WhatsApp - Block and Stop Adding to Random Groups

Ever getting annoyed by strangers adding you in some random WhatsApp groups? I feel for you!

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature gradually globally that will allow you to control who can add you in groups.

To enable it, go to Settings in your app, then tap Account > Privacy > Groups and select one of three options: "Nobody", "My Contacts", or "Everyone". "Nobody" means you'll have to approve joining every group to which you're invited, and "My Contacts" means only users you have in your address book can add you to groups.

In cases whereby the person adding you to a group is unable to add you into group, the person will be prompted to send a private invite through an individual chat, giving you the choice of joining the group. The invite will expire in three days.

» New Privacy Settings for Groups | WhatsApp Blog

WhatsApp: "Your phone number is banned from using WhatsApp. Contact support for help"

If you found youself banned from using WhatsApp and am seeing "Your phone number is banned from using WhatsApp. Contact support for help" message, this could be due to you using a modified version of WhatsApp.

WhatsApp has a clause on its Acceptable Use Policy pointing out that using a modded version could cause harm to fellow WhatsApp users. If you are banned, you will need to first uninstall the modded app, download and install the official WhatsApp. If you still find yourself banned, email WhatsApp to have your case looked into.

How to check if your Facebook was shared with Cambridge Analytica?

If you have never heard of the case of Cambridge Analytica with Facebook, then you must be living in some cave.

Ever since the scandal was revealed, Facebook has started notifying up to millions affected. However, if you did not receive any notification from Facebook but would like to check if your Facebook account is affected, you may do so by going to the Facebook's help centre. The quick-and-easy utility from Facebook will tell you whether you or a friend of yours were affected.

The Facebook check is here.

NOTE: You will need to be logged on to Facebook before the check can be performed.

You should see the following if your Facebook information was not shared with Cambridge Analytica.

How to activate 280 characters limit Tweet

Update: Twitter has blocked this. It was fun though.

Twitter is currently testing to extend the current 140 characters limit to 280 for a single tweet. This feature is said to be available to a small selected group of users only but there is a way to get this 280 characters extension activated.

Developer Juliette Pretot has published a method to activate the 280 character tweets. I have personally tested it and it is working as expected.

Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!! Long tweet > 140 characters!!!

— Hon Chun (@hongjun) September 27, 2017

Facebook is down

What can get more worse for some for not able to update their Facebook status to inform the world that Facebook is down? Yes, Facebook is down, at least for me in Singapore as of now May 9, 2017, 09:41 AM (GMT +8).

How Technology Makes Us Lose Humanity?

10 Awesome Infographics to Guide your Marketing Plan for 2014

The Buffer blog has rounded up 10 infographics and suggestions on online marketing to help us get our 2014 marketing strategy off to a great start. Visit the page now.

Comprehensive and Complete Guide to Facebook Ads

Read The Complete Guide to Getting Started with Facebook Ads by Buffer Blog. Very comprehensive.

Guide to Writing Great Headlines on Twitter, Facebook and Your Blog

An insightful article written by the Buffer on how writing great headlines on Twitter, Facebook and your Blog.

Skype Facing Problems Signing In Using Microsoft Account

It's confirmed that signing into Skype using Microsoft Account is facing problem as indicated on Skype Heartbeat.

Skype Heartbeat Announcement

It seem to be affecting only Skype for Desktop.

Error message after attempting to login using Microsoft account

In case you do need to connect with your MSN friends urgently, you may explore the following options:

1. Skype on mobile
2. Third party IM e.g. imo.im or eBuddy.

[UPDATE Apr 25, 2013 18:15 GMT+8] The issue has been resolved - at least for myself.

Get Facebook Home on Any Android Phone

Facebook Home is live but is available only on selected phones for now. Lifehacker has a tip on how to Get Facebook Home on Any Android Phone.

A first look on Facebook Home.

Facebook Home "Launch Day" Video Ad

What do you think of the Facebook Home "Launch Day" video ad? What message is Facebook trying to convey? Did you having a better understanding what Facebook Home is all about after watching this video? IMO, the video seems to suggest Facebook Home is a great potential for creating distractions.

Boost Your Facebook Privacy

An interesting article from the LifeHacker How Facebook Uses Your Data to Target Ads, Even Offline will guide you how to boost your Facebook privacy.

How to block/unblock Messenger contacts after migration to Skype?

After having moved my messenger to Skype for a few weeks, the experience is like taking 100 steps backwards. Other than once encountering login issues, my impression on Skype has reached new bottom.

On the first day when I first migrated to Skype, messaging my contacts encountered problems. I soon realised that's all because I appeared offline on Messenger previously. A quick resolution not to lose all these contacts is to go back to Messenger, appear online to all contacts, exit from Messenger, then login to Skype again. Why didn't Skype think of this and do a proper synchronise job.

Blocking a messenger contact is so damn difficult on Skype. I repeat again - MESSENGER contact. The reason for repeating is because blocking a Skype contact is a few clicks away within the Skype program itself but NOT for a MESSENGER contact.

To block a messenger contact, you can only do it from Microsoft Live People page.

1. Login to Windows Live account http://www.outlook.com on your preferred browser.
   
   
2. Click on the down arrow from the top menu followed by the People option.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Then go to Manage > Limit Access.
   
   
   
   
4. You may then limit access to selected contacts on this page.

NOTE: It is required to re-login Skype for the block/unblock to take effect.

How to get the new Facebook Newsfeed (Google+) look?

Facebook announced a revamp on its Newsfeed putting more emphasis on the news area. My take on the new look reminds me of Google+. Facebook must have taken some design cues from Google+ and incorporating them onto theirs. Study Facebook’s New News Feed: The Before & After Look and see for yourself.

Ok, so how do I opt in to the new Newsfeed? Click this link, scroll all the way down and then click on the "Try the new look" button. You will be placed in the waiting list.

Resolve Skype unable to login problem

I woke up in the morning finding myself unable to log myself onto Skype to access my Messenger contacts. After figuring out for some time and sometimes even accusing my anti-virus program, I conclude this is a problem with the Skype installed on my laptop, since I am having no problems with Skype on my Android.

To resolve the login problem, I attempted to remove my profile completely. This seems to have resolved everything.

Before performing the following steps, make sure Skype program has exited i.e. Skype shouldn't even be lurking in your system tray.

1. Start Menu > Run
   
   
2. Type %appdata%\skype
   
   
   
   
3. Click OK button.
   
   
4. Delete the folder bearing the name of your Skype login name. It may be in the form of <username> or live#<username>.

Your Skype should run okay now.

For Mac users, the path is User/Library/Application Support/Skype.

Microsoft to Shut Down Messenger; Guide to Skype Icons

Microsoft has announced to terminate and shutdown Messenger on Mar 15 and moving all users to the Skype messenger service, of which they acquired in October 2011. Microsoft has begun sending emails to all its users in phases.

Some guide on Skype before you even dive in from Messenger.

1. What is a Microsoft Account?
2. How do I create a Skype account?
3. How do I unlink my Skype and Microsoft or Facebook accounts?
4. Skype Status Icons

Infographics: A Short History of Facebook Privacy Failure

Source: Mashable

Twitter Photo Filters

Google's Horowitz says Facebook is a social network of the past

In an interview with Business Insider, Google VP of social products, Horowitz, mentioned Facebook is a social network of the past and Facebook "sandwich" way of jamming ads to its users.

Watch the 15-minute conversation is as follows: