Facebook, Twitter integration spreads to all of Apple's online store
Links to share products on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter are now available for all items sold in Apple's online store, including third-party products.
The gradual roll-out of the social networking features began last month, but was initially limited to only a handful of Apple-specific products, namely the iPod classic and Mac Pro. But as of Monday, all products in Apple's online store now sport links to Facebook and Twitter.
Using the links, users can share products with their friends on the popular social networking sites. The links can be found by clicking a drop-down arrow located to the right of "Add to Cart" links on the store.
Choosing to share a link on Twitter opens a window pre-populated with the name of the product and a link to the Apple online store. For Facebook, a window opens and users can post a thumbnail and a link to the product via their account.
The enhancements to Apple's online store are another way that the company has chosen to embrace social networking. The iPhone maker will also add system-wide Twitter integration to iOS 5 this fall, while videos of an alleged iPhone prototype suggest the company also looked into Facebook integration at the system level.
Apple has its own social networking tool designed to share iTunes Music content, called Ping. It debuted last year with the release of iTunes 10, and features integration with Twitter to make it easier for people to share music discoveries with their friends.
AppleInsider was first to report on Saturday new evidence that Apple plans to add a new social networking element to its forthcoming iCloud service. Dubbed "Find My Friends," the feature is expected to allow users of iOS devices to discover their friends' locations via GPS.
The gradual roll-out of the social networking features began last month, but was initially limited to only a handful of Apple-specific products, namely the iPod classic and Mac Pro. But as of Monday, all products in Apple's online store now sport links to Facebook and Twitter.
Using the links, users can share products with their friends on the popular social networking sites. The links can be found by clicking a drop-down arrow located to the right of "Add to Cart" links on the store.
Choosing to share a link on Twitter opens a window pre-populated with the name of the product and a link to the Apple online store. For Facebook, a window opens and users can post a thumbnail and a link to the product via their account.
The enhancements to Apple's online store are another way that the company has chosen to embrace social networking. The iPhone maker will also add system-wide Twitter integration to iOS 5 this fall, while videos of an alleged iPhone prototype suggest the company also looked into Facebook integration at the system level.
Apple has its own social networking tool designed to share iTunes Music content, called Ping. It debuted last year with the release of iTunes 10, and features integration with Twitter to make it easier for people to share music discoveries with their friends.
AppleInsider was first to report on Saturday new evidence that Apple plans to add a new social networking element to its forthcoming iCloud service. Dubbed "Find My Friends," the feature is expected to allow users of iOS devices to discover their friends' locations via GPS.
Comments
I wish you could just turn all that crap off.
Why would you say that? If there were a +1 button under your post, I would have clicked it!
I wish you could just turn all that crap off.
I can't see any Lamebook or Twister links on the US Apple Online Store in Safari? Do I need an update for that?
Anyway, maybe I am just lucky.
iPhone settings needs a 'disable' for this stuff, or better still - like the Nike+, it should be an 'enable' feature for those who do want it, set to off for the rest of us by default. I don't see why I should have to try to filter social networking out when I never wanted it in the first place.
I wish you could just turn all that crap off.
Why would you say that? If there were a +1 button under your post, I would have clicked it!
I agree with the first poster: this is all a tremendous waste of time and screen space. It might be one thing if someone finds some really obscure but useful product or service, but what purpose does it serve to send people on a Facebook list (or to post on one's wall) a photo and information about an Apple product? Do you really think "your friends" don't already know about it? You might as well send them a photo of a can of tuna fish.
We've become completely obsessed with telling the world about the most minuscule and trivial details of our own lives. I really couldn't care less if you're at a Taco Bell right now or if you just bought underwear or if you agree with another poster unless you have something to ADD to the conversation. Every single +1 given to a site, product or posting might be from complete idiots. And these "check-in" sites bug me even more. I don't want to know that you're "somewhere" unless you want me to meet you there. And I don't want to have to give away my life's details just to get a discount.
And that's aside from the issues of giving away one's privacy and setting yourself up (at best) to be a target of marketers.
I've never understood the appeal of either Twitter or Facebook, but maybe I'm simply either too old or have too much else going on in my life. Personally, I hope they go the way of AOL Chat Rooms. When I hear my phone beep with an email or text notification, I don't think "What fun...an email!", I think, "oh damn...who is bugging me now and what do they want from me?"
I'm not as scared of twitter for some reason though. Maybe because they don't show my face on websites.
Never going to use it.
I wish you could just turn all that crap off.
Grab the "Get Off My Lawn" extension, alongside Defacer. That takes care of all Social Networking tripe on the Internet.
I've never understood the appeal of either Twitter or Facebook, but maybe I'm simply either too old or have too much else going on in my life. Personally, I hope they go the way of AOL Chat Rooms. When I hear my phone beep with an email or text notification, I don't think "What fun...an email!", I think, "oh damn...who is bugging me now and what do they want from me?"
1. Yes, you're too old.
2. You may or may not have too much else going on in life.
3. I met my last wife in an AOL chat room. (We're now divorcing.)
4. "oh damn...who is bugging me now and what do they want from me?" - not only are you too old, you're too crotchety, also.
5. I am way too much like you.
Someone needs to make a FireFox or Chrome plug in to hate things on Facebook
Someone needs to make a FireFox or Chrome plug in to hate Facebook
We've become completely obsessed with telling the world about the most minuscule and trivial details of our own lives. I really couldn't care less if you're at a Taco Bell right now or if you just bought underwear or if you agree with another poster unless you have something to ADD to the conversation. Every single +1 given to a site, product or posting might be from complete idiots. And these "check-in" sites bug me even more. I don't want to know that you're "somewhere" unless you want me to meet you there. And I don't want to have to give away my life's details just to get a discount.
(my emphasis)
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! Why the frick do people give away their personal information so readily to save a dime?! or even a buck? The whole thing is repulsive.
And that's aside from the issues of giving away one's privacy and setting yourself up (at best) to be a target of marketers.
Absolutely.
When I hear my phone beep with an email or text notification, I don't think "What fun...an email!", I think, "oh damn...who is bugging me now and what do they want from me?"
Again, a perfect quote. I've felt this way for years. Although an email is different from text or phone call because you can (and typically do) read it on your own schedule. There's no expectation that it will be dealt with in real-time.
I think the problem for Apple is that it does not have a social product like Google with its G+. So it has to either use G+ or Facebook/Twitter. Since Google is the competitor then Facebook it is.
I do not think the future is based on Facebook model but the G+ model instead. So it may worth Apple spending some time and figuring this one out and the answer is not straight forward.
I love Twitter, really. I use it a lot. But Twitter is Twitter. The Apple Store is The Apple Store and I know the difference. Wasted space indeed. What a horrible trend. Those buttons litter everywhere.
The only issue with it is the over-sharing, mindless sharing and attempted marketing that takes place. But the beauty of that is simply "unfollow".
When used for things other than "look at me!", bathroom updates and marketing ploys, social media can be a powerful means of communication, movement and information sharing. -- Just look at what's going on with the youth in Iran: rising against the government by having mass waterballoon fights and joyous gatherings that are putting them in jail and letting the world see their oppression first hand. Or in Egypt, where the information sharing in regard to tyranny had the government shutting social media down. Or in England, where twitter circulated snapshots of looters, rioters and kept people safe by instructing them on not where to go. ... there are other examples.
Apple should formally purchase Twitter, forego the support of Facebook in any capacity, and connect us all in ways that don't rape our privacy.