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Social Networking Connectors for Outlook 2010

Shijaz Abdulla — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:40:19 +0000

Outlook 2010 now features Social Networking Connector Provides for Windows Live Messenger, LinkedIn, MySpace and Facebook. This brings in a whole new dimension in Outlook beyond plain old email.

For instance, when you receive an email from someone who is on your Facebook friends list, you instantly see his status updates, wall posts, etc in Outlook, just below his message. Here’s a screenshot:

The same goes for updates from LinkedIn, Windows Live Messenger and MySpace. You can also add people you email with to your Facebook right from Outlook by clicking on the Add button.

To enable the connectors, simply download and install them and restart Outlook. You will be prompted to enter your credentials to the social networking sites. If you are not prompted, go to View > People Pane > Account Settings.

You can enable the social media connectors as follows:

Windows Live Messenger – built into Outlook
SharePoint – built into Outlook
Facebook – Download here
LinkedIn – Download here

Watch the Outlook Social Connector Partners page to stay updated about other social networks that will have connectors for Outlook coming soon.

Simultaneously updating your status on Twitter, Facebook and others

Shijaz Abdulla — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:53:00 +0000

I came across this great tool that lets you simultaneously update your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and a whole bunch of other microblogging/social networking websites. It’s called hellotxt.

They’ve also got a page for mobile devices, over at m.hellotxt.com. Great way to update your status on all social networking tools at once, wherever you are.

Uploading Photos & Videos to Facebook from Windows

Shijaz Abdulla — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:18:00 +0000

I came across the LiveUpload to Facebook tool on Codeplex today. This great tool helps you upload photos directly from Windows Live Photo Gallery or Windows Live Movie Maker.

Windows live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Movie Maker are two free tools that are part of the Windows Essentials download.

Why Facebook is not blocked by Etisalat

Shijaz Abdulla — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:19:00 +0000

In an earlier post, I mentioned how social networking sites (like Orkut) are blocked in the UAE by the ISP Etisalat.

Ever wondered why they don’t block Facebook? …probably because Etisalat advertises on Facebook!!

Microsoft buys Facebook stake

Shijaz Abdulla — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:59:00 +0000

Microsoft has taken an equity stake in the social networking website, Facebook and, in return, gets to expand its exclusive advertising deal to handle ads for Facebook on a global basis.

Facebook didn’t come cheap. Microsoft is spending $240 million for roughly a 1.6 percent stake, based on an overall valuation of privately-held Facebook at $15 billion. Not bad, considering the fact that Facebook is a company that was founded by three Harvard students in their dorm room in February 2004.

Microsoft had signed up an advertising deal with Facebook in August 2006, which made Microsoft adCenter the exclusive banner and link advertising partner for Facebook. But this was limited to the US.

Now Microsoft opens new doors in expanding its advertising outreach globally by acquiring a stake in the social networking site.

Of late, we are seeing a rush from Microsoft to follow the trends that Google and Yahoo are making in terms of advertising through online services. Windows Live is getting bigger, better and smarter everyday with newer features being added.

A thought:
Facebook is the only social networking site that is not blocked by the ISP in the UAE (Etisalat). Hmm.