Feedly, a prominent RSS reader with a user base of 15 million, recently faced a weeklong slowdown in its web application, leading to user frustration and speculation about the cause. The company has clarified that the performance issues were due to a technical bug, not its recent pivot towards AI-driven services.
Users reported significant delays in the web app’s responsiveness, rendering it nearly unusable. Additionally, the iOS application experienced loading issues, and the older ‘Feedly Classic’ app was retired without prior notice, further compounding user dissatisfaction.
Addressing these concerns, Feedly’s CEO, Edwin Khodabakchian, emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining its core RSS functionalities. He explained that the slowdown was linked to a bug associated with the ‘Mark as Read’ feature, particularly affecting accounts with numerous folders. A fix was implemented, and the team is monitoring its effectiveness.
Regarding the retirement of the ‘Feedly Classic’ app, Khodabakchian noted that it no longer met current iOS and Android requirements and had a minimal active user base. Consequently, the decision was made to discontinue it without prior notification to its few remaining users.
Despite Feedly’s strategic shift towards AI-powered services, the company reassures its user base that the traditional RSS reader remains a priority. This incident underscores the challenges tech companies face in balancing innovation with the maintenance of existing services. Users can expect continued support and improvements to Feedly’s core functionalities alongside its new AI initiatives.
