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New Media News Every Morning

People Are Digging Digg’s iPhone App

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Aside from the Digg buttons and widget generators that Digg recently made available as part of the preparation for the launch of its redesigned page, the social bookmarking site has also released a new iPhone app. And mind you, it’s a pretty cool and useful app that brings in all the Digg good stuff that we all enjoyed and have grown to love through the years.

In fact just a few hours after it was released, the new Digg for  iPhone suddenly goes to the top of the iPhone Apps Store’s “news” category.  We don’t have exact download figures yet, but the fact that it went to the top of the apps chart is an indication that iPhone users are digging the new Digg app.

If you haven’t downloaded it yet on your iPhone, now is the right time to do so. If you’ve loved Digg.com, I’m pretty sure you’d also love this  Digg iPhone app. Why? You can watch the attached video above demonstrating the many cool and touchy features of the Digg app.

Digg for iPhone app lets you browse lists of recent content, search for the topics you care about and save stories to check out later. You can also join the usual Digg curation fun by Digging and burying stories and comments right on your iPhone. You know what’s great about this iPhone app? It interface well with the touch screen features of the iPhone. And if your scanning and browsing the highly active Digg storyline, you’d notice how easy it is to so by just tapping and swiping your iPhone’s screen.

In case you’re not aware, Digg for iPhone app was created by the folks at TapTapTap. And to celebrate the release of their app, the group is giving away free iPads. Here’s how you can grab one of this most anticipated mobile device.

Digg Founder and CEO Discuss Future Digg Features

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Before Facebook started counting shares and Twitter started counting retweets, Digg pretty much invented social news. Sensing more mainstream services encroaching upon its turf, the geeky pioneer is not content to rest on its laurels. At a Web 2.0 Expo keynote today, Digg founder Kevin Rose and CEO Jay Adelson discussed new and future Digg features.

Listen up for juicy tidbits on how to market your new media startup.

(Via Neal Rodriguez.)

Tweeple Like News, Diggers are Nerds, and Facebookers Aren’t All Stupid

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A new study by online ad network Chitika reveals two things we’ve suspected all along: Tweeple like news, and Diggers are nerds. 28% of all links clicked on Twitter go to news, while a whopping 57.38% of Digg clicks go to technology articles.

“I think you get a bit of an insight into the psychology of the different users of social networks. Twitterers want to be the first to know,” said Daniel Ruby, research director, online insights, Chitika. “They want to be the source of new news and new information, whether that’s a new product being released, or something that’s happening in the Middle East, or the latest crazy thing that Kanye West has done.”

The study does give us one surprise. Contrary to popular stereotypes of Facebookers, Facebook clicks don’t all go to inane crap. In fact, a third of Facebook clicks go to tech stuff, too. Facebookers are actually half as nerdy as Diggers.

Digg gets $28.7 additional funding

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Kevin Rose’s Digg today received $28.7 million in additional funding from Highland Capital Partners, Greylock Partners, Omidyar Network and SVB Capital. The additional funding brings the total amount raised by Digg to $40 million.

The new funding would allow Digg to pursue its international expansion plan, promote its brand aggressively, and more than double its current size of employees.

The new funding should also put to rest any rumors of acquisition.

“We want to be independent,” Digg CEO Jay Adelson said.

Digg Dialogg: Vote Questions Up or Down

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The Democratic National Convention is underway, and so is a new product from Digg: Digg Dialogg.  This concept takes the ‘wisdom of crowds’ concept and applies it to interview questions.

Here’s how it works:

Digg will identify a guest interview

The community will submit questions (text or video)

The community will vote on which question should be asked

According to Digg, guests…

“will represent thought leaders and tastemakers across diverse topics including technology luminaries, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, musicians and filmmakers.”

Up first, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday, August 27th.

Cool concept.  But what happens when the Digg community decides to get personal or ask the questions that no interviewer ever ask.  There’s a reason most interviews are generic.  Without censorship, the concept is beautiful.  Will Digg have the balls to let ALL questions stand.  And more importantly, will guests continue to make themselves available, knowing they can be subjected to some uncomfortable topics?

Either way, Digg is proving that they understand that evolving their business model is a must.