Google Friend Connect Down; Shows Blank Box

Google Friend Connect Down as of June 9th, 2011

Google Friend Connect Widget Disappears!

Google Friend Connect has been down since May 26th. No official word when the service will go back up. Although there has been questions as to if WordPress 3.13 update knocked the widget offline, we can verify that this service is offline across all blog platforms including Blogger.

For example, by signing into the admin area for Google Friend Connect, all widgets show an empty box. There are still many reports of users experiencing the problem through Twitter and Google Support Forums.

When AOL splits, Where do we end up?

The Great Divide

Time Warner plans to split AOL into two factions, an advertisement unit and a dial-up unit. The plan will be to sell off each unit to potential buyers.

Dial-up users do not make up the majority on AOL so giving them away won’t be such a big deal. Plus this means that AOL will finally have no use for India call centers, although they still might work as online tech support.

The advertising unit also known as Platform A, accounts for the whole AOL community, but mainly focuses on Ad.com. Platform A consists of tons of websites and brands all across the internet. Its a very lucrative spot to potential buyers as they will have ad spots in tons of areas including the massive AIM user base.

I am a Dial-up User, Where do I go?

Earthlink has been in talks to take over dial-up subscribers. I believe dial-up users will be switched over to an entirely new Earthlink email address, Their AOL account will automatically be switched over to free and they will be encouraged to use both emails. This is just purely speculation.

I am a Broadband User, Where do I go?

As for the advertisement unit, it looks like we’ll end up joining Microsoft or Yahoo, or hopefully someone else who wants to step up to the plate.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The most interesting part of this merger is the drama between each of the major companies. Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft are battling it out to gain the largest footprint over internet advertisement revenue. If AOL merges with Yahoo, Microsoft gets upset. If AOL merges with Microsoft, Google gets upset. Added to this problem includes the recent deal Yahoo and Google are making to share advertisement plans. Microsoft isn’t so happy about that either and wants the decision blocked. I’m hoping neither of these companies buy AOL. As you can see its already a tangled mess. Joining forces with AOL will only complicate matters.

If Microsoft or Yahoo does indeed buy AOL, interoperability will finally be on the table. Whoever buys AOL will now have to integrate all AOL screennames together with the buyer’s IM service. For the first time we may finally have AIM with the ability to add Microsoft and Yahoo subscribers to the buddy list. I know many have have been clamoring for that.

The other great feature is advertisement revenue. Now Yahoo or Microsoft will have an even larger audience to host advertisements, including non-AOL owned websites that Ad.com serves.

The Buzz Around the Internets

There seems to be no agreement as to who should buy AOL. One thought is that If Microsoft buys AOL, it could allow Yahoo to prove themselves to investors that they can run independent of Microsoft. Another speculates that AOL won’t be able to save the Microsoft brand. We may find ourselves watching the same thing happen years from now when Microsoft announces it will try to sell off AOL.

During this battle, users are always the victims. If I were to choose a company that could attempt to save the AOL community to bring them back together, I would choose Yahoo. Yahoo has proven its expertise in this aspect with sites such as Yahoo Groups and Yahoo Answers.

What do you think will happen to AOL?

Post a comment on your ideas and thoughts as to what might happen to AOL. You’ll have to wait until 2009 its announced what plans AOL will be forced to make.

Myspace makes Mail Searchable with Google Gears

Google Gears, the service that uses your desktop to power features that would naturally be handled by the web, has now announced its first major deployment. With Google Gears, Myspace now allows searchable mail. Now with that being established, we’d like to see offline viewing of mail,  offline viewing of your friends list, and maybe even offline editing of your profile.

Gmail Custom Time: Google’s April Fools Joke.

Every year Google releases yet another April Fools joke, professionally done to the point where it seems quite useful until you read more into it. Last year’s joke was set on creating broadband internet through toilets coincidentally during the height of the FCC wireless auction.

This year’s theme is sending email back through time. Your only limited to 10 emails per user. Unfortunately they did not add this button on the compose mail page making this joke a mere failure.

Now if only the subject heading said “Happy Wedding Anniversary”

Suggestions for Google Talk Chat Widget

Google released a little web application called Google Talk Chatback Badge, where can chat with everyone who visits your website. Google hasn’t added any robust new features against its current competition. We might as well call it the Charlie Brown of chat widgets. Unlike MeeboMe, and Aim Wimzi, you have to click on it in order to initiate a chat session, and there are tons of useful features left out to give that could give this Plain Jane a boost. Its only shining quality is how neat and tidy it looks with the rest of your site.

Color Schemes

It could use some colors. white and blue reminds me of the old days of the web. At least the quote bubble is curvy.

Flash Embed Option

It needs a Flash version. iFrames are too exploitable, and I’d even advocate for web browsers to ask whether to load content in an IFrame just to reduce javascript attacks by a considerable amount. Since its iFrame, there is no anyway to put this on your Myspace page, so people please don’t ask about it.

Badge Saving For Later Use

Currently, it just generates a code everytime you visit the page, which defaults to your real first and last name, or whatever name you set up in your Google Account. If you had previously set up a nickname, it will get lost if you need it again for whatever reason. You’ll have to retype the nickname again to generate the code.

Guest Names For Each Person

Guests should be able to set their nickname and each Guest should be assigned a unique number. Currently all Guests respond as Guest, making it confusing at times.

Thats about it. Knowing Google, these suggestions, if they do consider them, will get added quietly.

Use AIM in GMail

Today, Gmail released their first integration with AIM. You can sign into your screen name and it will display your most popular contacts. Gmail will automatically store all conversations so you’ll never lose any logs, it also supports friendly names. That’s all there is to it. Its not something spectacular but at least they did something.. and this took over a year to do.. Still there is no way to contact Gmail users using Aim 6.5, and there hasn’t been any news on the plan to completely integrate AIM with Gmail. In unrelated news, AOL plans to roll out a brand new update to their message board system. Almost daily, AOL’s message board system receives very critical responses about their lack of features and their use of annoying advertisements. 

Adsense introduces Manage Ads; Referrals still Prehistoric

Adsense added a new feature to their advertisement platform that now allows you to set up an ad template. You can change the colors, the corners, and the format (text and images) while still at the site. What it does not do is allow you to change the size of the ad, you’ll have to create a new ad template each time you want a new size. This is great and all, but the referral ad platform needs some serious work. One of the most annoying things about Adsense Referrals is the inability to save a bunch of ads into one unit. Each time you add or subtract your ad, you get a brand new code and will have to paste the code to your template each time. I can easily do this in Commission Junction and take out any ads without repasting the code. Referalls also do not have the curved corners, so the ads look pretty cramped trying to fit inside the block. 

What public figure’s retirement did german bishop karl lehmann dare to suggest in 2000?

what public figure’s retirement did german bishop karl lehmann dare to suggest in 2000?

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Google Hot Trends! Weird Results?!

Google Hot Trends has made its debut onto the internets. Specifically this service like many others out there is to show what most people have been searching throughout the day. Is it just me or is there some kind of hidden quiz show buried under all the results.

Lets Play the Google Hot Trends Quiz Show!

Question 1: What part of the graduate’s costume gave the Cordon Bleu Cooking School its name.

Answer: It was named after the "Blue Ribbon" that hung from the Cross of the Holy Spirit! Graduates would wear a blue ribbon signifying their completion of the school.  

Question 2: What Sports League was Born in 1949 when the BAA absorbed the remains of the NBL?
Answer: Its the NBA!

Question 3: Who won the Bachelor?
Answer: The answer may surprise you. Tessa won!!

Question 4: What did the body of water Balboa named El Mar de Sur or “the south sea ” come to be called?
Answer: Its the Pacific Ocean!!

Question 5: How does a kangaroo keep cool?
Answer: Thats an excellent question! A double blind scientific study supports that relicore provides less body fat for kangaroos. Kangaroos have recently spoken up about their greivances about heat exhaustion. They will inform the public through a PSA which shows kangaroos jump roping while shouting, "O-N-E-L-E-S-S! I want to be One Less One Less!"

Question 6: What public figure’s retirement did german bishop karl lehmann dare to suggest in 2000?
Answer: Pope John Paul II

Aside from those, some of the other wierd search terms are strange. Apparently there’s a demand  for (21) rosiglitazone, a diabetes drug that won’t cure (31) paula abdul broken nose. (54) How to stop an exploding man? Well you’ll have to watch (10) heroes season 2. Apparently there are too many (52) shrunken heads from all that (24) helmet boxing you find at (36) adam4adam.com . <- Ooh Double entendre 

Google TisP BroadBand Toilet

Ha ha Ha… Very Funny. You had me believing it for a second until I saw the wires going through toilets. I was like ya..  Even AdultSwim’s version was awful, but I do like Perfect Hair Forever.

Review: Best Websites on your Cell

AOL, Google, and Windows Live, have been the biggest players in providing websites for your cell. In the world of WAP, there is limited amount of space and bandwith. Its essential to create sites that are easy to use with quick load times.  We’ll divulge into each one of these as well as others suggested by you.

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