Doc Blades

Rapidstack – For Searching Rapidshare, Of Course

This is one of those strange finds that happens when I’m thinking about starting a new project. I was downloading something from Rapidshare and I thought to myself “I wonder if I could scour the web for Rapidshare links? See what’s out there, and what not.” Yes, I talk to myself like I’m in a Sherlock Holmes novel.

Anyway… the point is that I searched to see if someone had already made and app to search for Rapidshare links and, in fact, someone had. I found Rapidstack, a nice ajax-driven search engine. It even claims that it weeds out all of the dead links before displaying the results. I’ve had no problems with any of the links I’ve found, so I’d have to say that it does its job.

It has left me wanting something more, though. Because of Google Analytics, I’m now addicted to graphs. Pretty pretty graphs. I can only imagine what the graphs of keywords from Rapidshare links would look like.

[Rapidstack]

Twisten.fm Lets You Listen to What Others Are Twittering About

Yet another music service using Grooveshark (or by Grooveshark… yes definitely by them). This one trolls Twitter updates looking for Tinysong links, and gives you a convenient play button so you can just start listening without navigating away.

It’s a great way to discover new music. That is, it will be until Twitter becomes so mainstream that all those people from Myspace start using it. Then it’s back to looking for needles in haystacks. Or just back to Last.fm.

[Twisten.fm]

TinySong – Easy Way to Share Your Poor Taste in Music

Ever wanted to share what you’re listening to with all of your social networked friends? No? Not a Myspace fan, huh?

Well, this is different.

TinySong lets you create a, well, tiny url for a song. It’s perfect for Twitter, or even a Facebook status because the average url comes in at 24 characters. It uses Grooveshark’s huge database of songs, so you’re almost guaranteed to find the song you want. In fact, when click on a TinySong link, you’ll be taken to the Grooveshark page for that song, so there are no surprises. In other words: no surprise Rick Rolls.

So, give it a ty. http://tinysong.com/1Xa

Facebook’s Gift Remains Wrapped Until Valentines

Two updates in a row! That’s gotta be some sort of record, or something.

This one I really do like. For this Valentines, you can send your sweetie, or friend, or bed-buddy, a nice Valentines gift that will remain wrapped until Valentine’s Day. No peeking, even.

The gift will remain on the giftee’s wall until midnight on the 14th, building suspense about what it could possibly be.

Brilliant!

Thanks, Facebook.

“I Like This” on Facebook: Bringing Laziness to Comments

Facebook is at it again. Within the last year or so, Facebook has added new features that have, in my opinion, changed the way we think of social networks. The ability to on just about every action your friends make is a feature that I use on a daily basis, and honestly can’t imagine living without.

But now, like the original poke, Facebook has added a lazy way to show your friends that you’re paying attention to them. On your feeds, next to the comment link, you will now find a “like” link. Instead of writing an insightful and well thought out message (I know, noone actually does that), you now have the option to simply “like” their status changes, new book choices, or group joins.

I’m honestly opposed to the idea of making people lazier. Really, what’s so hard about typing a few words. Something thoughtful, like “I’m so glad you’ve decided to join the Ricky Martin fan club, but we can no longer hang out.” Or something inspirational, like “Learn the difference between its and it’s, retard.”

Society is crumbling around us.

Edit:

Apparently it was on the Facebook blog at 9pm last night, but the addict I am, I’m sure I would have noticed if it had been implemented anytime before 3pm EDT today.

Gmail adds Multiple Inboxes

Yesterday, Gmail intruduced a new feature in the labs: Multiple Inboxes.

First thought when I heard about it? “Oh, now I can stop forwarding my student account and other Gmail based accounts to my main account and just access them all from the same space.” You know, 9 accounts were given to the Christian, but in secret another ring was forged…

I was only mildly disappointed.

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