Image Source

Finally, the world has something to tweet about. Yes, for all those individuals that have been hard on twitter features, the latest introduction on this popular social network will give you something to be happy about. The photo feature on Twitter gets an upgrade. By uploading photos through Twitters new uploading tool, users can feature their photos in their user gallery. Users can also use Instagram, TwitPic, yFrog or other third party photo sharing platforms to post photos. Twitter is going to dish out user galleries to members in a few days. Twitter users have complained in the past and continue to be expressive with their tweets in regard with the monotony of twitter features. Twitter seems to have taken heed to the descriptive tweets and finally give something meaningful to its users.

A user will be able to display 100 images recently tweeted through third party photo sharing platforms affiliated with Twitter. Galleries will be exhibited on a users profile showcasing a few recent images. A visitor can opt to click ‘view all’ button to see all the photos of the user. Visitors can view photos in ‘grid view that consist of thumbnail images or choose ‘detail view’ that exhibits the text shared along with the most recent image. Although opinion is divided among Twitter users, many believe the new look twitter will attract a new breed of followers. It’s not a known fact that social networks that use images are popular among users. Keeping this in mind it’s safe to say that the new updates on Twitter are designed to encourage relentless twitter users that seldom use photos, to be a part of the experience.

Will Third party application developers be affected?

Although twitter and third party application developers have benefited significantly from each other in the past, whether the latest update introduction to satisfy twitter users goes well with third party affiliates remains to be seen. With the new image gallery and the photo application feature, Twitter ensures that users do not have to view others user images from third party sources, but can remain in the realms of twitter to view photos in other user’s profiles. Although the new image gallery feature will go down well with twitter users, the intention to retain traffic on twitter by sidelining third party application developers that have been instrumental in Twitters success is being speculated as a move that may hamper business relations.

Will Image Galleries make a difference?

With the introduction of the image galleries feature, Twitter is not only allowing its users to explore and use the site further, but also making it known to its critics that there’s more to Twitter than just 140 characters, there’s also image galleries. Although the initial manic frenzy about the introduction of user galleries among Twitter enthusiasts is evident, its safe to say that only time will tell if this planned move makes a difference in attracting a larger number of users. One thing’s for sure, individuals that love to view galleries are going to have a ball of a time, let’s just hope its Twitter galleries.

The Social Networking arena has gone from just reaching out to people, to providing information about jobs, passing on information about events, recommending of products and even finding the right professionals for the job. There have been major changes from when people used to just connect using emails and then MySpace to the now more emerging and widely integrated social networking options. With more and more people connecting to the Internet, and more of the current online population also using the Social networking websites, there is a room for growth for all the major networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Orkut and the recently launched Google+.

Are Twitter and LinkedIn Growing?

Both Twitter and LinkedIn, with their support for small messages and professional reaching out capabilities respectively are expected to grow further, but the growth is expected to be limited from the fact that they have already reached out to most of their target audience in the US. While Twitter is expected to add another 3% of the US population, LinkedIn is also expected to have an increase of 2% and these developments will make both the Companies cross 20%.

Google+, Is It Really Growing?

While Google+, the latest among the various social networking solutions that Google released is relatively new, the Company boasts of an extremely high penetration worldwide. In fact, according to a report from Bloomberg, Google already revealed that it has reached out to more than 13% of the US adults so far, and it is expected to cover more than 22% over the next year, which would make it surpass both Twitter and LinkedIn, thus making it the #2 social media network after Facebook.

At its end, with the new features like Circles, which allows the users to limit the information they want to share with people at each level, extremely easy to use, drag and drop interface, support for video-chat and the brand name of Google, the Google+ is adding tons of new users every day. Apart from this, Google has also integrated the “+1” and other features seamlessly with Gmail, Google search engine and all its other pages, which make Google Plus extremely useful.

What About Facebook?

However, the Bloomberg and YouGov polls seem to suggest that while Google+ provides a lot of features, it is still not a threat to Facebook. Their study, which used a sample of 1000 adults to get the information, found that Facebook is not under much of a threat. While Facebook’s reach is expected to reduce from 71 to 69% among the US adults and 30% of the users who make use of both the services mentioned that they would reduce their usage time of Facebook, almost 31% Google+ users mentioned that they haven’t really used their account after the sign up.

Based on the findings of this report, and the overall behavior of the people, it seems that while Google+ may have more potential than Google’s previous endeavors like Orkut, Wave and Buzz, and will also soon make it overtake Twitter and LinkedIn, the Social Networking market is still expected to be largely dominated by Facebook.

Image Source

Twitter introduces simple way to flag links that’s yet to be functional

Within tweets, a way to flag links has been added by Twitter. In the streaming API in Twitter, a field that is new is now displayed whenever a link is part of the tweet. This has given users of Twitter, an option of being warned that the links that are going to click on could be very sensitive for the work place you are at, and also tender for the senses. Developers are already being informed by Twitter that the latest feature being added is not yet in function yet but can be celebrated all the same.

However, the addition made is in the phase of testing. Representatives of Twitter indicate that in the future more fields as well as methods of API’s will be added as part of a huge ‘monitor’ family. These will be provided for handling content that could be sensitive and media settings for end users. As per indications from the company’s representatives, Twitter shows no intention of getting material censored. However according to the media policy document of Twitter, certain medical procedures, nudity as well as violence which are considered very sensitive will be blocked by the company.

Read policy document on Twitter link flagging

Representatives of the company have also made an announcement that individuals curious about the capabilities of the feature would be able to read the policy document. For many tweeters this kind of a feature seems to be one that is overdue for long. Users now have the capability of controlling different kinds of content that the children can be saved from. Children can now be allowed to use Twitter without having any kind of fear or the anticipation of any kind of unpleasant surprise when an inappropriate link has been clicked on.

Parental control solution for your teens who tweet

Children need to be provided with guidelines about what they are allowed to have access to and about online content that goes unmonitored. Most parents wouldn’t even want to allow teenagers to have access to unmonitored content. It is the responsibility of parents to keep control on the kind of content their children or teenagers view online. It must be noted that not on all resources, the available content is regulated. Websites can be built by everyone and videos, text as well as photos can be uploaded by almost anyone. Parental control solution is the best thing to ensure that kids do not get exposed to content that is harmful, besides activities as well as videos.

The necessary tools can be used as part of the software application for getting the content on the internet controlled. By nature children are curious and will explore anything that they can access. Systems for parental control on twitter are now completely tamper proof and can be tapped into for potential on the internet. By doing this, dangerous and harmful content can be blocked in an effective manner. When the system installed, children can surf the internet and be a part of a safe virtual environment. The software also provides tools for managing time and limiting the online time used.

Image Source

Do you remember Google’s ‘Realtime Search’ application? Well, for Twitter diehard fans the result is disappointing with the application going temporarily defunct. Realtime Search was a company-lauded index that dedicatedly featured tweets and updates, but is no more operational. The option no more features on the sidebar of the search results. Instead your headhunt ends in a 404 error page. The suspension of this application is the result of the end-of-contract between Google and Twitter on July 2, 2011. The search application that allowed instant access to a full feed of Twitter public updates is no more.

Industry info makes its way from Google to Search Engine Land revisits the original Twitter agreement dated to October 2009. The deal was that even through Google did not have direct access to Twitter feeds, the crawlers could make available to Google users public information on Twitter based on what crawlers picked up. Such searchable info was featured on the Realtime Search application. Discoverable on Google, the feeds brought in renewed interest from users of both platforms.

Google+ and other web resources being favored for real time search

According to the agreement, Google envisioned empowering users with google.com/realtime for Google+ information, besides dedicated Realtime data that was sourced from a variety of web resources. The talk in the industry includes a version whereby Google is supposedly negotiating with Twitter. The talks are for an extension via a completely reworked Google Realtime product in the making. According to a Twitter spokesperson, the service options worked out with Google since October 2009 stands ‘expired’, and with no more access by Google to twitter’s stream of tweets made public.

Google+ most likely to replace real-time sidebar

Twitter continues to empower Microsoft, Yahoo!, Yahoo! Japan, NTT Docomo, and a myriad of developers with similar access. The spokesperson also made a claim to be working with Google in other avenues. Is Google + to blame here? The Twitter like social networking forum has been in the news forefront for a while now. A quick look at the path-that-was reveals that Google Realtime Search began with Twitter search results before spanning the spectrum of shared feeds with Yahoo Answers, MySpace updates, a number of news articles and updates on a Facebook Page.

This was also the time when social services like Gowalla and Quora made it to the news. Later added, these platforms are expected to continue to exist. There is nothing to hide in the fact that Twitter and Google+ will remain at loggerheads for the same services provided at a time when users across the bar are willing to experiment. The launch of Google+ seems much to be called off as mere coincidence, right?

Taking on the power of a giant like Google is not going to be easy and Google + provides much to be desired for yet; but nevertheless, fans and the users of both forums do look forward to an amicable rejuvenation of the agreement. Google and Twitter Realtime Search was an option that added value to both web giants. Adopting the sudden absence of the app in the menu sidebar is going to take time to sink in.

Image Source

When Facebook spoke about social networking for the first time, the effect on the masses was pretty much the same as was the first mention of the spherical shape of the earth or the released pictures of Earth from space. Connecting through the World Wide Web as an exciting proposition not only unleashed connections shrinking the real world to a global village, a response that was overwhelming. Today social networking is a way of life. Facebook friends are now crossing the 700-million marker, connecting every region on the planet.

Imagine charting or mapping this and adding onto it the number of Twitter users. All of the more than 300 million Twitter addicts make a grand total of social networking stats rest at a billion in accounts, and the number is growing by the second. Each account has a number of followers and this is how the web connects. Even though only 5,000 can follow you on Facebook, Twitter is limitless and growing. If all these threads are joined, you have the fabric of web life all woven and cut to fit.

The growing services, now joined by Google +, are generating similarly styled thoughts, global consciousness and an awareness towards the digital tribalism throbbing and alive, no matter what people say. This is the social network era and it is here to stay a long, long time. Social networking sites are now products of good networking software. The ingrained strengths like RSS feeds, live chat forums and message boards among a host of other applications make the rostrums very powerful connectors.

Social networking and connectivity management

Upscale social networking applications on any one of these sites offer complete control over features, customization and content. Connectivity management is now on a new high with the versatility of flash profile, picture sharing, music, videos and video chat, instant messenger, endless blogging, gaming and many other upswing trendy connection-centric mediums. Applications on these sites give each one of them a unique physical appearance, attitude and charisma.

Facebook, Google + and Twitter boost social community networking

They can further be themed by users with fonts and colors to suit individual styles and layout designs. People are doing more than connect with contact information over these sites. Facebook, Google + and Twitter among many other social networking platforms allow you to share and generate a ripple of awareness that is overwhelming like in the case of what happened when Japan was struck with disaster and the world response to terrorism. Social community networking will never generate a sense of utopia for the simple reason that it is a way of life today, living, pulsating with life and doing for humankind what no other rostrum could ever do.

It has enabled even the novice to easily breakaway from the setbacks of real time connectivity, to traverse the web in seconds. From personal to more commercial platforms, social networking addresses traditional methods of making friends, marketing, advertising and simply reaching out more in a versatile and wireless arena. The realm is independent of personal restraint and links the human chain more effectively.

Image source

Here’s news for all tweet-a-holics out there. New Twitter has made a bold entry and claim, nine months after launch, to completely oust the older version. ‘The new will persist and replace’ is not something Twitter users are not prepared for; but this rather urgent shift came as a surprise to many. Twitter users were being consistently asked by the social networking site to switch over to the newer and trendier version  but the upgrade is now a thrust and no more a request. With the message changed and more urgent, users are now guaranteed an automatic upgrade to New Twitter.

This declaration right on top of the old Twitter screen, highlighted in yellow is an alert and a pointer to the ‘very, very soon’ bit. The makeover could take days or even a fortnight or more and the Twitter flip is inevitable, however, user reactions are mixed. With Twitter all geared to eliminate the older social networking interface design, the new version is not something everybody is willing to take to. From responses and reactions on record, it is clear to see the lobby complaining about the change, though the complainants lobby is not as big as compared to the number of global Twitter users.

Twitter users don’t expect “Oops something went wrong! Try your tweet again later”

Twitter flaunts more than 100 million in figures now and most seem snug and are awaiting this permanent switch to an upswing design. The social media company has been working on the project since the last nine months and now finally makes the clarion call to shift to the new interface. Among the many glitches complained about by users is the technical snag around the decision to revert due to a bad code that hit New Twitter users for a number of good tweeting hours. Responses to generated queries like – Should the old Twitter really go, are pouring in with mixed emotion.

Comments encouraged on the social networking site display an array of amusement, anticipation, anxiety and love for what most users were really comfortable with for a long time. Quite an audience is ok with the shift on condition that the new twitter should guarantee a 100% tweeting time, instead of the ‘Oops something went wrong! Try your tweet again later!’ message that used to flash on the screen of the older version. This is ‘very annoying’ according to a lobby and they are waiting to check out the versatility of the new design interface.

Twitter users geared up for a new Tweet experience

On the whole, many Twitter enthusiasts are awaiting the shift and actually expected it to take place much earlier. The ‘pros’ target the ‘no’s’ with the declaration that users really had enough of time on hand to comprehend and get geared for the shift. On the flip side there are claims of the newer version actually bogging down browser(s) and hence the love for the ‘old is gold’ stance. Those few who are rallying for the older version to stick around are also of mixed feelings on the fact that the site interface really needed a 21st century 2011 upgrade.

Image Source

The social networking scenario is witnessing a contraction of connectivity and ideas. Rapid increase in global access to information and upscale technology has made a rostrum like Twitter home to the crème de la crème and post-for-fun segments of the online world. However, access to information and messages sent online is now under scrutiny. Just like it does not take any time at all to connect with people, similarly, engineering breaches take no time at all to go live and call for attention.Tweeting has something new to deal with. The World Wide Web is abuzz with the declaration made by a Dutch developer about a breach in Twitter’s API. This publicized statement has spotlighted a possible authorization access lapse on a rostrum that is being explored around the world. The claim is that even those developers who engineer the OAuth authentication supported app that otherwise requires no access to direct messages from end users are able to access them anyway.

Breach in the system regarding OAuth authentication

The flip side of the research conducted reveals that developers believe the hole or breach in the system is not so much in the access or authentication process, but rather the monitor or screen accessed by users see during the process of granting apps. The inaccuracy according to the developers interviewed was the inaccurate access mode. Twitter’s approach is towards transitioning of the authentication model. This is done with the intent of giving patrons additional control over dedicated info shared with applications that are third party in nature.

Developers are given and additional timeframe to reconfigure applications to custom-fit the new rostrum thus created. The text is being updated in the permissions screen to clearly demarcate the access or in-access of information applications during transition. Granular changes have been announced for account access, but info from direct messages can be accessed by third-party apps.

What can we expect in terms of changes from Twitter regarding App permissions

June 30, 2011 seems to be the Day of Judgment for tweeters and till then, apps can access messages. The app authorization flash is supposed to be the root cause of the malady. Research reveals that the problem is not one of security, but rather it lies in user perception and the new Twitter endeavor is to streamline and align perceptions properly. The result is that users of the rostrum are now open to access of direct messages until June 30. The request for more basic information can only be accessed thereafter. The situation needs to b understood well for users to safeguard their individual interests. This social networking platform is very popular and is widely accessed through the course of each passing moment.

Nevertheless, the protocol is now one of action to counter the possible breach, perception or no perception. Whether or not June 30, 2011, will be decision day for tweeters is left to be seen. What matters more is the impact of the breach on networking strands. Getting online and connecting is a way of life today, and issues pertaining to security lapses will prevail…but the versatility of rostrums like Twitter challenge such claims with upgrades that are upscale and a fortnight away.

Image Source

Twitter is a chosen medium by many to shares links and likes because this short and sweet social media channel makes it easy to say things minus the fluff. However, up until now the one thing that has disappointed users slightly is the inability to shares photos and videos in an easy manner directly via Twitter. What users have had to use in fact has been third party services like Yfrog and Twitpic. Finally, users have something to look forward to in terms of sharing pictures and videos via Twitter since they’ve launched their own service this week.

Photos and video sharing on Twitter to be a Twitter.com feature from henceforth

CEO, Dick Costolo mentioned at the D9 Conference that Twitter would offer a photosharing experience that would be made available to all users over the subsequent weeks. This ensures that user’s videos and photos would directly be connected to tweets. As such, Twitter users needn’t leave the site to view or share albums or video links. This makes Twitter.com a stop shop now. In fact, to make things interesting the sharing portal will introduce a new homepage section that surfaces popular tweets, and videos.

An official Twitter blog post by creator, Jack Dorsey supports the notion that those who use Twitter on the smartphones can also add videos and photos from their apps. Those without smartphones can send photos in a message, namely a MMS. Photobucket has been selected as Twitter’s tech partner in this new photosharing endeavor.  This bit of information will be hard to miss considering that photos on Twitter would bear a ‘powered by Photobucket’ tag. This will act as a link to a page that allows Twitter account holders to further edit photos, share an image they want to, and even save photos on Photobucket.
Users may recall that previously photosharing on Twitpic threw up an important question regarding copyright on photos because they were ambiguous regarding copyright regulations. When Dick Costolo was asked whether Twitter would own copyright on photos shared the crisp answer that users would own rights to their own photos on Twitter made things clearer. Twitter’s in house photosharing feature comes as no surprise as Twitter has been making moves to curb dependency on third party services, and this swa he company recently buyout Tweetdeck too.

Twitter not just a 140 character statement but a photo and video sharing stream too

Now, your search on Twitter or a peek at trending topics won’t just lead you to what people have to say but will show you related albums and pictures. Your photo stream on Twitter would be easy to find and share, and would instill confidence in users to engage in more sharing since copyright issues don’t pose a problem any longer, and now you know for sure who’s in charge rather than reluctantly accept a third party service. If you don’t see the service active yet, it’s only a matter of time until you can start using it since the Twitter photo and video sharing service is very new. To get a sneak peak at what this really means, feel free to explore popular twitter profiles and recent trends.

Social media channels can be used for personal growth

Social media is viewed upon with great interest the world over because of its potential, and dynamic nature, wherein, it could skyrocket a certain issue in less than no time. The world is tuned into social media channels, and this popular trend can in fact actually benefit those who sign in. On a broader spectrum, the advantages of online activity can be tapped into. As such, online games, and social media channels which are already popular pastimes, and do away with boredom can easily be used to impart knowledge.

Not everything needed for life on the outside is part of every school curriculum, and this is where social media and online games can be used to bridge the gap, and impart knowledge. This may include the need t look into aspects like teamwork, leadership, time management, and creative problem solving. Such skills will in turn ready youngsters, adolescents, and teens to prepare for college, and in general world on the outside. It brings us back the need for exploring more and readying youngsters to face the world rather than simply be dependent on bookish knowledge that leaves many clueless when placed in a new environment.

The transition from a structured classroom environment to that of a busy college life isn’t easy to fit into, and preparing our kids with certain skills would certainly make the shift a lot easier, and less taxing. It’s not to be mistaken that playing games alone can help kids prepare for the outside world, but the idea is to understand how teens approach certain games that place them in unfamiliar territory. The psychology behind the decisions they take in solving a problem or moving to the next level of a game is what holds the key to help them cope outside, and once this is understood, it can be used to better their chances in the real world.

Power of status updates on social media

The need to update a status message today is very real, and when teens find their friends involved, and a flurry of comments, this becomes a bigger realty. This positive environment can be used in regards to academic goals too. These closed networks help youngsters reach out, and empowers them to o better or solve any niggling problem, so, it could be used to pursue academic goals, and step up simply by reaching out, a little appreciation, peer participation, and on a basic level getting out of the closet if educational goals are haunting a youngster.

Learning for life through strategy games and logical reference

Games may seem very fancy with the brilliant designs and characters that enjoy screen space, but at the onset it’s a very mathematical problem that’s’ been converted to make something archaic very interesting. Whether its strategy, team work or time management, games can teach a lot, and even winning and losing can help one be more motivated simply because everyone wants to be atop the leadership board. Games that require logic, reference, and skill can keep students interested long enough to actually look for solutions.

Image Source

There is no denying that social media today is an integral part of communication. This communication need not be limited to people you know, and expands beyond the realm of imagination in certain instances. Not everybody today hires an SEO expert to attain success in the online world because most website or blog owners know a thing or two about free online advertisement. There are times you may come across a great article but you notice it hasn’t been shared as much as it deserves. This can primarily be because the article though interesting, may not be a topic that interests everyone.

Your article title can to a certain degree determine whether or not the feeds are picked up by potential readers. If you depended on a title that says ‘Bajau Laut at sea’ it would seem a rather ambiguous title for many. This because though it’s a matter of grave concern not everyone understands what you’re talking about. However, if your title read, ‘Save corals at sea and Bajau Laut’, people would instantly at least get an idea of what your article talks about.

Sharing online content via Facebook

Sharing your bog posts and articles on your Facebook wall is always a great idea but it doesn’t guarantee results because the basic idea of sharing with friends becomes a limited idea. Yes, some f the information you pass on maybe shared by friends, and then friends of friends, but even then your shared content cold die a quick death. The key to your success in most cases lies with appealing to strangers, and getting more readers to catch on.
Remember your article will never be read by every online visitor, and many will just let it pass. The key to success is to make sure you get a vast majority to take interest.

Online success by sending out a well thought of tweet

A single good article can work wonders for you and get you a host of followers on your twitter stream. You must be attentive about how much you say on your short twitter stream. It’s all about the right message, so start out with a bang. If you can attract a few tweeter followers, and they retweet your message, it goes a long way based on the number of sharing channels they open up. There is no harm in sharing your content over and over again for a while so long as you don’t fool already existing followers. Make sure you mention it’s a rerun when sharing it as a tweet again.

Let your voice be heard through online sharing channels

Always go back and check your shared short url because you don’t want to waste your time sharing a faulty url. It’s simply a dud bomb, and can irritate potential readers. The need to tweet becomes necessary for any website content that needs to be shared or any message sent across. It’s a great way to get out there, and try to reach more people directly rather than just depending on effective use of keywords for SEO success. Make sure your tweet widget is visible and self explanatory because it’s surprising how many people are willing to promote an article that interests them. Today, everyone wants to be heard, so make use of public interest.