Can anyone remember what the world was like before mass social networking? What did we do on the computer? Did we have computers? What did we do in everyday life? How did we communicate?

Social networking has opened doors we never knew we had. Who ever knew that we needed to update our statuses, “like” brands, +1 pages and links, tweet pictures and updates on the go or make a collaborative playlist?

But, social networking trends come and go just like fashion, computers, phones and diets.

In terms of social networking, what’s come, what’s gone and what’s on the horizon?

Facebook:

Stalk Your Ex and “Like” Your Favorite FroYo Shop

It’s no secret that people love Facebook– and the statistics show it. Facebook’s 750 million users are on the site for more than 700 billion minutes per month. There are more than 900 million pages, groups, events (including frozen yogurt shops) to browse and “like”, hundreds of former classmates, as well as 250 million users who participate in mass liking from their mobile devices.

Though Facebook was revolutionary in design and user experience, its predecessors, Myspace and Friendster, readied the social networking mindset for many people. Though Facebook made social networking spread like wildfire, there was life before.

Google+:

Don’t Show Grandma The Party Pictures, Among Other Things

Google already has something of a monopoly on the Internet. Google+ initially surpassed Facebook as the fastest growing social networking site in history and offers features that force Facebook to play catch up.

Though Facebook helped pave the way for Google+’s success, many of its features are unprecedented. The mobile application for Google+ is much easier to use and much more reliable than Facebook’s.

Google+ also allows multiple users to chat or even watch YouTube videos as a group. Users can also coordinate huge dinners or Thursday night drinks via the chat room/text message feature called Huddles.

The circles also allow for more privacy than Facebook. Instead of going through the trouble of marking your album private and wondering if it works, you can just share with specific people.

Spotify:

Listen to Music Without the Guilt of Piracy

Before Spotify, music was a fairly overlooked aspect of social networking. Sites like last FM and Pandora offered somewhat of a glimpse into your pal’s favorite tunes, but Spotify took it to the next level.

Its design looks familiar to us and it’s an actual downloadable application, making it similar to iTunes and easier for us to wrap our minds around. Spotify lets you listen to just about anything you can imagine without the guilt of piracy and/or the F.B.I. breaking into your house while you sleep. Spotify also allows you to browse your friend’s playlists, create collaborative playlists together, access your music from any device with Spotify installed and sync all your mobile devices at once.

Just Visiting:

Be Productive and Proactive

For those who like to at least make an effort to use social networking responsibly and for an actual purpose, websites like Just Visiting allow you to stay up to date on current happenings in the real world, like trends in health insurance or health care reform and then to share your findings with friends or see what others are saying. With Just Visiting, healthcare and other relevant issues can be incorporated into social networking.

Twitter:

Read 140 Characters of Timely News and Useless Rants All At Once

When Twitter first debuted, nobody knew what it was for. A few years later, and people still aren’t really sure. But, it’s a great place to aggregate news from businesses, news sources, friends, family, musicians and even people’s pets. And somehow, it’s still less cluttered than Facebook.

Ok. We get it. Google is huge. Massive. Gargantuan. All of the above.

Think about the painstaking process of finding anything on the World Wide Web back in the late 90s before “Google” became a verb synonymous with search.

We had to askjeeves, whoever he was, and cross our fingers at the chance getting something in the ballpark of our query.

Google has a way of transforming the way we use the Internet, or the way the Internet uses us.

AdSense

Sure, you may think you’re searching for things with Google. But really, Google is searching you. You impulsively “Googled” multiple variations of the keyword “engagement rings” six times in one hour. Just to see what your options were. And now, for the next few hours, you’re bombarded with ads on the side and top of your page for any and everything wedding related.

Google has recently begun using AdSense for search retargeting. Google’s AdSense uses your latest search queries (engagement rings, wedding dresses, is my boyfriend going to propose, how to deal with in-laws) to give you specifically targeted ads. They know you better than you know yourself, and search retargeting won’t let you forget it.

Google Maps

Remember when Mapquest.com jettisoned to popularity? People couldn’t believe they were able to get directions from the Internet and took off on three-hour road trips to visit everyone from old college roommates to in-laws they hardly even liked.

Then Google Maps launched, gained popularity and turned Mapquest.com into a cartographical wasteland. The reasons for this? We use Google for everything else anyway. Plus, Mapquest.com had a tendency to get you almost there, but not quite.

And Google Earth provides a whole new level of exploration and navigation with which Mapquest.com couldn’t compete.

Gmail

Email was really cool, like fifteen years ago back in the days of Hotmail, Netscape, and AOL. Then Yahoo! launched its email service and revolutionized the way people communicated with distant relatives or even next-door neighbors. Yahoo brought the ‘cool’ back to email for a bit. Addresses like “soccergirl876@hotmail.com” became child’s play while people flocked to Yahoo! to have a better domain behind their names. Then Google launched Gmail.

And now, who can even name ten other email providers besides Google?

That’s my point exactly.

Google+

Facebook is still a social networking monster. Without it, most people wouldn’t be able to keep in touch with friends, reconnect with old buddies, and chat with family in other countries, or cyber-stalk their ex.

What decent 21st Century American could survive otherwise?

And, while Facebook is unfathomably vast, Google+ is the fastest growing social network of all time. Sure, Facebook paved the way for Google+, but Myspace paved the way for Facebook – and look at where Myspace is these days.

Google+ could turn Facebook into the ‘new’ Myspace. Ouch.

What’s next?

Whether it’s even more accurate search retargeting, the next Facebook or the furthering of advanced applications like Google Docs, no one really knows what Google will do next.

Except for maybe—Google? Yeah. They’ve got something up their electronic sleeve.

Get me out of here (Getmooh) is a free web service which enables you to schedule calls to your phone.

Imagine you are stuck and have to attend some important meeting or go out with someone; but you do not want to that is where Getmooh comes into play you simply just have to open up your browser visit there site and fill in your phone details and tell what you want to say in the call.

This is a real lifesaver  you should use it wisely and carefully too..

How it works from the Getmooh website:

Getmooh is an automated call back service. It is designed to help you escape a variety of situations by calling you automatically on your phone at a pre-specified time and playing you a recording which will either instruct you on what to say to elude your tormentor(s), or which will simply give a convincing sense of you being on an important call.

Here are some things should know about Getmooh:

• MAX Calls - You cannot make then two calls daily – so this is a big limitation but its better then Nothing right?.
• Caller ID Policy – At the end of every call, the mobile number of the person who placed the called is read out very distinctly by a computer-generated voice.
• Availability of Minutes – Getmooh can only make a certain number of calls a day. As People add calls, the minutes available get used up. Select the closest time to when you want a call. If the time you need is completely booked out we apologize.. We are working to increase the number of calls we can make all the time.
• PRANK or CRANK Calls – Keep a note that Getmooh has all records of every calls made so they can easily hand over your information if the person you made a prank/crank to comes to them to ask about it.

So what are you waiting for Click Here and add your call

Entrecard Toolbar has been released – but for Mozilla Firefox only. I’m not sure when or if a version of Entrecard Toolbar will be released for Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Click Here to visit the Entrecard Toolbar website to download it.

It really is very neat. It also helps you earn more credit points by making your dropping life easier then ever!

The entrecard makes dropping and advertising simply easy!. I really don’t prefer to install toolbars all over my browsers but this i really had to install.

Browsing entrecard enabled websites has become much more easier and i’m sure the team at entrecard are planning to improve and add more cool features to this already cool toolbar

Toolbar Features:

• Quick Account Switching
• Your Entrecard Menu
• Who to Browse
• How to Browse
• The Jump Buttons
• One Touch Favorites
• One Click Advertising
• Entrecard Menu

Great news, i just received the above scanned picture of a customer letter from one of Mobilink Infinity’s Sales Executive today!

I am glad to tell you guys that Mobilink Infinity is in the race now, although Mobilink Infinity is a new comer in the WiMAX environment – Rumor has it that Mobilink Infinity’s WiMAX service already got 3,000 consumers in just 3 days!

Hard to believe, but since knowing many people were waiting for Mobilink Infinity’s arrival in the WiMAX industry it is quite surely a possibility.

I am posting another Scanned Picture below that i got from Mobilink’s Sales Executive along with the above  posted – This one shows Mobilink Infinity Tariff Packages PLUS Bonus Special Offers!

I have also confirmed that Mobilink and LinkDotNet are not the same but different.

Mobilink Infinity’s back-end will be used by Alcatel Lucent and CPE’s will be provided by Zyxel.

Mobilink is offering 30 days 100% Refund.
Mobilink is also offering Dynamic IP address’s and not offering static IP address’s right now.

Well i just hope they really are offering “Real IP addresses” to each user unlike Wateen WiMAX who is assigning each user with Local IP address that is of No use and simply a RIP-OFF! [update] Seems like they changed and so Wateen is also providing dynamic ip addresses to its users now.

So far i am very happy with their Customer Service and as always Mobilink has given Customer Service a top priority – If you compare Wateen’s CSR with Mobilink’s CSR you will see alot of difference. Wateen’s CSR dont even know what they’re talking about! and just wants to get rid of the customer!

Mobilink’s Customer service is what we can call Quality Customer Service.

I haven’t decided to make a switch to Mobilink Infinity yet as i am also waiting for LinkDotNet. I will decide which to choose after that Mobilink Infinity or LinkDotNet! – Wateen is not even on my list! i will never-ever consider choosing Wateen or Warid for anything! – I hope

So far, as of yet i have not heard much bad stories of people signing up for Mobilink Infinity and having problems but who-ever joined from Wateen to Mobilink has only said one thing – “Mobilink Infinity WiMAX is better than Wateen WiMAX“.

Mobilink Infinity hasn’t launched completely yet either yet – so people outside of Karachi will have to wait till Mobilink Infinity is there – Currently Mobilink Infinity is only providing its services in Karachi City.

People who have switched from Wateen to Mobilink please do share your experience with us!

Wateen WiMAX in Pakistan is showing some signs of improvements…

Wateen has launched a working Self-Care Portal – that gives many useful advantages to us the wateen consumers.

You can click on the above picture to go there or see the link at the bottom..

Wateen has included some features that most users were praying to get so badly.

Features Includes:

• Service Information – Regarding your current package and other information.
• Favorite Links – Save your favorite links.
• Remaining Balance – Shows your remaining account balance.
• Internet Usage – Shows how much data has been used from your account. (Highly Demanded!)
• Last 5 Internet Sessions – Shows detail statistics regarding your sessions.
• Last 5 Calls – Details about your last 5 calls called from Wateen Telephony Services.
• Email Notification – Receive notifications alerts your usage limit depending on your chosen settings.

You can see the Features in the Picture posted below:

Seems like Wateen is still alive and listening – I really like this portal.

Finally they provided something useful.

You can login to this portal by using your Wateen Account Username / Password.

Selfcare Center URL: http://www.wateen.com/selfcare

If you are a wateen customer and would like to share your thoughts and opinion on the matter, please do comment and tell us.

Sorry i haven’t been posting here much but i haven’t been on the internet for a while, i was moving to a new house and finally got the house balanced and cleaned.

I’ve moved near (Gulestan-e-Johar / Johar Mor) – Yes! its in Karachi, Pakistan.

After moving here i wanted to get myself connected to the internet ASAP – I first asked around about the local ISP’s here (Cable Internet) but there was only 1 around here.. and their services were very very poor not meant for a frequent & active internet user.

I knew i will surely regret getting their services so i just passed on. I was looking for better alternatives but didn’t have a whole lot of choices in my arsenal. I contacted World-Call and found out that they don’t have coverage available here, so i had to move on and then i heard about Wateen WiMAX.

There was a Wateen Franchise not far from where i lived, so i went to there. It was Friday that day. I asked one of their Representative about the packages and if they have coverage in my area. They said they do have coverage in my area. Then the guy started explaining me about package plans, I chose the second package which was 512KBps with 4GB of monthly bandwidth. I would have chosen the third package, but i thought I’ll first try them out. Then the guy started explaining me about the pricing – He said it would total up around RS 6500.

I asked him “When will you be coming over to install the Wateen CPE Device?”, he said “We’ll be there in a hour”.

I went back home and after waiting about an hour that guy showed up, installed the device and explained me about the usage. The Do’s and Dont’s. Afterward i paid him his bill and he went telling me that my wateen username and password could take around from 1hr to 1 day to be activated – I said “No problem, but please make it asap”… and so he left.

The next day, He said “I’m sorry but we haven’t been able to get your USERID/PASS yet, Its still in the process we will let you know as soon as its done”. I said “Sure thing, no problem… I’ll be waiting”.

I got nothing that day – next day was Sunday, so nothing there either. On Monday i called again he said we’re very sorry but our portal has been down; and we activate userid/passwords using that portal, we’ll have it ready by the end of this evening.” I said OK… please, i need it asap!”

By the end of the evening, i didn’t get anything so i just had to call again; I called and they said that we were in the middle of activating your account but suddenly there was a bomb blast! So we had to close the office and Run! – At first i laughed alittle thinking about the situation and was thinking that it was just another excuse. But then i heard from a friend that those bomb blast did really happen. I couldn’t know because we don’t have any sort of cable and TV was not working either anyways.

I let that day past patiently… Next day, i told them that i want my Wateen UserID/Pass today, i don’t care what your problem is… its not my fault. (They even refused to give me a Demo user/pass :s) and that really got on my nerves. I told them either give me the user/pass by the end of the day – or take back your junk and give me a Full Refund.

The guy responded “I’m extremely sorry about your experience with our services but this is due to our Portal being down, We understand your concern and we will activate your account the first thing when the portal is up”. I said “I don’t care what you do now, either you give my account today if you can’t do that for what-ever reasons you have, you can come and take your device tomorrow. i wont need your account tomorrow i will only want my money back!”, Finished!

Later on i went outside to get something, and there i noticed there’s a LinkDotNet Office over here I was really shocked if i knew there was one here i would have never contacted Wateen in the first place. I still went inside and asked the staff about there DSL packages and all. They told me that "We can provide you with the DSL package right now, but i recommend you wait for a few days since we will be launching our new Product this month", which is sure to hit the market big time! He said it will be WiMAX technology! I said OK sure. He asked me my name and contact details so that he could let me know about the services as soon as its ready. I said “Please do, Thank you!” – Mobilink’s WiMAX does look very promising unlike Wateen which i had a-lot of doubts from the start!.

After coming back home i got my user/pass in a snap, i logged into my account started surfing and WOW was i amazed! The speed is surely rocking cool! Sometimes signal does have a problem in the CPE device, it tries to search multiple times. I am getting like 3/4 signals here. But sometimes i manage to get full 5 signals too

I’ve noticed sometimes that all the signals are up and yet still the internet is not working that is pretty confusing. Wateen is surely a new service but they need to make their staffs more reliable and skilled.

Wateen is just picking up people with no experience, and i don’t know who is training them it must be some one like them. I’ve seen Wateen staff who don’t even know how to Delete Saved Passwords from a users browser! Seems all they want is to sell and make money!

Below is a picture of the Motorola CPEi600 WiMAX device i got from them

The first thing i opened after getting connected to the internet was Google, I searched the term “Wateen Wimax” and got some results that leaded me to dozens of user complains. I was quite shocked and worried at the same time – people were complaining about Wateen billing them SO much like 12,000 RS and i even heard one person yelling he got billed about 1LAKH (1 Million) Rupees!

Well, most of the people whom i have seen complaining yet so far were 90% Post-Paid users, others seems to be fine – but most users praising wateen online could be there own Employees / Staff Members On the other hand most people complaining could be some-one from the competing Company trying to give a bad name to the other company.

If you’re one of the Wateen User I would really like to hear from you so please do post & share your experience with us!

Today, I was wanting to write some thing about security habits, I’ve went around visiting some sites, doing abit of search and found a very popular site Jayde.com to have some security issues, to think that Jayde.com is a very Popular PPC engine it has not been improving there engine at all.

They have been using GET method to send out all the user information, this is quite surely some times very risky for the end-user, i was once about a few days back browsing through their website to submit one of my sites there. I signed up, filled all the info, and submitted on the second page after the submission process i noticed that my username / password was clearly exposed on the Address Bar of the web browser. I was in a computer cafe at that time with some friends so one of the peaking eyes caught it too, so this is quite risky and some what the old-style way to handle user information. The process of passing private data through POST method is an ideal and i believe always will be an ideal way to transfer private data, i think Jayde.com should try improving there coding abit.

Think : – http://www.jayde.com/script/blah/blah.php?user=ebloggy&pass=pass123
is that the way you would want your private data to be transfer to the browser and onto your computer screen? i surely don’t!.

So if they would’ve just recode / improved there code to use POST variables it would be quite better for all of us. I personally hate sites using GET method where POST is another, much better option for them.

Well I’m getting kind of sleepy now, so am going to run off to the bed.
its getting quite cold so will have a long and relaxing sleep