If you share links using Twitter, you'll notice a new URL shortening service: goo.gl. "Google URL Shortener at goo.gl is a service that takes long URLs and squeezes them into fewer characters to make a link that is easier to share, tweet, or email to friends. The core goals of this service are: stability, security and speed." The service is only used by Google Toolbar and FeedBurner, so there's no web interface or API for goo.gl.
Another new Google Toolbar feature implements W3C's geolocation API, which allows web pages to access detailed information about the locations of their visitors. "We use information transmitted by nearby WiFi access points to determine your approximate location. Accuracy and coverage will vary by location, and we're working to improve both over time," explains Google. This feature is already available in Firefox 3.5, so Google only added it to the IE version of Google Toolbar.
One of the few sites that use the geolocation API is Google Maps: "visit Google Maps and click the My Location button above the zoom slider. Click Share my location if you give your permission for Google Maps to use your location, and the map should center on your approximate location, if available."
{ via Google Blog }
Thanks a lot, I was searching for this new Share button in the Google Toolbar addon site, I couldn't find it. Great to have this feature. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhen I try the new Google Toolbar and click Share and Twitter for this article, it gives the full URL not the short version. I hope they update it soon or am I doing it wrong?
ReplyDeleteI had the same issue, Chris. The URL in Twitter doesn't work, we lose the "send to" Gmail button and its functionality, too. With the new toolbar, even whe you select some item in a page, to send via email, the share button just send the link to gmail. In new Orkut, we lose ability to post pictures in scraps (only works if we past a link in it). Maybe the links are the focus, to minimize quantity of duplicated data in their servers? Who knows? It's just hypothetical...Google must open Wave for still more users soon! There, a data is the same for everyone in list.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm seriously wondering why Google didn't just continue Gears and add the HTML5 specs they needed to it.
ReplyDeleteon firefox it is version 7.0
ReplyDeleteI have Firefox Google Toolbar Version 7.0.20091214Wb1 and when I share to Twitter and to Facebook, the full URL is shown.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE made the changes to my Feedburner account and my blog feeds are correctly shortened to goo.gl.