August 2009

urlShort 1.2.0 Released

By matt ~ Posted August 30, 2009 - 6:18pm

Just a few minutes ago, I released the latest version of urlShort, the free open source URL shortener. It's not quite what I had planned, but it's by far the most improved version yet. Version 1.2.0 features URL previews/warning which displays the full URL that you're about to continue to, as well as offers a thumbnail image (via SnapShots).

In addition, 1.2.0 fixes two critical security holes, of both Cross Site Scripting (XSS), and an SQL Injection vulnerability. Major thanks to m0nkee at GNY.ME!, who implemented the preview functionality, and located the vulnerabilities.

To use the URL preview functionality, the user must first select to enable it by placing a cookie on their machine. Our own urlShort service has been updated with these changes (enable URL previews).

Go download urlShort 1.2.0 now!

Read more on mavrev.com...

Independent URL Mapping Directory Service 301works Announced

By matt ~ Posted August 14, 2009 - 10:38am

Earlier this morning the URL mapping directory service 301works which will allow short URL service providers the ability to regularly publish their URL mappings in order to preserve links in a historical archive. The service will be managed and maintained by GNIP. This new development comes as a result of tr.im announcing their closure and subsequent reopening, where it became painfully obvious that short URLs need a sort of "wayback machine" archive in order to ensure links exist even after their provider closes or discontinues service.

We will be regularly updating our own mappings from our urlShort service, and plan to offer support in future versions of the open-source urlShort Project for automatic archiving through 301works. Our long term goal for the urlShort Project is to provide anyone, publisher or user, with the software and information they need to operate their own short URL service, in an effort to improve transparency and reliability. This goal goes hand-in-hand with 301works' goal to correct the inherent problems with URL shortening.

The full press release is below.

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Built with urlShort: uri.is

By matt ~ Posted August 13, 2009 - 5:06pm

Have you ever wanted to post something on Twitter, but found out that its over 140 characters? Of course you have. And after you discovered that, you probably considered blogging it (if you have a blog that is), and decided it wasn't worth your time. You probably resorted to multiple tweets, which quite frankly, is annoying. So what are you supposed to do then? If only there was a way to quickly and easily tweet something over 140 characters...

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