Integrate Google Reader into Google+

How about integrating Reader into Google+ or have Reader as a reading layer to the G+ service?

Very similar to my suggestion on Google Buzz here, Google+ is screaming our for Reader-like features to be added to it’s arsenal.  Sparks is the current place to find your posts to share inside Google+ but it looks like a bolt-on to and nothing more. To me it does what Reader does. So why have two apps doing the same thing? Why not swap Sparks for Reader or at least to a Google+-like layer of Reader? The problem with Sparks is you’re relying on whatever the Google+ team have added as sources. I rather have my own sources, I already have my own sources and they appear in Google Reader. So instead of having a new system and getting users to re-setup all their sources, why not use a system already in place?

First thing would be to remove Sparks and put Reader subscriptions in its place – I could then read my feeds in Google+ just like I do in Google Reader (but keep the ability to search for keywords and subscribe to feeds that way – I kinda like this feature in Sparks). Sharing a ‘spark’ here would mean sharing it inside Reader as well.

But what about Reader itself? Some people would like to stay inside Reader. I think there are various ways to integrate it with Google+:

1. A share toggle button in Reader to Google+: so when you hit the share button in Reader you could also hit a share toggle for G+. This would share the article in Google+ then you go go to Google+ to continue the discussion. The downside is you’ll have no option to share to circles and comments would be fragmented between the two systems.

2. Sharing comments between Reader and Google+ shares: this would probably be linked to the above option but commentary would be shared between both systems. I think this is a messy option and not integrated enough for me.

3. Add Google+’s +1 share button to Google Reader: perhaps a tidier solution – so you’ll have the usual Reader share button but also a G+ share button, which would give you the G+ options to share to your Circles and add your description.

4. Full sharing integration: replace the Reader share button with the Google+ share button (i.e. one share button) or +1 button (with pop-up share features like we have on external sites). You share to Reader, you also share to Google+. Comments in one system will be seen in the other. If you like commenting or reading posts in Reader then you can carry on doing this. If you prefer to stay inside Google+ then you have this option too. Commentary is fully shared between Reader and G+ and @mentions work between each where possible.

Of course I prefer the latter option. It would mean I wouldn’t have to share things twice and it wouldn’t mean commentary is fragmented. I could read my sources and share my favourite posts all within Google+. But also mean others could carry on as normal inside Reader.

There would still be a place for Reader though, the stats as pictured above could stay on the service.  But the subscription side would benefit by being on Google+ for me.

For my full Google+ Ideas doc head over to the editable Google Docs here.  And you’ll find the Google+ thread here.

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