Facebook Pushing Virtual Gifts

Facebook hasn’t been only an upgrade for me from Friendster but it’s been a way for me to keep in close contact with my friends. So much so, I’m really grateful for its birthday reminders – though hidden on the right side.

Whenever a friend’s birthday is today, I’d visit their wall to post a simple but thoughtful birthday greeting to them. During this time, Facebook upgraded a birthday person’s wall as an optional virtual gift purchase. I’ve always ignored it because I see no value of a virtual gift.

Facebook Plays Hardball

I think Facebook knew many users (especially us kiam-sap “selfish” Malaysians) weren’t purchasing vritual gifts often. So they upgraded the system yet again.

This time, they renamed the “share” button to “buy gift”. I was so used to typing into the wall and clicking share that I was shocked to find this.

The only way now you can get around this is by closing this option. Forcing you to click the “X” on the box so it becomes a normal wall message.

Whether it’s a user experience upgrade to improve their virtual gift options, I personally doubt it. But what I know is, they’ve made it even more cumbersome to wish my friends happy birthday by having to close the option first before sharing it.

Why Facebook? Why?

MYNIC Finally Upgrades The System

I just got the email notification from MYNIC. They are finally improving their system in key areas based on the opinions and comments from their customers. Exactly who these customers are I wouldn’t know, but with the new system:

• a Registrant can apply for multiple domain names in one submission.
• a Registrant may register up to 5 years
• a Contact Person with the same Contact Code can perform multiple domain name transaction such as modification, deletion and transfer.
• a domain name to be transferred to a new Registrant, is required to make payment before it is registered.

The new system will be implemented and launched on February 1, 2010.

Now, I really welcome the upgrade and really hope it’s an improvement. Because last I remember having to use MYNIC for any administration, I found:

1. It’s troublesome to login and edit the domain.
2. There’s too many things to remember from:
   • Registration number
   • MYNIC ID
   • Domain ID
   • Technical ID…you get the picture.
3. You’re forced to register with 3rd parties instead of direct.
4. The manual or help documents don’t really help much.

And a whole lot more of usability factors which I’ve peeves with. Last I wrote about MYNIC, I reviewed how their new website launch missed improving many key areas in the first place.

What would you like to see improved in MYNIC’s system?