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News Byte

Twitter Adds Back Another Feature: Automated URL Shortening

in Social on June 7, 2011 at 4:39 pm PT

Twitter today introduced its own automatic link shortening for users of its Web site. Tweeted URLs will show up with ellipses so users know what Web site they link to. If I’m not mistaken, this is the second old feature the company has reintroduced lately, the last being an option to view Twitter from the perspective of another user’s account. In its early days, Twitter used to automatically shorten links using TinyURL, then Bit.ly, before releasing its redesigned #newtwitter Web site without built-in link shortening.

Bit.ly Inks Malware-Spotting Deals

in News on December 2, 2009 at 1:00 am PT

As popular as link-shortening services are, security experts have been warning users that they put themselves at risk of malware infection by using them, since a suspicious-looking Web address just becomes another Bit.ly or TinyURL link once it’s shortened.

Trying to Save the Web's Shortcuts

in News on November 25, 2009 at 12:00 am PT

The Internet Archive and more than 20 Web companies are banding together to preserve the historical records of the abbreviated Internet addresses that are passed around on services such as Twitter. Services such as Bit.ly and TinyURL allow consumers to convert a lengthy Web address into a miniaturized one. They have soared in popularity in recent years with the advent of Twitter, which limits users to 140 characters per post.

Birds of a Feather Twitter Together

in The Digital Solution on December 2, 2008 at 5:20 pm PT

If you’ve heard of Twitter but don’t exactly know what it is or how it works, you’re in good company. In the past two months a bunch of my friends, ranging in age from early 20s to late 30s, have asked me about Twitter–or Tweeter, as one person accidentally called it. To clear things up, I’ve put together a basic Twitter guide that explains how to use it, Twitter lingo, privacy options, mobile applications that can be used with the service and problems that it has.