14 DAY TRIAL // The social media market is one of the most crowded but it doesn't stop many from launching new products, most bound to fail. Any product that plans to survive will have to bring something new, and, more importantly, something that has actual value and usability and sets it apart from similar services. Redux, a new social entertainment and aggregation site, looks like it may have a chance with a unique feature for online video.
“We’re here to be your entertainment guide to the web, bringing you the best, personalized entertainment out there. And when I say ‘we’, I mean a whole community of users who are passionate about finding great entertainment. Whether it’s funny videos, sports highlights, TED talks, or dance music, we’re sure there are people who are as excited as you are about it on Redux,” the company's blog reads. “The new TV button at the top of your stream makes it easy to watch all the videos in your stream one after another – now you can sit back, relax, and let the web entertain you.”
On the face of it Redux does seem like a FriendFeed clone but a few features set it apart. One of the most important of them is the fact that the site has taken a page right out of Twitter's book with a content stream similar to the microbogging service coming in real time from either your friends or the channels you subscribe to. You can also choose to receive the most popular entries from all of the users.
The site works by allowing users to add URLs to content they want to share while Redux takes care of the rest, depending on the type of content shared. Rich media entries are embedded on the site so videos, for example, can be viewed on the spot. Other users can comment on any entry and share it on Facebook or Twitter. Nothing groundbreaking so far though there are a few tweaks and features lacking from similar sites.
But the one thing that sets the site apart is the new TV mode, which allows users to watch videos in full screen and in succession leading to a very immersive and addictive experience. The interface, though, still allows users to easily post comments or rate the video. The site is in private beta for now but should be launched publicly soon.