Archive for December, 2011
Top 10 Stories of 2011: #7 How to get a Twitter username that is already taken
More people have been warming to Twitter over the past year, but when they go to sign up for an account, they often find the Twitter username they want (much like a domain name) is already taken.
The number seven story in this year’s Top 10 is How to get a Twitter username, that’s already taken, a story I wrote in June after successfully obtaining @Fusible, a username that was registered by someone else, but never used.
Many Twitter stories published here have garnered plenty of attention by sites like TechCrunch, such as Twitter winning a dispute for the typo Twiter.com (missing a ‘t’) and Twitter going after Twittter.com (extra ‘t’).
But the story of how to get a Twitter username to this day still attracts readers, even months after being written.
Just a couple weeks ago, Jon Mitchell a writer for the popular tech news site ReadWriteWeb, published an article using the steps detailed in my post, and he was able to get the Twitter handle he wanted. “Thanks to J.B. at Fusible for showing me how this works. I can’t believe it, but it really does!”, wrote Jon.
It’s not a silver bullet, but submitting an Impersonation Claim with Twitter, gives you a much better chance of getting a response, than simply opening a Help ticket with the microblogging site.
Google apparently registers Googan domains, slang for lowlife webmaster
If you’re not familiar with the term Googan, according to Urban Dictionary, “Googan” can be used to describe a lowlife webmaster who “posts ads and web pages typically with no meaningful content, no regard for adwords copywriting, or consideration for other people, especially those who click on promising-looking links.”
Now it appears Google has plans to market Googan “the lowlife webmaster” in the very near future, according to several new domain registrations that include names like Googan.net (WHOIS), BewareofGoogan.com, DonthireGoogan.com, and GooganInterviews.com.
All of the Googan names were privately registered through MarkMonitor, a company Google uses to help manage its domain portfolio.
As is the case with domains privately registered using DNStination Inc, MarkMonitor’s privacy service, it’s safe to say the company behind the names is Google, since MarkMonitor is in the business of internet brand protection for over half the Fortune 100 companies.
Google registered the Googan names, as well as others, on December 29.
None of the domains resolve to a web site at the time of this story going online, and Google has offered no details on Googan as of yet. But if I had to guess, I’d say Googan will be used in an online marketing campaign, similar to the company’s use of the domain EmailIntervention.com.
Here’s a look at all the domains apparently registered by Google on December 29. Also in the list are lighting domains like Googlightingstranger.com, which may have something to do with its Android-controlled light bulb, that goes on sale in early 2012.
bewareofgoogan.com
bewareofgoogan.net
donthiregoogan.com
donthiregoogan.net
gapsingoogle.com
gapsingoogle.net
glightingstranger.com
glightingstranger.net
googan.net
googanapperson.com
googanapperson.net
googanapprehension.com
googanapprehension.net
googaninterviews.com
googaninterviews.net
googanlighting.com
googanlighting.net
googlelighting.net
googlightingstranger.com
googlightingstranger.net
thegooganinterviews.com
thegooganinterviews.net
whatsinitforgoogle.com
whatsinitforgoogle.net
Discussion: Marketing Land
(Image of Googleplex welcoming sign via Ardo191)
Top 10 Stories of 2011: #8 Google helps businesses get mobile friendly
Google has been the source of many stories reported here that have drawn a lot of attention by other tech blogs and news sites, from its purchase of YouTube.xxx to going after typosquatters, to its acquisition of the domain names schemer.com and dartlanguage.com, to Photovine- the list goes on and on.
Google is a speculative favorite.
But the biggest Google story on Fusible by far in 2011, has been discovering Google’s plans to help companies go mobile.
I wrote about Google registering the domain Howtogomo.com in early September, but that didn’t raise any eyebrows. Google owns thousands of domain names, and routinely buys domains for any number of reasons. Many of its properties often go unused.
In late October however, wondering what became of the web address, I typed the URL into my internet browser and was shown an ’Access Restricted’ web page that displayed the message: “Mobilize your site now.”
The story then appeared in Techmeme’s hand-picked headlines and from there was picked up by PC Magazine, CNET and other publications.
On November 1, Google made the website public.
Top 10 Stories of 2011: #9 Sony confirms next James Bond title will be Skyfall
Number 9 in this year’s Top 10 stories is the story of the upcoming James Bond film Skyfall, which will land in theaters in November 2012.
On October 3, more than a dozen domain names having to do with Skyfall were registered.
Though privately registered initially using DNStination Inc., what made these names special was that they were all registered through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor, which is used by more than half the Fortune 100.
The list of registrations, which today now show Sony Pictures as the owner in WHOIS records, included names like jamesbond-skyfall.com and skyfallthefilm.com.
Simply referred to as ‘Bond 23′ at the time, shortly after I published my story speculating the next Bond film would be called Skyfall, well over a dozen news sites mentioned my article including Access Hollywood, IGN, The Hollywood Reporter, and X17, to name a few.
On November 3, Sony officially confirmed the title as Skyfall.
Here’s a look at the full press conference, marking the start of the production.
Top 10 Stories of 2011: #10 Rainbow 6 Patriots revealed by domain registrations
Several of this year’s Top 10 stories here on Fusible have to do with video gaming.
So it’s no surprise that the story of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Patriots is number ten on the list.
After noticing that Ubisoft registered eight different domain names on October 27, like assassinscreedrecollection.com and horsehaventhegame.com, also among the names were two that stood out because there was no information or news on them at the time — rainbow6patriots.com and rainbowsixpatriots.com.
I speculated that the next title in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six series would be Rainbow 6: Patriots.
Well, as it turned out, my speculation was soon confirmed by -BLITZ-, a member of the popular NeoGAF forum. -BLITZ- had seen the logos, arts, covers and rendered game screens for Rainbow 6: Patriots.
The story got a lot of play online, with some of the biggest video gaming sites like Kotaku, Game Informer, Joystiq, Gamespy.com, and more than a dozen more news sites, citing the story.
Days after my story went online, Ubisoft officially confirmed the title on November 3.
Here’s a look at the reveal trailer by Ubisoft.
Amazon acquires KindleTutor.com
Amazon is overflowing with all sorts of Kindle products from the all-new Kindle Fire tablet to the Kindle e-reader.
So what’s in store next for the Kindle family?
Well, according to a recent domain name acquisition by Amazon.com Holdings, it’s possible an online tutoring service or app is on the way.
On December 27, Amazon acquired the domain name KindleTutor.com, as shown in its WHOIS record.
While this is only speculation, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Amazon launch a “Kindle Tutor” app, particularly for its Kindle Fire. Earlier this month, Amazon released an OTA update to address performance and touchscreen issues.
At the time of this story going online, KindleTutor.com does not resolve to a website.
Discussion: Phandroid
(Image of Kinde Fire via Amazon.com)
Why did Airbnb register the domain name WhoisAirbnb.com?
When a company that doesn’t own many domains goes out and registers some odd names, it’s usually safe to say it’s up to something.
That’s what Airbnb did. The web service that connects people who have space to spare with those who are looking for a place to stay, went out and registered two new domain names this week: WhoisAirbnb.com and Who-is-Airbnb.com.
Airbnb has had its share of controversy this year, after one of its customers’ homes was ransacked.
Despite the PR crisis that followed, Airbnb has managed to bounce back and since its launch in 2008, has booked more than 2 million nights. Some speculate the company will file for an initial public offering next year.
Just what will WhoisAirbnb.com be used for?
Will it be a new service? Will the company launch a separate site to help tell its story and build more trust? We’ll keep an eye out.
Today, the domain WhoisAirbnb.com forwards to the company’s website.
Both domain names were registered with the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor on December 27.
Here’s a look at the Whois record (no pun intended) for WhoisAirbnb.com.
Is eBay planning something more with its advertising? Registers eBay ads domains
On December 23, eBay Inc. registered three domain names: eBay-ads.com, eBay-ads.net, and eBayads.net.
The domains, all purchased this week, hint at the possibility of eBay doing something more with ads that it displays on its websites, such as eBay.com.
In 2009, eBay replaced its Yahoo text ads with Google‘s ads.
Though it’s fun to speculate, the domain registrations may be nothing more than part of the company’s IP strategy to keep others from using the names.
As of today, eBay does not own eBayads.com. The name, according to Whois records, is currently in Redemption Period, after its owner in China let the name expire.
Redemption period usually means the name has about 30 days before its released by the registrar and either available for public registration or sent to one of the drop-catching services.
Sony Pictures registers ‘Bring Them to Justice Game’ domain names
Sony Pictures has tipped its hand on a forthcoming game called “Bring Them to Justice”, after registering several domain names on December 22, like bringthemtojusticegame.com (Whois).
All the domains were registered through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.
The game, which hasn’t been officially announced, may simply be a mobile game published by Sony Pictures Digital, part of Sony’s US mobile phone games division.
The domain names, five in total, include:
bringthemtojusticegame.com
bringthemtojusticegame.net
bringtojustice.net
bringtojusticegame.com
bringtojusticegame.net
At the time of this story going online, none of the domains resolve to a web page.
Several Amazon Web Services Certified Samurai domain names registered
According to several recent domain registrations, it looks like Amazon Web Services (AWS) has something in the works.
On December 22, Amazon’s legal department registered new AWS domains with ‘Certified Samurai’ in the name.
The domain registrations include:
aws-certified-samurai.com
aws-samurai.com
awscertifiedsamurai.com
awssamurai.com
Amazon hasn’t made any official announcement about the service or product as of yet.
