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Spotify Tests Allowing Users to Customize Their Taste Profile Directly

Spotify Premium users in New Zealand will be the first to experience the service’s latest personalization feature. The company is letting users view and make changes to their Taste Profile directly. If your algorithm is serving up too much Bieber, you can politely tell the algorithm to ease up. Beta testers will be able to […]

Digg Shuts Down Activities Two Months Following Its Much-Expected Comeback

**Digg Goes Offline Again: The Effect of Bots on Community Platforms**

Last January, the community platform Digg was reintroduced after an extended closed beta period, led by CEO Justin Mezzell along with co-founders Kevin Rose and Alexis Ohanian. However, the platform has now ceased operations due to what Mezzell refers to as “an unprecedented issue with bots.” This article delves into the backdrop of Digg’s re-launch, the obstacles it encountered, and the outlook for the platform.

### A Touch of Background

Established in 2004, Digg rapidly became a favorite as a social news aggregator, enabling users to submit and vote on stories. However, by 2012, the site had lost its significance and changed hands several times before being reacquired last year by Rose and Ohanian. The two aimed to rejuvenate Digg by tackling the problems of inauthentic behavior that are widespread in social networks, utilizing a blend of artificial intelligence and verification strategies.

During its recent beta stage, Digg sought to address spam and bot interference by introducing trust indicators and mandating proof of product ownership for specific community activities. Unfortunately, these strategies were not enough.

### Digg Goes Offline Again, Promises to Come Back

In a message to users, Mezzell recognized the gravity of the bot issue, mentioning that it was far more widespread than expected. He highlighted that the emergence of advanced AI agents and automated accounts had created a difficult scenario for community platforms like Digg. In spite of banning tens of thousands of accounts and employing various tools, the integrity of user interaction was compromised.

Mezzell stressed that the problem isn’t exclusive to Digg but is, in fact, a common issue on the internet, saying, “When you can’t trust that the votes, the comments, and the engagement you’re seeing are real, the foundation of a community platform is lost.”

Even with the shutdown, Mezzell assured users that Digg would not entirely vanish. The team would be reduced in size, but Kevin Rose would rejoin full-time to help envision the platform anew. Mezzell voiced the necessity for Digg to set itself apart from current competitors, stating, “What comes next needs to be truly different.”

### Looking Forward

As Digg gets ready for its next phase, the team is dedicated to tackling the challenges brought by bots and inauthentic interaction. The return of Kevin Rose is viewed as a crucial move in reshaping the platform’s direction and vision.

In the meantime, the Digg team will keep interacting with its audience through the diggnation podcast, ensuring the community stays connected during this transitional time.

For more information, users can read Mezzell’s complete letter on the Digg website.

Digg’s Open Beta Closes After Only Two Months, Citing AI Bot Spam

It’s only been a year since Digg founder Kevin Rose, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, and a few others announced the link-sharing site would relaunch, promising a “social discovery built by communities, not by algorithms.” Now, two months after opening its Reddit-like platform to the public, Digg is announcing a “hard reset” that’s shutting down operations […]

Amazon’s Prime Video Unveils Ad-Free Feature at Nearly Twice the Price – Updated Pricing Information

In 2023, Amazon revealed major modifications to its Prime Video service. Once free of ads for Prime members, the service will now display advertisements unless users choose an ad-free add-on. This add-on, initially set at $2.99 per month, will rise to $4.99 starting April 10. Amazon attributes the price increase to the necessity for considerable investment in premium features. The service will be renamed Prime Video Ultra, providing advantages such as enhanced offline downloads and the ability to stream on multiple devices simultaneously. However, standard Prime members will forfeit access to 4K streaming and Dolby Atmos support unless they switch to the Ultra plan. These changes indicate Amazon’s dedication to original content and AI-driven features, in line with current trends in the streaming landscape.

“Presenting the Nothing Headphone (a) featuring an Impressive Five-Day Battery Life”

Nothing Headphone (a) launches today featuring 135 hours of battery life and no touch controls.

Essential information

  • Nothing Headphone (a) is now available for purchase at nothing.tech, Amazon in the U.S., and Best Buy in Canada, with sales on TikTok Shop starting March 19.
  • The over-ear headphones retail for $199 (£149 / €159) and are offered in black, white, and pink, with a special yellow edition launching on April 6.
  • The prominent feature is battery life, offering up to 135 hours of audio playback (approximately five days) with ANC turned off.

Following the debut of Nothing’s vibrant new over-ear headphones last week, they are now officially for sale on the company’s website and other major retailers.

You can purchase the headphones from nothing.tech, along with Amazon in the U.S. and Best Buy in Canada. TikTok Shop in the U.S. will begin offering them on March 19. The price for the Headphone (a) is $199 (£149 / €159).

Nothing is recognized for its striking designs, and the Headphone (a) adheres to this concept. The headphones are available in black, white, and pink, with a limited-edition yellow model set for release on April 6.

The design maintains Nothing’s signature aesthetic while incorporating brighter hues that distinguish themselves in a market typically dominated by darker and neutral tones.

The headset has a weight of 310 grams and includes breathable memory foam ear cushions for extended comfort during long listening periods. It also has an IP52 rating, providing protection against dust and light splashes.

Five days of playback on a single charge

Battery endurance is the key feature. Nothing claims the headphones can achieve up to 135 hours of playback with noise cancellation disabled, equating to around five days on one charge.

If the battery depletes, the quick-charge option comes to the rescue. A mere five minutes of charging provides roughly five hours of listening time, sufficient for a commute or workout.

Another notable design decision is that Nothing forwent the swipe touch panels commonly found on many popular headphones. Instead, the Headphone (a)