Guide Note

Propeller.com is a social news site which formed out of Netscape.com in 2007. Because of its similarity to another prominent social news site, Digg.com, Propeller is frequently referred to as a "Digg clone."¹ In July 2008, Propeller underwent a major redesign.

Fast Facts

1. Owned by Netscape/AOL
2. Was originally Netscape's homepage, which featured integrated social news utilities
3. Homepage renamed and launched as Propeller: September 19, 2007¹
4. Initial launch alienated the old Netscape community²
5. Major interface redesign launched on July 22, 2008³
6. Frequently compared to Digg.com¹

Propeller's July 22, 2008 site redesign implements significant changes to the site's interface. Major changes include:

1. Introduced a new cartoon-style mascot
2. Replaced voting system with an automated algorithm to determine which stories move up the list
3. Reduced the number of categories in which to submit stories
4. Popular headlines will appear on AOL News³