Google users: don't ditch iGoogle!

Since Google's announcement yesterday that it will be shutting down iGoogle, users have come out in force to protest.

(Credit: Google)

There's nothing quite like Google's home page "portal", which allows users to aggregate RSS feeds, widgets and apps in one handy location — and it looks like Google has underestimated how much its users love it.

"We just announced on the Official Google Blog that we are sunsetting iGoogle in 16 months, on November 1, 2013. As stated in our blog post, we are focusing our energy on the products with the biggest potential to make a difference," said Google's Conrad L on the Google product forums yesterday.

What that means is mobile platforms — leaving PC web users in the dust. And they're not happy.

At the time of writing, there were 739 responses to the forum post, all lambasting Google for cutting the service.

A selection of replies to Conrad L's post.
(Screenshot by Michelle Starr/CNET Australia)

"Why??? iGoogle is what I wake up to every single day," said user EDVurd.

Bob Y added, "I can't imagine life without iGoogle. It puts everything I need and read right in front of me. Please reconsider this horrible decision."

And that's just the replies. The iGoogle product forum is filled with protests, petitions and pleas.

Other users are turning to services such as Netvibes to pre-emptively fill the hole that iGoogle will leave in their lives, even though it's not quite the same thing — although, since the service has 16 months to wind down, it's almost certain that some canny developer will create a more exact alternative in the intervening months.

Google told CNET Australia, "We've given an overview of our reasoning and plans on our blog post, and we'll be communicating directly with our users as we make these changes. We originally launched iGoogle in 2005 before anyone could fully imagine the ways that today's web and mobile apps would put personalised, real-time information at your fingertips. With modern apps that run on platforms like Chrome and Android, the need for iGoogle has eroded over time, so we'll be winding it down."

If you are upset with the closure, you can head over to the iGoogle product forum to register your protest.

Is the iGoogle shutdown going to leave a hole in your web browsing? Sound off in the comments below.