> OK, you want to push Google+? Isn't google+ supposed to be a platform (and not simply an application). Let google reader be an application on top of the Google+ platform.
They actually did start to integrate them. Google Reader had native sharing functionality for several years. Then in 2011 they suddenly removed it and replaced[1] it with sharing through Google+. My small network of Reader-using friends were split over wanting to join Google+, so that mostly killed our practice of regularly sharing links with each other.
"Integrating with Google+ also helps us streamline Reader overall. So starting today we'll be turning off friending, following, shared items and comments in favor of similar Google+ functionality."
i.e. reader could be used to add content to google+ but not to use google+
I could share a link on google+ but couldn't see any of the interactions unless I went to google+. If google+ was meant to be a platform, I should have been able to see the comments or other peoples shared items from within the google reader app. It should just have been one way to interact with google+ amongst many.
They actually did start to integrate them. Google Reader had native sharing functionality for several years. Then in 2011 they suddenly removed it and replaced[1] it with sharing through Google+. My small network of Reader-using friends were split over wanting to join Google+, so that mostly killed our practice of regularly sharing links with each other.
[1]: https://googlereader.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-in-reader-fres...