to sign up for Digg Reader, and RSS subscriptions can be pulled in with ease. Once subscriptions are set up, uses can Digg and save stories as they like, or share links to Facebook and Twitter.
A post on the Digg blog stated: “Once you connect your Google Account, you’ll find all of your feeds and folders set up and ready to go,” the blog post notes. “And even if you’re not a Google Reader refugee, come on in! You can build up your list of sources by browsing recommended publishers or searching for feeds via the ‘Add’ button.”
The iOS app is still pretty new and doesn’t include a lot of options. That said, it’s a simple RSS reader that handles the import from your Google Reader account just fine. Since it’s integrated into Digg’s app, it’s just an update, and you can snag it right now.
