It’s been a few months since Google launched Google+, its latest venture into social media. As is usually the case, sides were immediately chosen. Some lauded Google+ as the next big thing. On the other side, critics claimed it was no more than a feeble attempt to emulate Facebook. What was expected was for the debate to fade away, leaving Google+ users to post animated .gifs to their heart’s content. Of course, the critics would move on to their next target.

That isn’t the way it has really played out, though. No, Google upped the ante by quickly disallowing private profiles. I posted a piece on the private profile policy back on July 6, 2011. I expressed that it didn’t really matter, since one could choose to populate their profile with real or false information. I still thought it would all work out fine. Then came Google’s decision to begin suspending profiles with pseudonyms. This seemed a bit dicey, but there did seem to be a mechanism in place to request a review and validation of one’s pseudonym of choice. If favorably reviewed and determined to be for non-nefarious purposes, the person could keep using their pseudonym. It seemed simple, right? It was…until Google became an active combatant in the Identity Wars. The only problem is that it’s still difficult to discern who Google views as the enemy.

The Identity Wars

In an interesting Op-Ed piece published on the CNN website yesterday, Mashable founder Pete Cashmore discusses why he doesn’t believe Google+ will give up any ground on it’s no pseudonym policy. In his post, he examines some individual components of Facebook and how they and the system as a whole are easily connectable to other sites and services around the web. He also goes on to explain his view that Google sees identity validation and non-repudiation as a key to the acceptance and success of Google+.

“So why wouldn’t Google allow for pseudonyms in some cases? Or perhaps offer to hide your real name from public view for privacy reasons? My guess: Google is concerned that doing so would make its identity system less reliable than the one Facebook has already implemented — a system that insists on real names.” – Pete Cashmore, Mashable

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Google’s policies, Cashmore’s analysis of them make sense and seem to be the result of actual critical thinking. The only part that doesn’t make sense to me is his statement that Facebook insists on real names.

Facebook doesn’t care who you are

I can personally attest to the fact that, as long as it doesn’t contain special characters or seem suspicious to their automated validation tool, Facebook doesn’t care who you are. I have never used my real name on Facebook. On that platform, I am ‘ThatGuy Justin’. Facebook requires a name, email address and date of birth. Everything else is optional. Even the required information doesn’t require one to provide a copy of a form of identification with photo or links to reputable websites, like Google+ currently does.

There is little doubt that Facebook has its privacy issues. What we tend to forget, though, is that a good portion of the blame rests with users who choose to put much more and detailed information regarding themselves and allowing ‘Everyone’ to see it. Yes, back-end applications and advertisers being given unencumbered access to profile data is heinous, but Facebook users quite often voluntarily give out far too much information than they should.

Google+ versus the User

In the interest of objectivity, I must disclose that I have had my own ‘Geek Shui’ profile flagged, reviewed, re-reviewed, suspended, and reviewed again. As of the publication of this post, I am still awaiting a response from the Google+ Support Team. To be honest, I don’t expect one to arrive. Why? In my last rebuttal, I provided the team with an email from a member of their own team, in which my pseudonym, ‘Geek Shui’ was actually approved for use. Unfortunately, my profile was never reactivated. When I inquired about it the first time, there was no response at all. Within days, though, my profile went from flagged for review to suspended. Being a bit of a stubborn geek, I resubmitted my original justification for the use of my pseudonym, as well as the favorable review notification. I am waiting. It is likely that in a week or month from now, I’ll still be waiting. It’s a bit disappointing, but it’s true. What could they really say? They’re certainly not going to be tell me that it’s vital I use my real name, so that they can ensure their product is viewed as reputable to and desirable by other users, and increase their virtual and real market shares.

Another truth is that, at this point, Google hasn’t gained even an inch of ground on Facebook. The people who only used Facebook will not be enticed to switch, en masse, to Google+. They don’t generally have a problem with Facebook. There is only a cross-section of social media users (myself included) who have used Facebook, Twitter, Buzz, etc. and have a yearning to see some of Facebook’s functionality, as part of another, less privacy invasive platform. In the end, it seems that Google chooses to focus on millions of Facebook users who have never even heard of Google+, instead of carving out its own, original niche among the millions who are still reluctant to use Facebook.

Yes, Google is so entrenched in the technology and internet theaters of operation and hyper-focused on a goal of mythic proportions that retreat is unlikely. They will not be deterred by a few thousand complaints because they know that, ultimately, many users will concede defeat and use their real names. Even if they don’t, Google has enough eggs in their digital basket to ensure that their profit margin remains high.

It would seem, then, that we worked our way toward the answer to our original question. Who is the enemy? No, it’s not Facebook because Facebook doesn’t care and isn’t fighting. That leaves you, me and millions of other social media aficionados. Specifically, we, the vile pseudonym users, stand in the way, but we won’t for long. Google will see to that. They will soon suspend the non-compliant into oblivion and charge forward. When the dust settles, though, Google will still see Facebook, securely nestled in its digital castle on the mountain and blissfully suggesting new friends to its fiefdom. There will be a fairy tale ending. It just won’t be the one Google envisioned.

Let me first get this out into the open first. I don’t see Google’s removal of the option to have private profiles as an issue. That’s right. I’m saying that I don’t care. For that matter, you shouldn’t care either.

Users have never been required to provide government-issued documents to validate the date of birth, gender or uploaded avatar. No, people have always been free to omit biographical information, make things up and use an alias. Isn’t that what Dateline NBC’s ‘To Catch a Predator’ series taught us? From an Infosec standpoint, full disclosure of your information on any site, to include those with supposed ‘private’ profiles, is never recommended. Whether publicly available on the web or hidden from general view, the data you input and files you upload still reside on someone else’s server and can be exfiltrated by authorized admins or unauthorized third parties, via exploitation of unmitigated vulnerabilities, brute force attacks, and similarly scary methods employed by recreational and professional hackers.

In any event, once you hit ‘post’ or ‘upload’, your data is no longer yours. After it hits the web, you may have the option to delete it from your view, but it can never be considered truly deleted, since you can’t actually verify it has been deleted from the server, inline storage devices and server backups. Instead of subscribing to the knee-jerk reaction of indignation, I would, instead, encourage users to use Google’s decision as an opportunity to…well…Google yourself. If you have old, dormant accounts on sites, deactivate or delete them. It’s also a good idea to look at your publicly available profiles on sites you do use. Don’t just use the site’s option to view how the public sees you through internet searches. Take the extra step and actually log out. Then, search yourself and verify you’re not sharing more than you thought. Of course, no security check would be complete without verifying, option by option and setting by setting, how you allow the public, friends, and connected web applications to access and use your information on platforms like Facebook and Google+.

When you’re done checking up on yourself, do the same for your wife, husband, significant other, children or anyone else about whom you care. If you don’t have access to their accounts, be sure to let them know what you find. Very often, people know just enough about a platform, especially social media ones, to get themselves into trouble.

Finally, I recommend using Google’s option to create custom notifications about yourself. In reality, you can configure daily/weekly email notifications for any query. In this case, I’ll use myself as an example. Anytime someone publishes or posts anything publicly with the phrase “Geek Shui”, I get a notification. I have similar queries for my real name and other pseudonyms I use. In addition to using this method to see what others may be saying about me, I have also used the method to catch and respond to instances where someone tried to plagarize content from Geek Shui Living. From a parent’s perspective it’s a good idea because one can verify their kids aren’t posting things that could get them (or you) into an unsafe situation or legal trouble.

Granted, these may not be the most entertaining things to do on the web, but they are of tantamount importance. In the end, regularly investigating yourself and your profiles can help to protect your privacy, reputation, your identity and, in some extreme cases, your life. So, stop bashing Google and start investigating. You may be surprised what you find. Just be sure not to publish your findings on the web.

Stop right there. Don’t ask why GSL is publishing a piece on the Royal Wedding of Prince William and the soon-to-be Princess, Kate Middleton. GSL has not succumb to the royal wedding fever which seems to have swept the developed world. We assure you. It is geek/tech/gadget-related.

Generally, one associates a monarchy with staunch tradition and formality. Many remember watching the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana live on television, on July 29, 1981. Way (way, way) back then, the fact that it was broadcast live was a huge event. Of course, 1981 is far behind us, and in 2011, a live television broadcast would fail to impress just about anyone. How about a live stream via YouTube of the wedding? Would that impress you?

Yes, while many traditions the British monarchy have remained unchanged for centuries, it seems there is room for adaptation in the 21st Century. Not only will the wedding be streamed live via the web, it will happen on The Royal Channel, the official channel of the British Monarchy, on YouTube. Currently, there is a video invitation and related videos posted for computer users around the world. It also has user-submitted “well-wishing” videos. (If you haven’t submitted yours yet, there is still time!)

Why is any of this geek noteworthy? That should be fairly obvious by now. It’s streaming live…from YouTube. This means that tomorrow, there may be more people watching the Royal Wedding than there are watching dads get hit in the family jewels with whiffle ball bats or teenage girls shrieking in hopes of becoming the next Lady Gaga. One has to admit that the Royal Wedding is a much more heartwarming alternative. The sheer fact that there exists a platform and worldwide interconnectivity to allow for a live stream renews our perspective on how cool technology really is.

The most worthwhile part of The Royal Channel website has little to do with the happy couple or even the British Royal Family. Toward the bottom right of the page is a short write-up with a link to a webpage where a charitable fund has been set up for those who might like to donate to others, in the name of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. There are various areas to which donations can be channeled, to include support for military personnel and their families, conservation efforts, children’s services, and the arts.

Granted, the Royal Wedding may not be as highly anticipated in the tech community as would say….an Apple Keynote, but let’s be fair. The internet was not made solely for geeks and nerds. Besides, there are a lot of geeks and nerds who really want (or are at least a bit curious) to see things as they happen. Either way, you can be certain that come tomorrow morning, there will be millions of people sitting in front of the computer in their pajamas or secretly trying to watch from their work cubicles. It’s okay. You don’t have to admit if you’re one of them. Your secret is safe with us.

Links mentioned herein: (You know you want to at least see them.)

The Royal Channel on YouTube

The official Royal Wedding website

The Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund

There are those of you reading this that follow me on Twitter. There are some of you who don’t. If you are one of the former, I can still guarantee that 90% have probably never looked at my Twitter page, simply because you already have a mobile application that allowed you to find and follow me. That said, there are still a ton of people that use the web interface at Twitter.com for their daily Twitter fix.

Stats published by Twitter as late as last fall showed over 80% of their usage coming from Twitter.com and m.twitter.com. This means that someone is more likely to view my profile on Twitter.com than any other way (in a relative sense, based on a “new” person, not one of my current followers). New Twitter came into being months ago, and promptly killed one of the main reasons to enhance the design of your Twitter page.

I am personally a Photoshop addict, constantly creating new stuff, and so I tend to put my touch on everything I possibly can, including my Twitter page. The wallpaper currently on there I created myself, nothing fancy, but I get a sense of pride saying that. Someone landing on my Twitter page for the first time get a first impression based on the look of it. Remember, you only get one first impression, and I like to maximize it. If I want to promote myself, or whatever project I am working on, I would put it right there to be seen on my background image. I’ve made a dollar or two here and there doing freelance design for other people that wanted to put their branding on their page for all to see.

However, with New Twitter, the interface takes up so much of the screen, it only leaves 41px at the left for me to make that visual statement. I can’t even fit my name (legibly) into a space like that, how am I supposed to wow you with a snappy and well-designed background image?

All of this comes to a point. Twitter, I understand that you want us all to use the “New” interface you forced down our throats bestowed upon us, but it really doesn’t work for me. Twitter is supposed to be a service for expression, yet your new layout says “Look at me, not at whatever he wants you to see”. Please, give me a profile option to set a minimal look, trimming down some of the display elements so it becomes worth it for me to maintain my Twitter page again.

Sincerely, a Photoshop addict with an outdated Twitter page.

Yet another cross-platform messaging app has hit the smartphone market, and although LiveProfile has been out for Android and iOS for a bit already, it finally came into an open beta for BlackBerry today. Aiming to be another “BBM-like” experience, it has a host of features that BlackBerry users will recognize.

Visually, the app is quite polished, and I have to say that I really do enjoy the look of it on my 9800. Up until now, I have been using WhatsApp for my cross-platform needs, which is quite functional, but tends to fall a little short on visual appeal.

The majority of the features boasted by LiveProfile are nothing new, having already been seen in apps like Cnected and WhatsApp a long time ago. Sent, Delivered, and Read status for messages, ability to send media (pending a new release for BB, it’s currently locked out), and message list integration comprise the bulk of the LiveProfile plus list. Signing up for an account assigns you a unique PIN, which can be shared with other users, just like BBM, but I wasn’t keen on the prompt to scan my address book to invite people to the service. Thankfully, the developers were smart enough to allow me to opt out of that particular feature.

It’s beautiful, functional, and delivers on its promises. I really can’t ask for much more than that out of any application I choose to install on my device. I’m a little jaded regarding the hoopla about it’s features, having heard (and blogged) about the same things before, but don’t let that give you the impression I’m selling it short. I would still recommend to anyone to give it a go, especially if you are looking for a new way to keep in contact with those folks on other platforms.

After experiencing a server overload from downloads this morning, they seem to be back up and running just fine, so give it a go and download from the links on their site. If anyone wishes to add me personally, my PIN is LPHL502P.

LiveProfile

As always, feel free to drop a comment, email or tweet about this or any other topic that catches your interest. I may be a little busy lately, but I’m always happy to hear from you folks.

The latest in an ever-lengthening line of mobile apps for social media-philes was released yesterday. Simply called “Color”, it is a free app with versions for iPhone and Android. Based solely upon the name, one would assume that it was a photo editing or effects app. In this case, the name doesn’t describe the function as much as the goal it seems to hope to achieve…bringing a little more color to our social lives.

The man behind the venture is Bill Nguyen, who has made a name for himself in launching and selling ventures and later selling them to companies like Apple Inc. With Color, Nguyen and company are seeking to change how people interact socially on a digital platform, while in an actual real-life, social situation. According to Nguyen, the evolution toward a primarily mobile computing environment is resulting in a transition to a “post-PC world”. This all sounds exciting, but what does the Color app actually do? We’ve laid it out in simple fashion that users can use to decide if this is a “fundamental shift” of which they want to be a part.

The concept is relatively simple. Users download the iPhone or Android version and install it in a matter of seconds. (Sorry, BlackBerry users. You’ve been left out in the cold again.) To even function, the app needs permission to use the device’s location services and receive push notifications. It won’t open at all, if you haven’t allowed this via your device’s settings.

Upon opening the app, it prompts you to take photos together. You start by tapping the color wheel at the bottom of the screen. The device’s camera opens, and it’s just a matter of pointing and shooting. The photograph immediately appears on the screen and displays soft buttons to allow you to add a comment or simply tap Post to share it with others.

Okay, we took a picture a posted it. What happens now? That’s where the social part comes into play. Since we have location services enabled, the app looks for other people within the immediate area, who are also using the app. The maximum distance seems to be about 100 ft. If there are others, we can see the photographs they’ve snapped and posted.

You can also tap the soft button that looks like a clock. This will reveal a timeline of shared photos. Tapping a single photo will open it. From there, you can tap the visual symbol for thumbs up to signify your approval of it or the conversation cloud to add a comment. If it’s your photo, you can swipe left to delete it from the timeline. There is also an option to report a photo, which seems to indicate that someone on the server end may actually monitor postings and remove them if deemed inappropriate.

Of course, the app wouldn’t be very social if it was only limited to sharing photos with people who are actually at the party, sporting event, etc. that you’re attending. The Color app has this covered, too. Tapping the heart shaped icon at the bottom of the screen brings up options for sharing beyond a 100 ft radius, via Twitter, Facebook, email or SMS.

Upon testing the sharing function via my Twitter account, this is what those who follow me saw…

Clicking on the link included in the tweet opens up the photograph you just shared…

Assumably, sharing to Facebook or via email/SMS will also provide others with a link to the photograph and your Color gallery, as a whole. The app seems stable, and I didn’t experience any glitches during the testing (read: playing) period.

So, is the Color app the next big thing? That probably depends upon the overall consensus among social media-philes, based on the collective pros and cons of the app. What do I see as the pros and cons?

Pros:

• Easy to install and setup.
• Requires no registration or real configuration.
• Stable and does exactly what it says it does
• Multiple sharing options

Cons:

• Potential invasion of privacy issues for innocent bystanders
• Inability to make galleries private or block other users
• Won’t open without location services enabled

Will Color depose Instagram, the current favorite for iPhone users? It’s not likely. Instagram allows users to share their photographs, with the added advantage of being able to apply effects to them. It also provides more control regarding who can see your photos, since Instagram galleries can be made private. The ability to follow/be followed by other Instagram users is also a checkmark in its favor.

There’s no doubt that a lot of time and money went into the development of the Color app. This is attested to by the fact that they actually obtained the Color.com domain, which couldn’t have come cheap. Ultimately, the Color app has great potential for sharing both within real-life situations and beyond to our other social networks. As with social platform, the key is to attract enough users to make it worthwhile. We’ll have to give Color a few months to see if it really takes off, but there’s no doubt that they’re off to a…here comes the dread pun….colorful start.

Have a Color-compatible device? Download it for iPhone or Android, and let us know what you think.

By now, those who are plugged into the tech scene may be well aware that last week, Twitter’s platform product manager released a statement regarding an update to the Twitter TOS as it relates to 3rd party client apps. This update brings a high standard into place for existing developers, and sets the bar extremely high for any wishing to break into this rapidly growing network.

This move will stifle the production of any new apps designed to allow users to access to Twitter, whether it be from their smartphone or computer of choice. On the other hand, it provides a prime environment for the official applications acquired and developed by Twitter itself to flourish. What better way to make sure your own product succeeds than to tell everyone duplicating it that they have to make their product exactly the same. It takes away one of the major factors in the development game, trying to set yourself apart from the competition.

While the move makes excellent business sense in the grand scheme of things, it does show an interesting turn-around from the championed causes of last year. As late as last September, Twitter had posted this article on their blog, crediting the plethora of 3rd party applications for the sudden explosion in Twitter users. Now, when asked by developers if they should “build client apps that mimic or reproduce the mainstream Twitter consumer client experience” The answer is a resounding “No”.

Even stranger is the conflict in the TOS. Twitter has come out several times saying that their motivation for creating the official Twitter applications for various platforms was a desire to remove confusion for potential users.

“Still, our user research shows that consumers continue to be confused by the

different ways that a fractured landscape of third-party Twitter clients

display tweets and let users interact with core Twitter functions”

Boiled down, the updated TOS appears to offer a very narrow line for 3rd party developers to walk. They must provide a consistent experience with Twitter, yet they cannot attempt to duplicate the experience too much. Twitter has stated that a part of the confusion previously was that no applications were called “Twitter”, yet developers are not allowed to use “Twitter Marks” as a part of the name of their company or service.

I will be the first to admit that there are a ton of 3rd party clients available, and that the sheer array can be overwhelming at times. I am all for “trimming the herd”, so to speak, but my concern is that with the number of obstacles being presented to future and existing developers, many may just walk away rather than go through the headaches. We may very well lose some excellent applications simply because the developers decide it isn’t worth the hassle. Given that these very same applications were credited by Twitter itself for its growth, it seems that Twitter has bitten the hand that fed it, leaving many developers and promising applications in the cold.

Sound off in the comments with your thoughts, or hit me up on Twitter/email and let me know what you think.

Chances are, if you were to ask any random person on the street, they have hooked into social media in one way or another. Everyone has FaceBook, Twitter, or something of that ilk, and other social media services have become ever more prevalent as time goes on. Foursquare sparked a new evolution of this new culture, combining location based check-ins and social media sharing and turning it into a game. More and more people are latching onto this idea and using it in new and interesting ways, molding it to their own preferences.

I was once an avid user of Foursquare, but have let it go by the wayside for a number of reasons. I don’t travel around much. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Canada is woefully behind the US when it comes to real life benefits to being the “mayor” of a chosen venue. Last but not least, once I became mayor of my frequent places, there was nothing else to really do. No one challenged my mayorships, since we don’t have a lot of users here. In fact, I still hold most of my mayorships today, even though I haven’t checked in anywhere for months.

Then GetGlue entered my life, about a month ago. I was aware of GetGlue already by that point, but hadn’t been all that interested in it, preferring not to have to get my laptop fired up every time I felt like checking into something. With the release of the BlackBerry beta, I decided to give it a spin (with ample prompting from my lovely wife). Within a day, I was hooked.

For those not familiar with GetGlue, it’s a service based around media such as TV, movies, video games, and books. Celebrities, topics, even wine are included as well as subjects you can check into, so there is pretty much something for everyone to check into. Even better, users are rewarded tangibly with real life stickers. Not sure about any of you, but I had a sticker book when I was a kid, and I loved it. When I get my first batch of stickers in the mail from GetGlue, that concept will be resurrected, and I will regain a little piece of my childhood through a new treasured sticker album.

Stickers can be obtained by checking into certain shows, movies, and video games simply by checking in. Some will require that you watch a trailer first, and some are time or date specific. Get a few and soon you’ll be addicted, looking for other ways to earn them, and believe me, there are tons of expected and unexpected ways to earn.

Just a few examples:

-Becoming a “fan” or “superfan” of something (set number of check-ins and likes)

- Night Owl can be earned by checking into something after 3am

- Triathlon can be earned by checking into three different categories in a 24 hour period

-The Fist Bump is a personal favourite. “Like” 10 things on a friend’s profile to obtain (Thanks to Geek Shui for the tip)

-A personal favourite, the “Not Sticker” from GSL itself. Not available on GetGlue, but details on how to get your very own can be found here.

The list goes on and on, with new stickers added all the time and new “challenges” to get you a new sticker. For those that really want to get serious about collecting, one of our readers put together an excellent resource here (Thanks techparadox). Once you amass a collection of 20, you can have real life versions of those stickers sent to you in the mail. This however, is only the beginning.

Once you’ve gotten over the initial sticker rush, you’ll start to really explore the service, and the social aspects become prevalent very quickly. The “Quick Rate” component is literally capable of occupying hours of your time, clicking items over and over again as you rate and review them. Once you have built a base from the premade lists, GetGlue will start building lists based on your choices, opening up even more to go through. Doing this, you build a “profile” of your likes, which you can compare to your friend’s profiles later, and you even earn stickers by doing this.

I mentioned the word review, but there is much more to it than that. Once you have “liked” something, you can then move forward through it to see similar items, favourite that particular item, or add a review. If you have added a review on something, it is displayed publicly for anyone checking in to see. Users have the option to vote on your review, which leads to the addiction of the true GetGlue junkie, becoming a Guru. Write a proper review and have enough users vote for it, and suddenly you become the “Guru”, complete with full bragging rights.

Real life rewards, social interaction, and the ability to brag to your friends about how you are the “Guru” of a topic, all without having to leave your couch? Who needs Foursquare? For those of us that prefer a quiet life at home with our loved ones to running about outside the house, this is tailor –made. Add a little healthy competition between friends, and have even more fun earning Guru Titles and stickers. GeekShui is currently stomping me in our “race”, but once I tear myself away from Dragon Age 2 for long enough, the battle begins anew.

If you’re a Twitter or Facebook, you may have noticed (via someone’s annoying check-in) that GSL is now included among the indexed topics of GetGlue, the now famous service responsible for reviving the lost, sticker collecting child from our past. To be honest, it took some ingenuity to get it done, considering Tech News sites aren’t generally mentioned on any of the sites currently supported by GetGlue’s Firefox and Chrome browser add-ons. We’re pleased, though, to say we did it. After a little less than three weeks, we’ve had 32 visits, 32 likes and 84 check-ins from friends of GSL who recognized the name and checked-in just to show their support.

Those who read GSL regularly know that we’re not your conventional, geek-related news website. No, we tend to take things and make them bigger (or sometimes just more complicated). After getting added to the service, GSL sent an email to GetGlue asking for guidance on the process of requesting a GetGlue sticker to reward fans who check-in. Unfortunately, they informed us they are currently only partnering with film, television, and music companies. We gave it a good effort. That’s the end of that idea, right? Of course, the answer is no. This is GSL. We chose an alternate route. That’s right. We made our own limited-edition stickers and decided to send them out ourselves. How do you get one? The simple rules await you beyond the break.

“Stickers but Not Stickers” Disclaimer

First and foremost, we want to be very clear. These stickers are not just stickers. Nor, are they are not “GetGlue” stickers, as we have no affiliation with GetGlue. They are “Geek Shui Living” stickers, which we made and plan to send out to those who earn the “Fan” sticker on GetGlue, by checking in to the Geek Shui Living Topic five times or more. In the interest of avoiding a lawsuit (since we have no money anyway), we’ll just call them “GSL Not Stickers”.

How to earn your “GSL Not Sticker”

If you already use (or are addicted to) GetGlue, you’re already familiar with the process of check-ins and earning “Fan” stickers. This is what you have to do:

• Check-in to the “Geek Shui Living” topic regularly. (Having it post to your Twitter and Facebook accounts is appreciated, too.)
• Once you’ve completed five check-ins, GetGlue will award you a “Fan” sticker.
• Continue your check-ins, until you earn the “Super Fan” sticker (15 check-ins).
• When you reach “Super Fan” status, take a screenshot of the notification from GetGlue or one showing your GetGlue avatar in the “Super Fan” category (see screencap below).
• Email the screenshot to GSL (NotSticker @ geekshuiliving.com), along with real name (not the fake Interwebz one you use) and your mailing address.
• Upon verification that you are, indeed, a “Super Fan” of GSL, we’ll get your GSL Not Sticker sent out.

GSL Not Stickers are not forever

To make things interesting, we decided to make the GSL Not Stickers a limited edition offering. Only the first 75 GetGlue users who check-in and attain “Super Fan” status will receive them. We will not be printing more of the same one. Awarding will be on a first-come, first-served basis. That means that as soon as you meet the minimum requirement, grab the screenshot and send it to us. They will be awarded to the first 75 people from whom we receive the evidence.

Of course, if participation is strong, once these are gone, we’ll just might make another (and then another) GSL Not Sticker. If you’re a true sticker junkie, you will of course not feel complete without a complete set of any sticker. There are no promises regarding future GSL Not Stickers, but, if we do, do you really want to take the chance of not earning them all?

Not Stickers are not available elsewhere

Remember that the GSL Not Sticker isn’t available anywhere else. You can’t buy them (although you can buy GSL Gear at Skreened). You might be able to beg, borrow or steal one, but we’ll leave that up to you and your belief in virtual karma. We would rather not know about it.

It’s best just to focus on earning your own. So, what are you waiting for? Get started on your GSL check-ins on GetGlue today. Come on! You know you want to earn one of these limited edition stickers before they run out!

Last week, we gave you a sneek peek at the Lovefre.sh app, thanks to an interview we were granted with the company’s CEO, Mark Spofforth. With an HTML5 web and iPhone app, it’s designed to allow smartphone users to find and share good, locally produced food. The concept is a surprisingly simple one, but it has the potential to change how we view and use location-based apps. We’re happy to say it was approved by Apple and, as of today, is available for free, in the App Store.

If you didn’t get a chance to read GSL’s preview of it last week, you really should take a few minutes to do so. You can take a look at how it works on the official Lovefre.sh website. Once you have, install it on your iPhone and start checking in wherever you buy locally-grown foods and share the location with your geographic neighbors. The sooner we start using it, the sooner we can start changing the world…one plate at a time.

[Apple App Store download link]