Mozilla is closing ranks. The foundation responsible for managing, among other things, the Firefox browser, has announced some very bad news to the last users of Pocket: this catch-up reading service, formerly known as Read It Later, will shut down on July 8. Mozilla acquired it in 2017, at a time when this type of service was still all the rage.
Time to choose for Mozilla
Today, it is clear that the reading lists integrated into web browsers have significantly reduced the appeal of Pocket. The service no longer offers its Premium subscription since yesterday; Users will be able to export their link catalog until October 8, after which the data will be permanently deleted.
Mozilla has been sparing no effort in improving Pocket. Over the years, the service has been given a book recommendation system, a newsletter, and other features. But it hasn't been enough to keep users engaged.
Pocket may not be dying for sure, however. Digg co-founder Kevin Rose has publicly offered to Mozilla to take it over. So who knows!
Lesser-known, Fakespot also has its head on the chopping block and will be unplugged as of July 1st. Purchased in 2023 by Mozilla, this service analyzes online reviews to detect fake reviews and evaluate the reliability of comments on platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart.
As for the reasons pushing Mozilla to separate from these two services, they are simple. "The way people save and consume content on the web has evolved," explains the foundation. "We are channeling our resources toward projects that better align with today's browsing habits. Discovery continues to evolve, too."
The independence of Firefox, "the only major browser not backed by a billionaire," also requires "prioritizing the creation of products and tools that shape the future of the internet for the better." So choices must be made and time and money invested to have the "greatest impact."
Source: Mozilla
0 Comments