Posts Tagged → social netorking
Improved Facebook
You know how I like all the new gadgets and toys that come out these days. I have been a Facebook user for a long time and I have enjoyed it for the most part. It looks like they have changed the look where it has a lot of the Friendfeed features that I really like. This new look does not appear to be automatic as I had to click on a link at the top to “try” the new version. One thing that I have always loved about Friendfeed is having the ability to aggregate all my social networking tools into one interface. Secondly I loved being able to post responses to them right on Friendfeed even if their original post was on Flickr, or Twitter.
It looks like Facebook has added these features into its interface as well and I really like it. Now someone can post on practically any social networking page and I can read it right on my Facebook feed. I can respond to it on Facebook’s feed as well and I really like that. On Facebook I can view it on my cell phone while I have not been able to do that on Friendfeed. So far it seems to be pretty glitch free so I am really enjoying it. There is one thing that still bothers me about Facebook and that is their lack of short messaging system (SMS), or text messaging support for T-Mobile. As an eight year T-Mobile customer, I tend to be loyal to them. I cannot complain too much because Friendfeed does not have SMS capability at all.
My Facebook usage had tapered off for a while but with this change and new look, I am back in there. If you have not tried the new look, you should give it a try. If you are a Myspace user, then you probably still will not like it. I have never been a fan of Myspace and it is hard for me to pin point exactly what it is about them that I just do not like. It almost seems like they are all clutter. Another thing that I do not like about them is that every time you log in, they force some teenage girl wearing very revealing clothes in your face. I am sure this is done on purpose and it really bothers me. Since all opinions are subjective by nature, I am sure the very thing that I do not like about Myspace is what attracts others to them so with that I will let that issue go. Again, if you like Friendfeed you will likely find the new Facebook fun to use so give it a try.
Technorati Tags: Facebook,Myspace,Friendfeed,social networking
Death of Email? No Way!
I have seen several articles around the net the last couple of days such as Slate, Thomas Hawk, Peter Haus, John Murrell, and Eric Gonzolez posting about the end of email. These articles either agree or disagree with the fact that children are abandoning email for social networking sites. Many make the argument and even advocate that email will and should fade away because of spam being out of control. They argue that because most email people get are spam and just take too long to go through. The position that many kids today do not even check their email being evidence of email’s demise may be compelling but I think it misses the point that kids do eventually grow up.
I have to agree that my own kids never check their email. They would prefer to send messages back and forth via MySpace. I often choose to use Facebook myself over email. Despite this truth, I understand that as an early adopter I like to jump to the newest toy of the day. I just love it when new ways to communicate are invented. I have a MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, Twitter, Vox, Wordpress, and a whole host of other accounts. I am always jumping to the newest toy. I think most people in the United States are like this. That is why Wal-Mart continuously builds bigger stores. Here in Oklahoma City, we have had Wal-Mart for years. Nevertheless, Wal-Mart continuously closes their stores and builds newer, and bigger stores.
I work on an Air Force Base and have to deal with the fact that I cannot access any social networking sites, or webmail accounts. At work I am unable to access Zooomr, or Flickr or any other photo sharing sites. I am unable to access any instant messenger sites either. The bottom line being that the only way you can access the outside world is to use the base email. For security reasons most people can understand this control.
Secondly my kids will not use instant messaging either, opting to send messages via MySpace. At some point they are going to need to send files to each other. If they do not use an instant messaging program, they will most likely choose email I do believe that email will continue to be a necessity. While the above articles make some valid points that are compelling, I do think the predictions of emails failure are missing the point that many corporations, government agencies will not allow their trade secrets to be traded over a third party social networking site. With this in mind I will have to respectfully disagree. Email is likely to be around for a long time.
Technorati Tags: email , social networking , myspace , facebook , xanga , twitter , flickr , zooomr , walmart , wordpress , vox , Thomas Hawk , Peter Haus , John Murrell , Eric Gonzolez