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Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

blog.vrypan.net

61–70 of 165 posts

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#61
The reason I won't get a custom URL is because after getting the "Click here to get your custom URL" email, I was informed I had to give them my mobile number before this process was achievable.

It seems Google is on an absolute mission to get my mobile number, they've been relentlessly hinting that it's essential that I give it to them for what feels like forever.

No Google, you cannot have it. Please, stop asking.

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#63

Why I won't get a Custom URL: > Many people have the same name. Add a few extra letters or numbers to this URL to get one that is unique for you. Why would I want yet another "MyName " identifier? How does that help friends and family remember or identify me? What purpose does it serve? I'm yet another person with a nickname that identifies me all over and has for years, I too own the domain. But Google+ keeps insist…

"I have no idea why they cling to this."

Not saying that I agree or disagree with Google, but they have explained their reasoning here: "It's recommended that you go by your first and last name because it will help you connect with people you know and help them find you." - https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1228271?hl=en

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#64
post #63

Why I won't get a Custom URL: > Many people have the same name. Add a few extra letters or numbers to this URL to get one that is unique for you. Why would I want yet another "MyName " identifier? How does that help friends and family remember or identify me? What purpose does it serve? I'm yet another person with a nickname that identifies me all over and has for years, I too own the domain. But Google+ keeps insist…

"I have no idea why they cling to this." Not saying that I agree or disagree with Google, but they have explained their reasoning here: "It's recommended that you go by your first and last name because it will help you connect with people you know and help them find you." - https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1228271?hl=en

For most people it won't be first and last name. It will be first and last name followed by a bunch of junk, which isn't easy to remember.

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#65

Here's how it works. The techies create something. The legals come along and say, OK, to release that in the wild it needs some T&Cs that cover our arses for everything and then some, because people keep sueing us. In practice, would Google ever dare invoke this on a large scale? No, you know that. Yes, there should be some transparent process that is undertaken if yours were revoked, but Google only like stuff that…

You forgot the part where the business guys come in and ask why they aren't making money off this and decide to either cancel the service or start charging for it.

Google Reader, never forget :-)

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#66
post #60

Honest question: are these terms of service significantly different than other services? Do Twitter / Github / etc have similar terms?

From GitHub TOS: > GitHub, in its sole discretion, has the right to suspend or terminate your account and refuse any and all current or future use of the Service, or any other GitHub service, for any reason at any time. Such termination of the Service will result in the deactivation or deletion of your Account or your access to your Account, and the forfeiture and relinquishment of all Content in your Account. GitHub…

That to me looks broader than Google, Twitter, or Facebook's TOU. I look forward to the impassioned post highlighted here on HN saying:

"Wait, wait, wait! Did they say that they may decide to charge me for my Github account in the future? And that they may remove it 'for any reason at any time?' A Github account is an identifier. I'll use it to identify myself on this service. I'll link to it from my website. I may print it on a business card. Like Github said in their email, I'll use it to 'make software development more collaborative.' But they can take it away for any reason or deactivate it? No way. Github is not a place I own, it's a place Github is kind enough to let me visit and have some limited activity, but they can always kick me off or ask for an (unspecified) rent."

Sigh.

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#68
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got curious and checked c.gg and I see it is for sale. Are you selling your own shortener domain you used to create your own short URL's ?

I tried to build business on it (didn't have time/resources to push it) then sell it in the past, but it didn't happen. Then I started seeing more and more value having your own, really short and easy to type URL shortener - for exact reason author wrote this post. I plan to set it up like my personal "tiny.cc" allowing for vanity urls for easy navigations For example: http://c.gg/regex http://c.gg/az

I have the same thing on pkn.me. That just resolves to my normal blog which redirects to the canonical URL. So I can have, for example, http://pkn.me/r for my resume and http://pkn.me/mmp for my book landing page.

I used to give random 5 letter strings to my posts as their ID but now I actually put some thought into it so I can have good, rememberable short URLs.

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#69

My custom Google+ URL is http://google.com/+AnžePečar even though typing letters with diacritics is nearly impossible on 99% of the keyboards out there. I should have kept the random numbers...

https://plus.google.com/+AnzePecar redirects to http://google.com/+AnžePečar so infact you now have two URL shorteners. Native tongue and english.

Re: Why I won't get a Google+ Custom URL

#70

My custom Google+ URL is http://google.com/+AnžePečar even though typing letters with diacritics is nearly impossible on 99% of the keyboards out there. I should have kept the random numbers...

http://google.com/+An%C5%BEePe%C4%8Dar isn't pretty, but at least it's typable. Edit: whoa ghuntley, good find!
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