Mozilla introduced on Thursday that it’s shutting down Pocket, a read-it-later app it acquired in 2017, on July 8. The corporate can be shutting down Fakespot, its browser extension that helps customers determine unreliable evaluations.
“Pocket has helped tens of millions save articles and uncover tales value studying,” Mozilla mentioned in a weblog submit. “However the best way folks use the net has developed, so we’re channeling our sources into initiatives that higher match their searching habits and on-line wants.”
Customers will have the ability to proceed utilizing the app and browser extensions for Pocket till July 8. After that date, Pocket will transfer into export-only mode. Customers have till October 8 to export saved articles, together with gadgets of their listing, archive, favorites, notes, and highlights.
Whereas Mozilla didn’t present a particular motive for shutting down the service, the corporate says it’ll proceed to put money into serving to folks uncover and “entry top quality net content material.” Mozilla says it’ll do that by way of its New Tab expertise, electronic mail e-newsletter, and extra. The New Tab expertise options shortcuts to your most visited websites, your not too long ago visited pages, and your bookmarks.
As for Fakespot, Mozilla says it’s shutting down the service as a result of “whereas the thought resonated, it didn’t match a mannequin we may maintain.”
Though it’s unclear what number of customers Pocket had, the service was capable of domesticate a loyal userbase over time. Customers have taken to social media to voice their displeasure with the information.
“This shift permits us to form the subsequent period of the web — with instruments like vertical tabs, good search and extra AI-powered options on the best way,” Mozilla says. “We’ll proceed to construct a browser that works tougher for you: extra private, extra highly effective and nonetheless proudly unbiased.”
