[Update] Orkut introduces new scrapbook to users

(Click to enlarge)

After so many updates this month [like introducing trash feature] orkut has now introduced a brand new and goodlooking AJAX based scrapbook to the users. This was first given to Brazilian users and now are also available to some Indian users too. Though only a small [infact a very small] percentage of users has got this feature but thanks to our DFS community members and also OUG community activities, we can make a quick and probable analysis:-

Pros:

• Looks cool and contains some good features
• Automatically loads scraps -no need to refresh

Cons:

• Might be vulnerable to XSS hacks as shown in the picture below

(Click on the image to enlarge)

• Greasemonkey scripts like smilies and signature are not working under this new scrapbook [Until we arrive with some new fixes]

Images credits:

1. Scrapbook image - Arun George..
2. XSS Alert image - Leo

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Useful greasemonkey scripts to ease and speed up your Orkutting and Browsing

Previously we gave you some Greasemonkey scripts related to orkut! Today we shall give you some useful and working script made mostly by our team [If taken from others then credits are given to the respective author]. The best thing about these scripts are that they are compact, contains no error and thereby are fast and very much specific on their purpose.

If you are new to Greasemonkey scripts then please read the INSTRUCTION section of this post on Blakut. So here we start

Orkut Manager with better orkut compatibility

(for gmail users only)

LINK: Click here Purpose:

1. Gives you quote button to quote replies from forum like this
2. Adds a refresh button at the lower end of forum post

Compatibility and fixes: This script is not entirely made by us. Following fixes are done only

1. Compatible fully with Better Orkut script
2. Removed bookmark feature from original orkut manager which used to cause hangs
3. Also removed -last option so that it may not cause any conflicts with Better orkut script

Orkut Signature button

LINK: Click here Purpose:

1. Gives you 2 signature button below your Scrapbook and community post
2. Use the HTML signature button to post HTML signature.
3. Or, in HTML disabled communities just use Simple signature button
4. Also gives you a Template button which you can use to generate cool HTML templates

Instruction:

• Right click on Greeasemonkey icon>Manage User scripts...
• Then Select the Orkut Signature button script and then choose edit
• Set notepad or in my case Crimson editor for default editor [If you havent set already]
• Now find this portion on the upper part of the script
• Edit the Values to make your script the way you want. Like change "Your Signature" to "My name" just dont remove the quotations ["]
• For editing the background, font colour you need to get hex colour code which you can generate from here. Copy the value along with # and paste it inside the quotation marks.
• For more assistance please see this thread of our DFS community

Orkut image hotlink button

LINK: Click here Purpose:

• Gives a button for opening the image your are visiting on a new tab.
• Extreamly useful as orkut has disabled right clicking on images for friend's album.

HTML Encoder/Decoder for Orkut

LINK: Click here Purpose:

• This is an userscript version of the HTML encoder/decoder tool we have created
• So use this tool to share html source codes with your friends or with community members

De-Captchaphy script for Orkut

LINK: Click here Purpose:

• Makes some changes in the link you post so as to eliminate Captchas
• Links will also be clickable if you continue to use this script

Invisible fix by Blakut

LINK: Click here Purpose:

• Replaces invisible profile names with "Invisible fix by blakut"

and finally my favorite (but not related to orkut)

Picasa web Image Direct link

LINK: Click here Purpose:

• Gives the direct link of images at the right hand side of the screen.
• Click on the name of the images and images with full size will popup in a new tab

For more such useful Greasemonkey scripts please refer to this thread of our DFS community.

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[NEWS][Video]Google ex-employee reveals that Orkut was a big mistake and considered a failure by Google

Google ex-employee reveals that Orkut was a big mistake and considered a failure by Google.

Danah's friend had the opportunity of asking Danah Boyd in a tech conference about how Google saw Orkut. Danah, was working at Google at that time Orkut was becoming popular. To my great disappointment, according to her, Orkut was a side project at Google, so it was not expected to compete with Myspace and other social network sites. The company started paying attention at Orkut after it became popular among Brazilians and Indians. I was also surprised by her perspective that Google still hasn't understood how to use social media. It makes sense, as she explains it. After buying cool start-ups, it puts aside.

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[Spoiler] Sneak peek into the future of Orkut Communities - Google reveals experimental features in some communities

Credits to Sunny

Sunny has posted the link in DFS to the coolest Orkut Community on Orkut which is Google Internet Bus Community. Google Internet Bus provides internet access in areas wirelessly through their bus in remote areas of India. We can see additional/experimental features : which are likely to be introduced in the near future which no other community on Orkut curently has. (Sorry again Orkut! for the spoilers).

Click on the image to Enlarge

What can you expect in the future Orkut Communities?

1. Custom Header Image for each community.
2. Custom Background Colour
3. Custom Community Colour
4. Additional Apps or Integration of additional Google Services - We can see Google Maps, Picasa Web Albums , Youtube & Google Search.
5. Featured Web Album
6. Featured Video
7. And "More Videos" section

It would also be great if Orkut includes services like RSS Feeds and Google Analytics to analyse the popularity of the communities. Overall these features would be really great addition to the communities as all the communities would look different and would have their individual identity. What do you think about these additional features? Leave a comment

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[Update] How to add your Orkut friends birthdays in Google Calendar

If you are a regular Google Calendar user this update ifs very useful for reminding you, your friends birthdays. An update from Orkut now allows you to add your Orkut friends birthdays in Google Calendar. You would find a link below the "Upcoming "Birthdays" section. Just click it and add. You can confiugure Google Calendar to send out text message reminders to your mobile phone from Orkut friends birthday calendar.

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[TUT] How to make your own Orkut Smiley Scripts and Share them with your Friends

Previously we had given you a Huge Collection of Smiley Scripts. Now we shall tell you the whole process of making and using smiley scripts on Orkut Community Forum and Scrapbook and also sharing it with your friends in 6 easy Steps.

• Step 1: Preliminaries:

Before we Start we need a few things installed/Downloaded

1. Install FireFox
2. Install Greasemonkey Addon
3. Install Universal FireUploader Addon
4. Install Smiley Script Helper UserScript
5. Download a Sample Pack of Smileys. -{Its a 84 KB zip file containing 150 smilies} +Alternate Link
   
6. Download the Script Template -{Its a simple text file which can be opened with Notepad} +Alternate Link
   
7. Goto http://www.picasaweb.com/ and make an account there

You need Firefox and Greasemonkey addon as these are the backbone of making smiley scripts to work in Orkut. You will understand the necessities of other Addons on steps ahead.

• Step 2: Downloading Smileys:

The most effective way of downloading smilies are by googling. Still we are providing you with some famous smiley sites.

1. http://www.getsmileyface.com
2. http://smileys.smilchat.ne
3. http://deviantart.com
4. http://www.smileygenerator.us
   

Download and save all the smilies in a separate folder on your Harddisk. For now we shall use the sample provided in the Preliminaries Step

• Step 3: Uploading to Picasa Web Album:

Uploading Part is very easy if you have the FireUploader Addon which we gave in the First Step. Just follow these steps

1. Goto Tools>FireUploader
2. The Uploader will open in a New Page
3. Select Picasa Web album and then enter/modify your email id and Password [Dont worry its totally safe!]
4. Now on the "My Computer" Site browse inside the folder in which you have saved all the smilies and on the "Picasa" side double click the album under which you want to save the smilies! If you dont have the album then you can create it by clicking on the "Create Directory" button
5. Select all the smilies togather and then hit on the Upper Arrow [Facing the Picasa side]
6. Wait until all the smilies get uploaded

Now that you have uploaded all the Smilies you can now move to the next step where you will create the smiley script

• Step 4: Making the Script:

Making the script is actually easy and fun. Just follow these steps:

1. Goto www.picasaweb.com and open the Smiley Album which you have just created.
2. When you open the Album then you will see the Script codes just below your username as shown in the image. This is due to the Smiley Script Helper userscript you have installed recently ;)
3. Now copy all the codes from beginning to end. Select all the lines Right Click and then click Copy.
4. Now open the Script Template which you have downloaded. Go through first 4 lines and you will understand how to Name your Userscript.
5. Now Search for the line var smileyarr = new Array();
6. Below that line paste the whole code which you have copied from Picasa Album.
7. Now click on Files>Save as. Select Save as Type to All and save your file as FILENAME.user.js , ie the extension of the file should be .user.js

Now you have successfully made your very own smiley Script

• Step 5: Test and Troubleshooting Your Script

Now its the time to test your Script!

1. Make sure that Greasemonkey addon is enabled
2. Drag and drop the *.user.js file you have created in the above process, on any open Firefox Window and then wait until greasemonkey installs it automatically
3. If you have done every thing correctly then your smilies will come below the Scrapbook and Community posts as well
4. Here is a Sample Script. Download this and compare with your script if you find any flaw. +Alternate Link

• Step 6: Share your Script:

Want to share your script with others! No problem at all. Here what you need to do!

1. Goto www.userscripts.org and register there for free!
2. On the profile homepage click on "Manage Your Scripts" and then click on "Upload a new Script".
3. Select "upload a script file" and then browse and select the *.user.js file you have created. Userscript will automatically create the script and will name it.
4. Then share the script with your friends and also post the link in the comments section so that we can also share it

That's all! I shall recommend you to download every requirements together and save this whole page as PDF format (You can find the Save as PDF button above this post) and then make the script. Dont forget to share this tutorial with your friends and DO comment :)

~~Happy Orkutting~~

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