Make way for the Diggbar
Following the sneak preview of Digg’s latest online tool a few weeks ago, it has finally arrived. Yesterday, Kevin Rose introduced the toolbar publically for the first time. It has a short-url service, easy posting to Facebook, Twitter, and Email. Articles are now easier to Digg, and (finally) you are able to see just how much of a Digg effect each page gets.
Digg has come along way, this is the natural evolution for a site like this, and it might be the most significant as of yet.
Heres an introduction video from Digg
DiggBar from Kevin Rose on Vimeo.
The features
Diggurl
As Kevin said, you can “create the bar with any page on the web”. All you have to do to shorten a link is put “http://digg.com/” before your link, and it will shorten your URL automatically. So if I wanted to shorten my Design a WordPress 2.7 Link, I would make the link
http://digg.com/http://miralize.com/web-design/wordpress-theme/design-a-wordpress-27-theme/.
And once loaded the URL is
Easy huh?
Social Network Integration.
Every avid Tweeter knows of Kevin Rose’s fondness for the social network, and now its even easier to post the things you Digg into the places you are in. Right now, only Facebook and Twitter are supported but I’m sure that will change soon. You can also send a link via Email, or by shouting out to one of your own friends on Digg.
Main Items
As this is the Diggbar, naturally they have the Digg numbers and comments easily available. One of the more interesting items from this, is the ability to see how many views Digg gave you. At last, we can see in depth the full extent of this mythical Digg Effect. You’re also able to view your site without the iFrame by clicking the URL, or by clicking the giant X at the top right of the Diggbar
Random Button
Ok for everyone who says this is a jab at StumbleUpon, you might be right. This feature is alright. I am a bit weary of the fact that it just loads front page or Popular Stories, rather than any page that has been dugg, but hey there is always room for improvement
So Digg hit their first Home Run of 2009. It’s definitely going to turn a few heads. Next on their list is Facebook Connect integration, and a vastly improved search engine. Digg has needed this, having lost traffic to Twitter, and with accusations of people gaming Digg. This wont change how you use Digg, as msaleem said, but it should keep you there for that extra bit longer.