TechGazing

FarmVille might be a rage all over the world, but there are a quite a few Facebook users who find nothing more annoying than seeing messages about wandering cows and flowers pop up on their walls. Well, they can now strike back, thanks to an app called, very appropriately, Farmvillain. The app is available on Facebook (just head to http://apps.facebook.com/farm-villain/) and even on the iPhone/iPod touch. Basically, the app is designed to spoof everything that happens on Facebook. So you can send people stories about how how you have successfully shot 10 intruders on your farm, or how the cows on your farm have caught mad cow disease, or (if you really do not like cows) how you have successfully butchered more than a thousand cows in the previous 24 hours.

In essence, it is the total antithesis of the cutesy feel of Farmville that sets lots of users teeth on edge. Yes, some of it tends to be a bit gross and might offend some sensibilities, but some people just might like it, and most will be hard pressed not to laugh. Definitely worth a look, we think.

We are not surprised at all, but must admit that the figure is imposing - social networking site Facebook has topped 500 million users. And to mark the occasion, the site has come up with an initiative called Facebook stories, which will feature entries by different users on how Facebook has changed their lives. To quote the release: “Stories submitted to the application can be browsed by theme, such as “Family” and “Sports”, or sorted by geography. The Application will also surface “Most Popular” stories based on the number of “Likes” a story receives.” Fascinating, huh?

Well, two Indian celebrities have already told their Facebook tales - Deepika Padukone and AR Rahman. We are sure others will join in. If you wish to chip in too, just head to http://stories.facebook.com/ and log in.

Microsoft is definitely in redo and revamp mode as far as its apps go this year. We have had new Windows Live apps, a new look Hotmail and a new MS Office, and now a whole new MSN homepage. While the entire design of the page has been given a thorough once-over, what has caught attention has been the integration of social networks like Twitter and Facebook on the homepage.

From now onwards, when you log in to MSN (http://in.msn.com), you will not only be told how many new mails are there in your Hotmail account, but you can also check out the latest updates in your Facebook and Twitter accounts on the right hand side of the page. All you need to do is provide your username and the next time you log in to the MSN homepage, you will be able to see the latest updates from both accounts. Even better, you will be able to do basic tasks like replying, commenting and tweeting from the MSN homepage itself without having to open any additional app or website. Now, that’s handy.

Honestly speaking, we are not too sold on the look and feel of the newly designed MSN page, but the social networking integration has us grinning from ear to ear. Here’s hoping for more networks being included and users being given the option to see their network updates right on top of the MSN page instead of having to look at a panel on the right!

Vaseline has decided to cash in on the Indian psyche’s fascination for  gori chamdi (”white skin”). The company has come out with an application for social networking site Facebook, which lets users change their skin tone and preview their pics.The idea is clear: to promote the concept of fairness. Now, is that fair? We would rather not say (hey, we are just a tech blog, fellas), but yes, the app is definitely worth a dekko, even if you in your skin-altered condition are not.

All right, we think this is definitely a case of Christmas coming early. Airtel has announced that all its subscribers can access the mobile website of Facebook on their handsets free of cost until August 31. In simple English, that means that all Airtel users can “post status updates, comment and write on walls, message others, and also be able to view or upload photos - all without any data charges” (yes, we got that from the press release, so now you know it is official). As if that were not enough, there is also the fact that in the coming days, Facebook mobile will also be accessible in five different Indian languages (Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam) apart from English and Hindi. Now, that is what we call a terrific deal, with no strings attached (and we looked!). Continue reading »

The past few days have seen a lot of noise about the security - or lack of it - on Facebook, and the consequences. Well, there are many ways of making sure that your Facebook data is reasonably secure, but if you are the type that likes a simple solution (heck, most of us do), then all you need to do is go to www.ReclaimPrivacy.org. One the page you will see an option to drag a button titled “Scan for Privacy” to your browser’s bookmarks bar. Drag it to your browser’s bar and the next time you are visiting your Facebook account, just click on the button and hey, presto, you will be given a quick breakdown of how secure your data on the site is and how you can improve it, if needed.

It is incredibly simple, and costs nothing. We are already using it, and think that you should, too.

Facebook users on some networks will be able to access the social networking site totally free of cost, thanks to the launch of a new website called Zero Facebook. The site can be accessed at http://0.facebook.com on most handsets and works at the rate of knots as it focuses on displaying text, pushing video and images to the background, although users can access them through links if they wish (viewing pics will incur data costs, though). In essence, the site lets you do everything you can on the regular mobile Facebook site (http://m.facebook.com) like updating their status, viewing their News Feed, commenting on posts, sending and replying to messages, etc., without your having to pay even data charges.

The catch, of course, is that not all mobile service providers in India support the site yet - at present, only subscribers of Videocon and Reliance can access Zero Facebook. Facebook, however, has assured us that it is looking to tie up with other operators too, so it might not be too long before one can access Facebook on one’s handset without incurring a penny of data costs.

We have just received news that Facebook has pulled the curtains on the lite version of its website. The site, which had been launched about seven months ago as a “faster, simpler, Facebook”, was a very stripped down version of Facebook, without the apps and games, and was designed to give users access to the basic functions of the site even in areas with poor connectivity.Facebook users could write on their walls, post photos and videos, view events and browse other people’s profiles, but do little else besides. On the flip side, the site did not feature too many advertisements or “monetisable content,” as some tech pundits tended to call it. Many users in India used the Lite version of the site simply because it loaded fast and did not have too many ads.

Facebook has given no reason for the closing down of Facebook Lite, although the rumour market is buzzing that it feared that the lite site was actually pulling traffic away from the main one, and the relative absence of advertising on the Lite page was also hurting revenues. The official statement from the company reads: “Thanks to everyone who tried out Facebook Lite. We’re no longer supporting it, but learned a lot from the test of a slimmed-down site. If you used Lite, you’ll now be taken to the main Facebook.com site.”

We are certainly going to miss Facebook Lite and are hoping that the folks will have a rethink on this. Broadband is still nowhere on the horizon in India and sites that load fast are a Godsend.