What is a vanity URL

A vanity URL is an easy to remember URL that points to a page that is related and indicated in the name of  the URL. The main purpose of vanity URLs is for advertising campaign or to promote a product, event or service.

This means instead of having a long & ugly default URL (https://facebook.com/pages/yourbusiness/7724434522218) assigned by Facebook when you created your account, you can now personalize your Facebook address by selecting a unique username and have a short and memorable address to direct fans to, e.g. https://www.facebook.com/username.

Several things for you to remember:

• You need to be admin of the page in question
• You can’t change the username of your page once you set it.
• You can’t transfer the ownership of a username to another party.
• You can’t violate anyone else’s trademark rights.
• If you are acquiring a username to sell it in the future (squatting), you will lose it.
• Usernames may be reclaimed for other unauthorized usages.

Facebook lists the following restrictions:

• Create a username that is as close as possible to your public figure or business name (e.g. ThieryHenry, McDonalds).
• If you own the rights to a given name, make it your username so that others cannot obtain it.
• Usernames can only contain alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9) or a period (“.”).
• Choose a username you will be happy with for the long term. Usernames are not transferable.
• Your username must adhere to Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
• If your trademarked name has already been taken, you can notify Facebook of this intellectual property infringement.
• For more FAQ, check out the Usernames for Facebook Pages Help Center.

How To Create Your Vanity URL/Username

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/username.

2. Choose the page you will like to create a vanity URL for by selecting it using the drop-dowm arrow.

3. Enter your desired username in the box opposite.

4. Click on Check Availability to see if the name is still unsed. If your desired username is used then play around with the word until you are able to get an available username.

5. Read the notes on the Username Available window and then click on Confirm to continue.

6. Click Okay on the Success window to complete the process.

Your vanity URL will now be displayed with a note that you can direct your fans to that web address.

Vanity URL Tips

• Make your vanity URLs memorable & easy to remember
• Keep them short
• Consider including descriptive keywords that accurately describe the page or the product.

Have you recently implemented this process to create your Facebook vanity URL? Let us know in the comment section below.

We have created a special message for you because you are very special to us. You can view this by clicking this link http://bit.ly/tqgX18

This latest version is packed full of new features such as a drag-and-drop uploader, fly out admin menus, enhancements to the admin bar; now known as the ‘toolbar’, improved co-editing support making it easier for multi-user blogs, a new Tumblr importer, permalink and performance issue fixed, pointers that allow developers to place information boxes in areas where you will need help and an improved dashboard experience and touch support for iPad and other tablets.

Below is the official video highlighting the new features:

This latest version comes packed with some really cool new features, improvements and also some fundamental changes in the core WordPress installation requirements and the stopping of support for IE6.

I have compiled below some of the changes that you need to know about WordPress 3.2 before installing or upgrading.

1. Admin User Interface Refresh

WordPress user interface has evolved throughout the past. WordPress 3.0 came with a lighter, friendlier feel in the administration interface. This refreshed version of WordPress interface isn’t a major redesign, but a little facelift to make it more streamlined & cleaner.

2. Distraction-free Writing

WordPress is noted for blogging and blogging is about writing. WordPress is going a step further to make users’ blogging experience more pleasing by improving the current fullscreen writing mode. This version provides a distration-free & a strip down screen devoid of all the clutter, giving you only the essential authoring options. This will enable you to focus on your writing and blogging.

3. A New Year, A New Theme: Welcome Twenty Eleven

In 2010, a new theme was introduced in WordPress 3.0 known as Twenty Ten? In 2011, WordPress 3.2 will be released with a new default theme called, you guessed right, Twenty Eleven. Should we be expecting a Twenty Twelve theme in 2012? Only time will tell. Twenty Eleven, in light and dark color schemes out of the box, comes with several solid features including theme options page that lets you pick color schemes and layout, new page templates, random header images per page and the ability to upload and work with own custom background.

4. Full Upgrade vs Incremental Upgrade

Presently, WordPress upgrades were full replacements of all core files, which might be a pain if there has been some tweaking of the core code. This has been improved upon in WordPress 3.2 to now only replace files that need to be modified. This speeds up the upgrade process, makes it safer, more reliable, and more error-free becasue there will be fewer files to download and modify.

5. Faster & Speedier WordPress

WordPress developers have really worked hard to bring us a highly optimized WordPress by re-factoring the core code and removing older technologies to make run more efficiently. This results in faster page loads, faster upgrades, and faster plugin additions. In addition, the upgrade from PHP4 to PHP5 brings with it significant speed increases.

6. New Requirements For PHP and MySQL

WordPress 3.2 has new minimum system requirements of PHP 5.2.4 and MySQL 5.0. Enough has been said about the need to keep your WordPress install current so as not to fall victim to malicious attacks that can be prevented. However, if you want to upgrade to this version, then make sure your host meet up with the new minimum requirement. If you are still not sure if your host is ready for WordPress 3.2, you can install either the WordPress Requirements Check plugin or the Health Check plugin and it will tell you if you’re ready for WordPress 3.2. Go download any of the plugins and add it to your WordPress installation, and it’ll let you know whether or not you are ready to install or upgrade to WordPress 3.2.

7. IE6 Support Ceased

Support for Internet Explorer 6 will cease from this version. What this means is that the admin interface will no longer be compatible with the doomed IE6. Next to follow is IE7 but this is not yet official.

Availability

The final and production version of WordPress 3.2 is expected to be realesed on or around June 30, 2011 and will be made available for upgrade via the admin interfaces of all current installations.

Under this agreement, Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and its current chief executive Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

According to a Skype blog post, the market leading communications platform will be integrated into many of Microsoft’s products and services but, gratefully, it will not remove support for its product on non-Microsoft platforms. This portends that mobile apps like the iPhone and Android app will still be maintained. Same for the Mac desktop application.

The blog post states: “Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices,” the blog post states, referring cryptically to “Windows devices,” instead of saying “computers running the Windows operating system,” for example, which is a bit curious, we think. The post then continues, “Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities.”

Skype digitally connects people by enabling them to communicate with each other through voice calls, chat messages and video conferencing. It has a user base of over 600 million registered users and about 140 million active users on a monthly basis.

The combined companies aim to deliver the future of real-time communications to consumers and businesses around the world. How successful this will turn out to be, only time will tell.

For the time being, users will continue to have access to both versions of Google Analytics, and you can switch between the old and new version time. When you sign into Google Analytics you’ll see a link to the new version in the top right of your account.According to Google, they are expecting input from users as to what features need to be removed or added to this new version of GA.

The new version of GA provides three significant enhancements:

• A redesigned Google Analytics platform to enable major new functionality
• A streamlined interface to make it easier to get to the information you want
• Improved report performance for faster reports

Also included in the upgraded product are the following features:

• A completely redesigned, faster interface
• Multiple dashboards—build a custom dashboard for each department
• Event Goals! Track your PDF downloads as goals with events, or configure 2 minutes play time on a video as a goal
• More powerful custom reports—you can pre-filter reports and build additional data views
• New Term Cloud visualization

However, more features are expected to be enabled for the new GA in the near future such as:

• Exporting reports to PDF
• Emailing reports
• Migrating reports from the old GA to the new GA
• Linking a new AdWords or AdSense account Email schedulling
• In-Page Analytics

Google’s plan is for the button to show up in search results, on non-Google sites, and in ads. For example, you might see a +1 button for a Google search result, Google ad, or next to an article you’re reading on your favorite news site. Your +1’s and your social connections also help improve the content you see in Google Search.

By clicking +1, you publicly give something your stamp of approval. Your +1′s can help friends, contacts, and others on the web find the best stuff when they search.

For now, users can opt into the +1 button experiment (will be open to everyone else later) in Google Labs using their Google account and after will start seeing a +1 icon next to each link in Google search results. Your +1’s are stored in a new tab on your Google profile which can be made public or private.

Below is a video that explains +1 in more detail.

Built in HTML5 and appropriately titled “20 Things I Learned About Browsers and the Web“, the guide is a brief reminder for anyone who’s curious about the basics of browsers and the Web.

Brought to you by The Google Chrome Team with illustrations by Christoph Niemann, the guide has it all in terms of its coverage of the subject matter, ranging from the simple “What is the Internet?”, “What’s a cookie?”, “How do I protect myself on the web?” to the not-so-simple “Open Source and Browsers”, “IP Addresses and DNS”, etc.

You can bookmark and read the book, 20 Things I Learned About Browsers and the Web, online now.

Enjoy!!!

According to Jobs, ”When we introduced the iPad, we said it was our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device. People laughed at us for calling it magical — but it’s turned out to be magical. People didn’t necessarily agree with the price — but ask our competitors now”.

The new features of iPad 2 are as follows:

The Hardware

1. 2 New Processors
   The main CPU, a Samsung A5 dual core processor will be up to 9x faster than the original iPad.
   A new graphics processor that’s 2x faster.
2. It’s thinner — 33% thinner. Thinner than the iPhone 4. 13.4mm down to 8.8 mm thick. In addition to it being thinner, it’s lighter as well. 1.5 pounds down to 1.3 pounds.
3. White version will be available from March 11 in the US, and March 25 in other countries.
4. The 3G version will be available on Verizon and AT&T.
5. Built-in front and rear cameras. Photo Booth, the Mac app that lets you take fun pictures of yourself, is included.
6. HDMI compatibility. This will make the device pluggable into your TV or a large screen. The HDMI cable converter will however, cost an extra $39.
7. Some features haven’t changed from the original iPad. The battery life still remains in the 10 hour range. Also the pricing will remain the same, starting at $499 for the basic 16GB Wi-fi version, and going up to $829 for the 3G model with 64GB.
8. It comes with what I call an ‘iCover’. They have magnets on them that attach automatically to the screen. The cover offers screen protection and can also be used as a stand. This comes in 2 variants, polyurethane and leather. Cost will be $39 and $69 respectively.

The Software

1. The iPad 2 will come with the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, the iOS 4.3.
2. Faster Safari mobile browsing performance.
3. iTunes Home Sharing.
4. An improved AirPlay.
5. A personal hotspot to share an iPhone 4′s data connection over Wi-Fi (provided it’s supported by your carrier).
6. Apple also introduced two new apps for iPad. iMovie and GarageBand. These two will bring movie and music editing functionalities to device and will both cost $4.99.

Below is a video demo of the iPad 2.

GoToMyPC

To install the app on your iPad, go to the App Store and select GoToMyPC. Tap the FREE button, then tap it again after it changes to INSTALL. The app will install automatically, and a MyPC icon will be added to your iPad.

Using the app to connect to a remote computer is a breeze. Just follow the steps below:

1. Be sure your host computer (the computer you want to access) is turned on and connected to the Internet.
2. Tap the GoToMyPC icon on your iPad and log in.
3. Tap the Connect button next to the computer you wish to access.
4. Enter your access code and tap OK. Your host computer’s desktop will now appear on your iPad screen.

However, to use this free application, you must have a current GoToMyPC subscription ($9.95 per month per computer) or trial on the computer(s) you want to access.

On the security side, GoToMyPC for iPad has the same security features on the traditional GToMyPC for computer. All data input is fully encrypted from end to end using 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption. The security process uses a number of conventions to protect access to your computers.

Find below a short demo of the app.