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ICYMI: Worm mind control, a creepy new Barbie and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-630410{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-630410, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-630410{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-630410").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A new $75 Barbie with speech recognition software can talk to your kids and give them career advice, as well as store previous conversations to refer back during girlfriend chats. Holy hell, yes? Meanwhile, some scientists figured out how to use mind control on worms in a lab with an ultrasonic pulse that gets the slimy suckers to change course. And a group of friends gathered in the desert in Nevada to build a scaled seven mile solar system. Bummer alert: They left off Pluto.
Digg brings its Twitter news fixation to its RSS reader and iOS app
Last month, Digg tried to very subtly reinvent itself with the launch of a feature called Digg Deeper. The concept was simple enough: Deeper would surface stories based on what your Twitter pals were all talking about, so you'd have a better sense of the news of the moment. There was just one caveat, though. You see, at the time, it was only open to members of News.me (the startup the new Digg team slaved away on first). We're down with rewarding loyalty, but now Deeper is expanding in a big way -- the feature has been baked into the Digg Reader proper, and now also lives in an updated version of the Digg iOS app you can download right now. Oh, and the team's launching a new daily digest email that'll encapsulate all your Twitter friends' shared stories and blast them into your inbox (as if it wasn't cluttered enough). Digg's little social experiment seems to have paid off, but the thing to remember is that it's still just a start. After all, there's still no support for social channels beyond Twitter (like a less clickbait-y Facebook, for instance) and no word on when Google's faithful will get a chance to sift through all that new news on their Android devices.
Digg roots out the most contagious videos with its updated iOS app
If you like whiling away the hours on trending videos, but hate wading through YouTube dreck to find them, Digg has now brought its fledgeling video curation to iOS devices. As with the web, clips are chosen based on how much interaction they get through Digg's own service, Facebook and Twitter. The iOS version closely mirrors the web version with a nearly identical UI, and Digg has also patched bugs and improved performance. There's no sign of an Android update yet (update: according to the Digg Blog an update is coming "shorty"), but we gave it a whirl on an iPad and found the video choices to be brilliant time-wasters -- so, we're sorry this post is a bit late.
Digg Video curation takes on the viral competition
It's no secret that many of us like to watch viral internet videos back-to-back, but even the recommendations on social sites like Reddit don't always provide good advice on what to watch next. Digg hopes to one-up its competition with Digg Video, a new section built solely for aggregating interesting clips. As with regular articles, viewers can Digg their favorite videos, save them for later or share them through Facebook and Twitter. Only web users can check out the new media hub for now, although the company promises that its Android and iOS apps will get the portal in the near future.
Digg for Android gets an unread mode and speed improvements
Busy Android users with Digg no longer have to plow through previously read RSS entries as they hop from device to device. The company has just given its Android app the same unread mode that reached iOS this summer; enable the option and Digg will show only stories that haven't been seen on at least one device. There are also a few performance optimizations under the hood. If you can't help but check Digg on every gadget you own, you'll want to grab the updated Android app from Google Play now.
Digg for Android arrives with Reader support
Digg was ready with a Reader-enabled iOS app in time for a rush of Google Reader exiles, but it left Android users looking for alternative newsreaders. That void is now filled with the launch of the company's Android app. The Android build closely matches its iOS counterpart, with support for Digg's own news, RSS feed subscriptions and sharing to both read-it-later apps as well as social networks. Just be aware of a few rough patches -- this release is missing background updates, some display options and an unread-only filter. If you can live without those features in the short term, though, you can grab the Digg app through Google Play.
Digg for iOS gets unread mode, Reader mobile mirrors its app counterpart
Couple of updates for those who like their Digg on the go. First up is the revamp of the social news aggregator's iOS app. Using the latest version, you can view stories by unread items only and delete feeds from directly within the app. Scrolling has been improved as well, and the offering now has support for Readability. Digg Reader's getting a boost as well, with optimization on the mobile site "captur[ing] the look and feel" of the iOS app, according to Digg. There's also full support for sites like YouTube and SoundCloud via HTML5. More info can be excavated in the source link below.
Digg Reader web, iOS apps are open for the public
As we stand on the precipice of the shutdown of Google Reader the search for replacement RSS clients is more frantic than ever, and now Digg has opened access to its app for any users interested. Currently available on the web and as an iOS app (Android coming soon), importing ones Google account is just a few mouse clicks away. The experience as it exists now is pretty barebones, and Digg says it plans to add a "View unread items only" option, "Mark as unread" button and the always crucial "accurate" unread counts for feeds and folders in the near future. Hit the source link below to give it a shot, and then let us know if it's a contender for the throne.
RSS Reader Round-Up: Digg Reader is a nimble reader for mobile users
Earlier this year, we listed several services and apps that'll potentially replace Google Reader. Now that the Reader shut down is imminent, we are taking a second look at some of these services (and a few new ones) to see which companies have scaled up enough to become a true Google Reader replacement. In this first post in our series, we will look at a new entrant in the world of RSS readers, Digg. Initial Setup and Impressions Digg Reader is designed to be a no-frills replacement for Google Reader. Like Google Reader, it's web-based and has a straight-forward UI with a left-side navigation column for your feeds and a center column for content. Digg Reader includes both an iPhone and iPad app for mobile syncing. The layout and font choice are pleasing in the web version, but there are only two views -- a list view and an expanded view that shows the article and its images. The columns fill the browser window and are not adjustable. It's a clean UI with easy access to a very helpful FAQ, settings for the Reader service and settings for each RSS Feed. Setup was quick and painless. You can import your Google Reader feeds automatically by signing into your Google Reader account using Digg Reader. Digg also imports 1,000 items per tag and puts 1,000 of your most recently starred items into the Saved folder. A manual option allows you to add RSS feeds one at a time using a URL or the name of the site. You can also browse 25 categories of RSS feeds from publishers that are recommended by Digg's editors. Digg does not import OPML files, so you will have to use Google Reader or the manual option to add RSS feeds. OPML export is also not available, but on the roadmap for future features. Digg Reader supports folders and lets you both create new ones and delete existing ones, even those that were imported from Google Reader. Just a note that when you delete a folder, you delete the folder and all the subscriptions within them. You can organize feeds by dragging them and dropping them into a folder. Performance was smooth and responsive across the board. Major Features Here's a rundown of the major features of your average RSS reader and information on which ones are supported by Digg Reader. Google Reader Import: Yes, automatic by logging into Reader using your Google account. Does not support OPML import or export, yet. Folder Support: Yes, imported from Google and create your own. Authenticated RSS feeds: No. Keyboard shortcuts: Yes. Tags: Digg imports 1,000 items per tag. You can't add your own tags within Digg Reader, yet. Slated for a future release. Resizable elements like fonts, columns: Not on the desktop, but mobile does have three text sizes and different display modes that change based on your environment. Mark all read/unread: You can mark all items in an RSS feed and all items in a folder as read. There is no mark unread option yet. Search/Sort: No search or sorting available yet. There is a "Popular" link that compiles the most popular unread items in your feeds, however. Star/Favorite: Yes, you can mark items and set them aside. The "Save" feature has the option to be private or public. It's an all or none option right now, so you share all your saved items or you share none. It's not applied to individual articles. Read Later: Supports Pocket, Readability and Instapaper on the the web. Instapaper, Pocket and Bit.ly on mobile. Social networks: You can share articles on Facebook and Twitter. API/Third-Party: Future integration with Integration with additional third party services (like Buffer, Evernote, and IFTTT). Other features: Ability to Digg an item. Paperboy feature on mobile that downloads recent articles when you leave a location. Pricing: This version is available for free, with plans to offer a premium version with advanced features in the coming months. Premium pricing not yet revealed. Mobile Syncing Besides its web app, Digg also updated its mobile apps with support for Digg Reader. The mobile app has a clean, easy-to-use UI that mirrors the web version. On the iPhone, the two-column layout is collapsible with the content area being able to slide out of the way. It is available in portrait-view only. The larger screen of the iPad lends itself well to reading so you get a mixture of the iPhone and web version. You get the two-column layout similar to the web app when you are browsing through all your feeds and a single column view when you are viewing all the articles in a feed. The iPad version also allows you to browse in portrait or landscape. The mobile version has a built-in feature that lets you tap on an article title and switch between a text-only view and full web view with images. It's convenient to be able to get rid of the fluff and show only the text, especially on the iPhone which has limited space for reading. Social networking support is present in the mobile app with the ability to share an article via iMessage, email, Twitter and Facebook. Syncing was immediate with changes reflected in the web app as soon as I closed out the mobile app and opened up my Mac. The same can be said about going from a Mac to mobile. Marked items, saved items and more were updated almost immediately. What's Missing Digg repeatedly said this is a beta version, so don't expect to have your cake and eat it too at this point. The company wanted to "build a simple, clean, fast, uncluttered reading experience," which it did and did well. The tradeoff is that Digg Reader is missing a few key features like search and the option to mark an item as unread. That's ok in my book as I would rather have the stable, responsive infrastructure that I saw in Digg Reader, than a feature-rich package that is slow and buggy. One other drawback that affects switchers is the lack of OPML import, so try to import your feeds before Google Reader goes offline. Conclusion If you use Digg or want a nimble, lightweight RSS Reader with mobile support, then I would definitely take a look at Digg. If these missing features are a deal breaker, then look elsewhere for now, but keep Digg in the back of your mind. The developers behind Digg Reader have a proven track record with News.me and will likely improve the platform quickly. %Gallery-192509%
Digg adds reader to its iOS app, offers instant Google Reader import
There's more than a few enterprises that have an eye on filling the void in the RSS market left by Google's curious withdrawal. Digg is one of those hoping to woo Mountain View's refugees and has updated its iOS app to incorporate its experimental new service, which offers direct imports from Google Reader. It's available from the App Store right now, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that there are other, ahem, AOL-sanctioned, alternatives.
Digg starts rolling out its Reader app to beta users
Digg announced on its blog that its new Reader service will be available to the public on a rolling basis starting today. The beta version of the service will target Google Reader users looking to jump ship before the Google RSS service shuts down next week. Initially, the company is opening Digg Reader to survey participants who were part of the development process. Invitations then will be sent out in batches to customers who signed up for the beta. Digg is scaling up slowly in order keep the service running smoothly, but it hopes to get all beta customers on board sometime today. You can sign up here: digg.com/reader. Besides its web app, Digg Reader will also launch on the iPhone and iPad. Look for an update to the current Digg app that'll add the Reader functionality.
Digg Reader beta launching next week on iOS
With the impending doom of Google Reader just around the corner on July 1, RSS fans have been searching for an alternative to their beloved feed. Digg has heard their cries, and will be launching the first public beta of its new Reader replacement, called Digg Reader, next week. The beta will slowly roll out at first, but Digg promises it will be available to everyone by June 26. Digg has made it clear the service will become a freemium product, akin to services like Evernote which provide free services with extra paid options available to those willing to pay. However, all of the features available during the free beta will remain part of the free version of the reader in the future. Digg Reader will come with migration tools to help you move your feeds from Google Reader. In addition, Digg promises the core product will feature mobile apps that sync with your Reader web page, a clean layout that focuses on article content and support for subscribing, sharing, saving and organizing. The mobile beta will launch on Digg's iOS app, with Android support coming in the 60 days following launch. Other upcoming features include integration of third-party services like Buffer and Evernote and improved sorting and filtering of feeds, notifications and search.
Digg's Google Reader replacement beta opens on June 26th, friends and family get access on the 19th
Digg -- yes, that Digg -- has a replacement in the works for Google Reader, and it looks like it'll arrive just ahead of the final days of Google's RSS aggregation service. The service, which uses the same API as Reader, is planning a public beta starting on June 26th; a "friends and family" beta will open this Wednesday, the 19th, with limited access. During beta, the Digg RSS reader is free. In a survey Digg published last month on its blog, however, the company found that over 40 percent of respondents are "willing to pay for a Google Reader replacement." The company noted alongside the finding that, "Free products on the Internet don't have a great track record. They tend to disappear, leaving users in a lurch. We need to build a product that people can rely on and trust will always be there for them. We're not sure how pricing might work, but we do know that we'd like our users to be our customers, not our product." That said, Digg's latest blog post seemingly assuages our worry. "We mentioned in a prior post that Digg Reader will ultimately be a 'freemium' product," the post reads. "But we're not going to bait-and-switch. All of the features introduced next week, as well as many others yet to come, will be part of the free experience." Those features include the standard RSS reader experience, "easy migration and onboarding from Google Reader," "useful mobile apps that sync with the web experience" (there's an iOS one pictured, and Android is promised in the 60 days post-launch) and "support for ... subscribing, sharing, saving and organizing."
Digg owner Betaworks acquires Instapaper
Betaworks, the company that rescued the faltering Digg, has now acquired Instapaper, says a report in TechCrunch. The news originated from an email sent by Betaworks founder and CEO John Borthwick and was confirmed by Instapaper founder Marco Arment. Arment writes on his blog, I'm happy to announce that I've sold a majority stake in Instapaper to Betaworks. We've structured the deal with Instapaper's health and longevity as the top priority, with incentives to keep it going well into the future. I will continue advising the project indefinitely, while Betaworks will take over its operations, expand its staff and develop it further. Borthwick says that Instapaper is a "perfect fit" with Digg and the company's upcoming Digg Reader. He also confirms that Betaworks plans to expand the staff working on Instapaper and develop it further. [Via TechCrunch]
Digg to build a Google Reader replacement with same API, new features
The news of Google Reader's upcoming demise has put the spotlight on several alternatives that RSS fans can only hope will fill the gap. The latest to vie for our attention doesn't even exist yet: Digg just announced that it will be creating a reader of its own. According to its blog, the aggregation service was apparently already planning to build such a reader, but upon hearing that Google's version will bite the dust, the company is kicking into gear to develop a suitable replacement. Digg's reader will maintain what it calls the best of Google Reader's features, including its API, while incorporating changes that reflect the relevance of social networks and other popular Internet communities.
OUYA console pre-order now available for non-backers starting at $109, slated to ship in April
Miss out on your chance to snag the Android-based gaming console during OUYA's Kickstarter tour-de-force? Worry not, friends. The outfit has opened up pre-orders it promised for those who didn't take the plunge initially via on its website. While you will have to wait another month to get your mitts on a kit of your very own, the second round of advance purchasing will set you back $109 for US customers and $119 for those abroad. Included in the aforementioned price tag is the console, a single controller and the requisite shipping costs. Hit up the source link below to part with your funds and begin the waiting period.
OUYA's Kickstarter funding is complete: over $8.59 million raised, starts shipping in March
It's a wrap! Suffice it to say, it's a been a relatively short, yet astoundingly fruitful -- and initially record-breaking -- funding run for OUYA, the hackable, Android-based gaming console. With just 29 days to work with since being announced, the Yves Behar-designed system has raked in over $8.58 million thanks to just under 63,300 backers on Kickstarter as of its official 1AM ET funding deadline today (You'll find the final tally below). Those who opted for developer editions will be able to start tinkering with their own units around December, while the majority of backers should receive the console as early as March 2013. Missed the Kickstarter bandwagon? Don't fret, because OUYA plans to take pre-orders from the general public over the web soon, expecting those units to arrive at doorsteps near April. The numbers are only part of the picture, of course. If you'll recall, OUYA swiftly acquired a slew of partnerships from companies like OnLive, Square Enix, XBMC, Vevo, and Robotoki -- and as if that wasn't enough, just yesterday Namco Bandai and Plex officially joined the content-providing party as well. What's more, we now know that each console will support up to four of those touchpad-equipped controllers for local multiplayer action. Even with all that, this story is far from over, as Joystiq points out that Julie Uhrman and company "promise" to have more updates before its official launch. Naturally, it still remains to be seen how OUYA's (literally) tiny, Tegra 3-powered footprint will fare against the big three in gaming, but we're cautiously optimistic. So, while the final, mass-produced product is still months away, in the meantime you'll find a recap of all the highlights from OUYA in the nifty saga module below. You can also hit up our friends at Joystiq here for extra insight from the company about its successes so far. Update (1:15AM): Despite the timer hitting zero, it appears that pledges are still being accepted past the 1AM deadline -- better be quick! We'll be sure to update the numbers again as soon pledging is officially halted. Update 2 (7:30AM): It took a bit of time, but OUYA's Kickstarter is officially not accepting any more pledges. The final numbers? 63,416 backers helped to raise a final sum of $8,596,475.
New Digg iPhone app available
Just when you thought that Digg had faded into the obscure fog of irrelevancy, the company comes out with a new Digg app for iPhone (free). The app is getting a lot of buzz, perhaps just because many users have moved on to other ways of getting their top news. The new app features a "clean mobile-friendly view" that has been described by some reviewers as not providing a whole heck of a lot of content to look at. Sharing with friends via Facebook, Twitter and email is built in, as you'd expect from a modern iPhone app. If you want to read stories offline, the new Digg provides full support for saving stories. The app has support for Instapaper and Pocket and has geofencing capabilities built in; you can set your home location, and a "Paperboy" function automatically updates the app with the latest stories when you leave that location. The app comes after a reboot of the 8-year-old news site, which has re-titled itself as Digg v1.
Redesigned Digg iOS app downloads stories before you leave the house
Launching alongside the monochrome hues of Digg's site redesign, its iOS app has been given a similarly-colored treatment. The update is available to download now and adds several mobile-centric features, including offline reading. Under new ownership, Digg's renovated app plays nice with both Facebook and Twitter, while a new 'Paperboy' feature will detect when you're at home (once calibrated) and help ensure you never leave the front door with old news. However, you'll have to be willing to hook up your Facebook account to bookmark and share between your phone and the standalone homepage. There's also no sign of a corresponding Android version just yet, but you can take the iOS app (and the refreshed site) for a spin at the sources below.
Digg to get a complete redesign, relaunch in August
Well, that was fast. Not two weeks after Digg was bought out by Betaworks (parent company to Bit.ly, among other startups), we're learning the crowd-sourced news aggregator is poised to relaunch as soon as August 1. In a blog post, the 10-person engineering team promises an overhaul of the site, once a litmus test for what was popular on the internet. Most interesting, perhaps, is the revelation that while Digg will not be a rebadged version of News.me, the aggregation app already owned by Betaworks, the two services will eventually be folded into one product. And while the team isn't revealing how, exactly, the new Digg will differ from the old, they did promise it would eventually receive personalization features similar to what News.me already offers. Other than that, Betaworks didn't share any specifics, but luckily, you'll only have to wait two weeks to find out what's in store.
