r3fresh

Digg Search

Digg.com is one of my favorite news sites and I have always felt it could be more. I have always wanted to see a search engine that is based on “digging” and is totally user created. When you use the Digg Search you can really see what’s good and what’s bad before you go to the site. Hope to see a Digg-like search engine in the future. [I made a Mock-up of Digg Search below]

The Good and The Bad of the Web: Digg vs. Reddit

The definition of news is “new information about specific and timely events” and with the introduction of the Internet in the the past decade and a half we have seen “the news” evolve into something totally different and incredibly useful. Internet news sites like Digg and Reddit are completely user created and have become popular because of that. Even though Digg and Reddit have become popular, one thing that I have seen is how different they are from each other.

When we look at the design of the websites, both Digg and Reddit are similar, but Digg is much more easy on the eyes. Digg uses a very simple blue, green, yellow theme that isn’t to busy, but makes the site look and feel quality. Reddit is very different when it comes to overall look. The site is more focused on the news than what it looks like, which is a good for the current users, but is bad for getting new users.

The usability of both sites are fine, but I find Reddit much quicker and less problem prone than Digg. Reddit should take some ideas from Digg and Digg should take some ideas from Reddit. Both sites get the job done when it comes to user generated news and as long as they have content I believe they will do fine, but with a few improvements they could become more popular.

How to Improve Digg (make it more mainstream, if you will):

• Promote Digg as a CURRENT news site that combats sites like CNN
• Promote the Videos section more
• Create a search engine using the “digg it” style
• Allow more customization of Profiles
• Create small community Digg’s (specific towns, groups, or fads)

How to Improve Reddit:

• Promote your site
• Add some color to attract more users
• Explain what Reddit is and how to us it
• Don’t try to be Digg, be Reddit
• Broaden you information

Twidget: Twitter on Your Dashboard

Are you a Mac user that uses Twitter? Yes. Well then you be happy to learn about Twidget (from Aquabox), a Twitter widget that makes posting as easy as a click of a button on your Dashboard. Very simple (no preferences) and for the most part is quick at updating.

You can download Twidget here.

BTW: I probably wouldn’t like Twidget as much if it didn’t have such creative name.