11 posts and columns on username

News Byte

New Version of Twitter for Android

in News on February 10, 2011 at 2:35 pm PT

According to a post on Twitter’s Web site, six months ago, Twitter for Android didn’t rank among the top 10 Twitter apps. But usage has doubled in the last couple of months, and now it’s in the top five. Accordingly, the company is launching a new version of the Android app that looks and feels more like its other official apps and offers design improvements, along with username auto-completion and universal search.

How Adam Got @Adam and Became Cool Online

in News on January 19, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

All Rob Goldman ever wanted was to be himself. In the Silicon Valley start-up obsessed world he inhabits, that means being facebook.com/rob or @Rob on Twitter.

Amazon Recruits Developers for Super-Slick Android Appstore

in Commerce on January 5, 2011 at 11:56 am PT

Amazon today released preliminary plans for its Android Appstore, which will likely do a better job of merchandising and selling apps than Google has. Think of it as the equivalent of iTunes for Android.

Live from Facebook's Email Messages Launch

in Social on November 15, 2010 at 10:04 am PT

Facebook has called the press to yet another launch event, this time in San Francisco for a new Facebook email system. Luckily, they brought their own cafeteria chairs so our butts will feel right at home after a long summer of launches at the company’s Palo Alto, Calif., office.

Let the Navel-Gazing (and Grumping) About Vanity URLS Begin–Can Facebook Soothe the Savage Media?

in News on June 11, 2009 at 2:34 am PT

Exactly how is the introduction of vanity URLs on Facebook going to go? At 9:01 p.m. PDT on Friday, the giant Silicon Valley-based social-networking site will allow its 200 million members to log in and claim a friendlier username for part of their URLs instead of the long string of gibberish that is now there. But, because it is about people’s names and because it is certain to be chaotic in its execution, I think we can pretty much slap the moniker “URLgate” on this one and just call it a night.
coolpl8z_lol-failjpg

What’s in a New Facebook Username?

in News on June 10, 2009 at 12:10 pm PT

This Saturday, Facebook users get to replace the string of numbers Facebook has assigned them as a profile name with a personalized URL based on their real name, or another alias they choose. This means Facebook users can find each other by remembering the address of a profile–tough to do currently, since profiles are currently in a format like www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=12345678. If users have opted to make their profiles public, anyone could get to them by typing in the new URLs too.

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.

Social-Networking Software Becomes Neighborly

in The Digital Solution on August 5, 2008 at 2:32 pm PT

We tested Meebo, Adium and Digsby, free instant-messaging programs that work by being a one-stop shop for online communication. All three are straightforward and work without much effort or instruction.

Two Ways to Keep Track of Your Travel Plans

in The Digital Solution on February 27, 2008 at 12:01 am PT

Two new Web sites — a virtual schedule assistant and a travel social-networking site — help make your trip reservations more useful and accessible.

Phoning Home Without a Phone

in The Digital Solution on January 30, 2008 at 12:01 am PT

The SPOT Satellite Messenger gives outdoor thrill seekers a little extra insurance: It lets the folks back home track their progress, and learn when they’re OK or when they’re in trouble. However, the device isn’t perfect.