Google Reader

Google Reader was the gold standard for RSS aggregation, allowing users to consolidate news feeds into a single, clean interface. Its discontinuation in 2013 sparked massive public outcry, as it was an essential tool for power users and journalists to track information across the web. It was highly efficient, fast, and featured robust keyboard shortcuts. Its primary weakness was its lack of direct monetization, leading Google to sunset the service.

It remains the benchmark against which all modern feed readers are measured, representing a peak in functional, minimalist web design.