Way back in late October, Google"Plus" offered me a custom URL using a name rather than their CompuServe-esque number. As it followed their preferences rather than my preferences, I quite naturally rejected it. A bit to my surprise I was offered a chance to request a "custom" URL instead. This hinted of some progress. The hint was a lie. The hint ( Read more... )

Yes, I actually have a Google+ account. I don't use it very much because the drones at Google Don't Get It or at least Didn't Get It at first. They wanted, it seemed, to compete with FaceBook and in one way made it bug-for-bug compatible by insisting on "real names" or as FaceBook called them "wallet names" - a term Google carefully avoided, but ( Read more... )

Co-opting for advertising. Permission? What's that?It seems about every time I hear about Facebook it's something like this. While pressure might eventually rescind the no-permission-needed bit, it seems that not once has FB done the right thing and made stuff opt-IN from the beginning. Right now they don't even have an opt-out (the thing of ( Read more... )

And I don't even use the blasted thing!

That is perhaps why.

1. FaceBook tries too hard to get new users. When folks add an e-mail address to it, it sends out an invite. Maybe that can be shut off, but I've gotten a few invites now. It's annoying. I am sorely tempted to use the opt-out option they have though I don't know if that will be ( Read more... )