We’ve covered Reddit quite a few times here on MakeUseOf with articles that explain how it works and what you should be reading on it. However, since it’s a constantly updating site, it seems like the only way to stay on top of things is by F5-ing every other second. But really, who would want to do that?
Fortunately, the Reddit-related site Erqqvg has created a nifty little real-time visual Reddit updater that goes by the name of Vizeddit. It’s a fresh take on the original site, and although it’s not something that is designed to be used it all the time, it’s a nice find. Is it cool? Absolutely. Is it functional? Actually… yes.
Sleek And Sexy Design
From the get-go, Vizeddit presents the top 25 links of Reddit on its front page. Each link is represented by a multicolored column, so it’s simple and easy enough to distinguish between each piece of content. However, the question that needs to be asked is, “What does it do?”
You’ll notice that for each column, plus-signs and minus-signs will come streaming down, falling on top of the colored bars. If a green plus-sign hits a bar, it rises. If a red minus-sign hits it, then (quite naturally) it shrinks. Easy enough to understand, right? Each plus and minus sign represents the upvotes or downvotes that the link receives, and ultimately, the website serves as a means of understanding what’s hot and what’s not on Reddit. Basically, consider it Reddit 2.0.
The site utilizes Reddit’s API to consistently update these colored bars to go up or down based on the content. Along with this information, randomly selected comments will drop down (Tetris-style) so that you can take a gander at what’s happening in the motherland. Also, after clicking on the bars themselves, you will be given the option to actually go to the links and see the voting ratios.
Functionality
Trust me, I wouldn’t share Vizreddit with you if it was just a pretty face. The site has a variety of functional uses that you can take advantage of everyday, and although some could possibly need a little imagination, it’s still a way to make use of it. Here are a couple of examples concerning the functionality of Vizreddit.
For instance, since Reddit is a major content aggregator, you can actually use Vizreddit to find out what exactly the hottest topics are currently in the world. Much like Twitter hashtags, this simply can call your attention to what’s fresh. For instance, post #3 on Reddit may be a cute picture of a cat, but post #21 may show off a recent uprising in a foreign country. Although post #3 remains in a higher slot, using Vizreddit, you could actually see the more rapid pace of voting occurring and realize that something may be up with post #21.
Besides that, this is is just a simpler way of viewing Reddit in real time. Instead of looking at the dull text design of the site itself (that I hope never changes), you can dive into a cooler way to read up on things. Honestly, it’s just like viewing the original Reddit. The only catch is that you can’t scroll through all the links – only the top 25 are available.
Conclusion
I believe Vizreddit is an excellent tool to supplement your Reddit experience. That is, of course, if you use Reddit as your primary funnel for information. However, you shouldn’t use it as a standalone site (that’s not what it is), and beyond that, it does have a little bit of a novelty feel. However, it still works.
What other Reddit-related sites do you like to use? How has Vizreddit helped you?
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