Google Reader is a Web-based aggregator, capable of reading Atom and RSS feeds online or offline. It was released by Google on October 7, 2005 through Google Labs. Reader graduated from beta status on September 17, 2007.
Major revisions to Reader's interface were made on September 28, 2006. In an interview with Robert Scoble, product manager Nick Baum stated that the redesign is a movement toward making news aggregation something for the general public to enjoy. Kevin Fox, the designer of the revised Google Reader, noted that the original version was optimal for those who want to read a "river" of news. The new version took into account that most readers segment their reading by feed, group, tag, folder, or into "must read" and "maybe if I get to it" feeds.
Here are some of the features that are now included within Google Reader:
* A front page that lets you see new items at a glance
* Import and export subscription lists as an OPML file
* Keyboard shortcuts for main functions
* Choice between list view or expanded view for item viewing (showing either just the story title or with a description, respectively)
* Automatic marking of items as read as they are scrolled past (expanded view only)
* Search in all feeds, across all updates from subscriptions[4]
* An easter egg that allows a special "Ninja!" ...
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