6683 0 3 econsultancy_xml <p>AOL only repositioned Netscape as a user-organised news site last summer, but it quickly became known as a sort of capitalist version of Digg. </p> <p>Shortly after it launched, a row ensued as to whether these sites should have a level of payment for users. Netscape had editors, and paid top contributors, while Digg offered no financial incentives to users.</p> <p>Outspoken boss Jason Calacanis then <a href="/blog/534-calacanis-resigns-after-aol-moves-to-oust-ceo">resigned</a> in November, seemingly upset at the firing of AOL chief executive Jonathan Miller.</p> <p>In a <a href="http://blog.netscape.com/2007/09/06/upcoming-netscape-changes">statement</a>, AOL said it had <em>“received some feedback that people really do associate the Netscape brand with providing mainstream news that is editorially controlled”.</em></p> <p>It added: </p> <blockquote> <p> <em>“In fact, we specifically heard that our users do have a desire for a social news experience, but simply didn't expect to find it on Netscape.com.</em> </p> <p> <em>“The decision to redirect the current <a href="http://www.netscape.aol.com">Netscape.com</a> site is based on that feedback and our desire to better serve our community.”</em> </p> </blockquote> <p>That user feedback started <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/technology/17netscape.html?ex=1310788800&amp;en=3a8bc636943247d2&amp;ei=5088&amp;partner=rssnyt&amp;emc=rss">a few hours after Netscape 2.0 was unveiled</a> last summer. What took them so long? </p> <p>Digg's Kevin Rose should be one of the happier people in the internet industry today...</p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph>AOL only repositioned Netscape as a user-organised news site last summer, but it quickly became known as a sort of capitalist version of Digg. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Shortly after it launched, a row ensued as to whether these sites should have a level of payment for users. Netscape had editors, and paid top contributors, while Digg offered no financial incentives to users.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Outspoken boss Jason Calacanis then <Link URL="/blog/534-calacanis-resigns-after-aol-moves-to-oust-ceo" Window="Self">resigned</Link> in November, seemingly upset at the firing of AOL chief executive Jonathan Miller.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>In a <Link URL="http://blog.netscape.com/2007/09/06/upcoming-netscape-changes" Window="Self">statement</Link>, AOL said it had <Quote>“received some feedback that people really do associate the Netscape brand with providing mainstream news that is editorially controlled”.</Quote></Paragraph> <Paragraph>It added: </Paragraph> <Block> <Paragraph> <Quote>“In fact, we specifically heard that our users do have a desire for a social news experience, but simply didn't expect to find it on Netscape.com.</Quote> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Quote>“The decision to redirect the current <Link URL="http://www.netscape.aol.com" Window="Self">Netscape.com</Link> site is based on that feedback and our desire to better serve our community.”</Quote> </Paragraph> </Block> <Paragraph>That user feedback started <Link URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/technology/17netscape.html?ex=1310788800&amp;en=3a8bc636943247d2&amp;ei=5088&amp;partner=rssnyt&amp;emc=rss" Window="Self">a few hours after Netscape 2.0 was unveiled</Link> last summer. What took them so long? </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Digg's Kevin Rose should be one of the happier people in the internet industry today...</Paragraph> </FormattedContent> 2007-09-07T11:13:00+01:00 0 1 econsultancy_xml <strong>AOL has admitted defeat with its Netscape.com social news venture but has announced plans to replace the Digg-rival with a similar site.</strong> <p>Netscape is now being refashoned as a ‘traditional’ news service - a move AOL said would allow it to fit in better with perceptions of the historic Netscape brand. </p> <p>Hmmm, doesn't sound quite right, does it? AOL must have had an inkling about this sort of thing 15 months ago, when it was preparing to relaunch Netscape as - give or take - a Digg clone.</p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Emphasis>AOL has admitted defeat with its Netscape.com social news venture but has announced plans to replace the Digg-rival with a similar site.</Emphasis> <Paragraph>Netscape is now being refashoned as a ‘traditional’ news service - a move AOL said would allow it to fit in better with perceptions of the historic Netscape brand. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Hmmm, doesn't sound quite right, does it? AOL must have had an inkling about this sort of thing 15 months ago, when it was preparing to relaunch Netscape as - give or take - a Digg clone.</Paragraph> </FormattedContent> false 1716 364177 AOL closes failed social news experiment false 2007-09-07T12:35:00+01:00 aol-closes-failed-social-news-experiment 2009-04-28T22:57:43+01:00 2009-04-28T22:57:43+01:00 129