Facebook Home Page Getting a Major Update Next Week
The only way to stay ahead in this Internet game is to be constantly evolving. You need to be faster, more mobile, and more flexible than your competition. That's how Google dominates search and Web mail, how Twitter pummels its micro-blogging competitors, and how Facebook has overtaken MySpace.
Facebook knows that its position at the top of the social networking heap is precarious. So, only a few months after undertaking a major redesign, Facebook is bringing some more new hotness to its home page. The news feed that appears on the main page when you log in will soon be replaced with a live feed view that will update in real-time as your friends change their status, add photos, or do anything else. For those who are staring at that last sentence in horror, don't worry; the new home page will also feature powerful filtering tools that will allow you to block content from particular apps, or users, entirely.
At the top of the page will be a new publishing tool, allowing you to post pictures, status updates, links, and almost anything else that your heart desires, without ever having to leave the new hub.
Facebook 'pages' will also be updated to make them more like regular profiles, complete with status updates, which might be an interesting way for companies like CNN to keep people abreast of current events.
We're looking forward to the changes, which should be going live next week. [From: Download Squad]
Losing Face on Facebook
Facebook is going to rewrite the book on standard office excuses, at least for its shortsighted users. Kevin Colvin, an intern at Anglo Irish bank, thought that had an ironclad story when he asked off to attend to a "family emergency." When his boss was alerted to this fresh picture posted to his Facebook profile during his absence, that story lost just a tad of its believability -- unless he was curing Aunt Hattie with his magical powers and a potent hoppy elixir. We're sure that posting the picture seemed like a good idea at the time, Kevin, but you were sadly mistaken. Same goes for that costume.
Students at Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey were shocked and confused when the news trucks rolled up to get the scoop on a set of Facebook photos. Obtained by a nosy parent, the pictures featured underage drinking that led to the suspension of school athletes. Many saw the role of the photos in the punishments as legally questionable, but despite organized protests and other umbrage, many students opted to just take their own racy Facebook pictures down as soon as possible. Live and learn, everyone -- just don't post visual evidence of it happening on your profile.
Even the charmed lives of beauty queens can be dragged through the mud by Facebook photos taken far away from the pageant stage. Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo discovered this firsthand over the summer when she was the target of a strange "blackmail plot" centered on profile images of her partying and carrying on in a less than royal fashion. She ended up releasing the photos herself, and soon everyone was wondering what the fuss was all about -- from venture capitalists to gossip reporters, Facebook has a tendency to get people riled up.
Thinking about shoplifting some clothing? Here's a tip -- think twice before posting pictures of yourself modeling the hot merchandise on Facebook. Two students at Radford University in Virginia learned this lesson the hard way when a store owner was tipped off and found the incriminating images on Facebook. A stroke of the 'print' button, a trip to the police office, and the bust was complete.
This story -- women who show little discretion in their alcohol consumption and even less when documenting their misadventures on their profiles -- seems to have started the most recent wave of Facebook embarrassments. While it's difficult for many to understand the personal pride and motivation behind such excess, it's even more mind-boggling to know that these exploits are being glorified online for all to see. Mom must be proud, and potential employers are surely beating down the doors.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Truth @ Mar 5th 2009 3:13PM
Interesting in the same sentence you talk about Lent and then profanity follows after. Whats the use of givin things up? Isn't it to honor God? Then why do you Dishonor with your words? Something to think about!! People like you give christians a bad name.
QmDDT @ Mar 5th 2009 3:25PM
Hey Truth, ever hear this one? Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone....
josh @ Mar 5th 2009 5:50PM
Hey QmDDT,
ever hear this one....people use that same verse that you just used out of context to justify their sins instead of repenting from them....
"Truth" was right...this person might as well not give anything up for Lent for they are going to talk like that. Don't be one of these losers who goes around quoting "Let he with no sin cast the first stone"..i bet you dont even know what story that was in when Jesus said that....
Oh yea...and giving up things for Lent is not even biblical...nowhere in the bible does it teach this..its all a manmade tradition...in fact...the lord says that he prefers obedience over sacrifice...STUDY YOUR BIBLES EVERYONE!!!!
truth @ Mar 5th 2009 3:39PM
Yes I agree and apoligise for being harsh Lawrence. I was just a bit taking back by the way it was written. We all should be aware of what we write. Please carry on, Just passing through.
lawrence @ Mar 5th 2009 4:08PM
sorry.
i'm not christian by the way.
Kapiolani32 @ Mar 5th 2009 3:47PM
At least Facebook gave it's members some notice as to it's layout change. That's more than I can say for AOL, which last week changed it's "Welcome" page on me for the umpteenth time; and WITHOUT NOTICE. Change is good, but there is something to say for consistency, especially with an online service that has become the 21st century's version of the morning newspaper on the front step. The New York Times, for example, has had the same layout and even headline font since the 19th century. I still find it refreshing and welcome each morning (even online) because I know I can trust it to bring me the news in the same dependable format.
Paula @ Mar 5th 2009 4:10PM
Oh Yes, AOL is notorious for changing things without letting their members knowing. Lets see, aside of changing the welcome page, those of us who pay for AOL, have had their profile hijacked. Saying well...we moved profiles to AIM...which they sold out or joined something called BEBO...which is a combination of Facebook and MySpace.
When I lodged a complaint, I was basically told too bad. We did it and we aren't going back.
shell @ Mar 5th 2009 8:42PM
aol is free now so you don't have to use it of ya don't wanna
KrisM @ Mar 5th 2009 4:41PM
Good luck to Facebook, I guess. I have a FB profile, but I don't use it as much as I should, so this probably won't affect me too much. I do think it's funny how older people are starting to get FB profiles. One of my old professors from college asked me to be his friend one time, and I'm like "creepazoid!"
glenn @ Mar 5th 2009 4:54PM
from what i understand , facebook is just a site for people that do not or cannot get real friends......it's for loosers and britany spears
Topgun @ Mar 5th 2009 5:17PM
No Glenn...loser like you just POSt..:)
Miss Rebecca @ Mar 5th 2009 8:08PM
No, that would be MySpace. That's why so many people only have celebrity friends on there. I was just looking over my Facebook friends, and the majority of them I have known for at least half my life.
giuseppe @ Mar 5th 2009 5:35PM
people who spend all thier time on facebook..myspace..twitter..whatever..need to go out..enjoy the world..basically..get lives..
rockbott0m543 @ Mar 5th 2009 5:52PM
The only reason I ever joined facebook was because it was ONLY for college students and it was great for remembering random people I met. I stopped using it when they added all of these stupid application things, I hate them, and I hate that my little cousins and parents can get on it drives me crazy and I think its no better than myspace now, which is horrible too.
Hubert @ Mar 5th 2009 5:54PM
I joined Facebook because my daughter, grand daughter and a few friends are members. The first couple of day was great. Then I tried to sign on and could not. Facebook said my name and password were not right. I sent about 5 emails to Facebook. They said they would reset my password. They didn't. Then they said they would get back to me. That was over a week ago. Still waiting.
frank @ Mar 5th 2009 5:56PM
I see the D O W fell almost another 300 pts. , MIGHTY-MOUTH-OBAMA must have been using HIS -TELEPROMPTER again . Will someone close to HIM , please tell HIM , to S__T__F__U. BTW , I wonder if MICHELLE is still PROUD of the COUNTRY ??
Lisa @ Mar 5th 2009 6:21PM
and this has to do with the changes to facebook.. how?
alligatorpoop @ Mar 5th 2009 6:18PM
Are you serious? How does your post pertain to the FB conversation in any way? Like it or not, he's the President. Deal with it already!
AskMyWifeSheWill @ Mar 5th 2009 6:47PM
I do not use Facebook or Myspace. Not because I think it is for losers who do not have a life, but because I do not have time to use it.
I do, however, use AOL and it bites. There used to be a time when there was actually AOL contant. Now everything you click on belongs to someone else--WalletPop, PoeEater, Switched--what ever.
They blew out every one's profiles, FTP space, and the like. They are no more concerned with their members than a pitbull cares if the meat they are chewing in is from a cow or a little girl's face.
In a nutshell, AOL SUX...!
Iam Me @ Mar 5th 2009 6:55PM
Totally agree--AO-Hell is lousy....Almost EVERYTHING is linked to advertisements...Don't dare look at a set or pictures becuase you'll have to disable your pop-up blocker while the same damned ads run and slow each pic down. They were also "allegedly" double-billing many people for a LONG time.