URL shortener
A URL shortener is self-explanatory; it's a website that hosts a shortened alternative to a web URL.
URLs are the addresses of websites, oftem starting with "http://www." Some websites, including vast databases like Amazon, must employ extremely long URLs that are cumbersome, especially for sharing via microblogging services.
URL shorteners like bit.ly and tinyurl provide short URLs like "http://bit.ly/aBcD5" that redirect to the URL you want to share.
Technology news All News
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12/15/09 5:00pm Computing bit.ly Pro launches, one-ups goo.gl and fb.me
Just a day after Facebook and Google announced URL shortening services, reigning URL shortener bit.ly unveiled its new bit.ly Pro… dig deeper
Around the web: blog.bit.ly
, techmeme.com (9 comments)
, pcworld.com
, TechCrunch (30 comments)
, Alley Insider (95 comments)
, digital.venturebeat.com (3 comments)
, Mashable! (13 comments) 
Profile pages: URL, Google, Google, URL shortener, Facebook, Facebook, Beta
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12/14/09 7:12pm Computing Google, Facebook unveil URL shortener services
Both companies have launched URL shortening functionality similar to that of bit.ly or is.gd, but for the moment their use is limited. dig deeper
Around the web: googleblog.blogspot.com
, techmeme.com (9 comments)
, Inside Facebook
, techmeme.com (9 comments)
, news.cnet.com
, readwriteweb.com (1 comment)
, Mashable! (16 comments)
, businessinsider.com (6 comments) 
Profile pages: Google, URL, Google, Facebook, Facebook, URL shortener, Twitter, Twitter, Inc., tweet
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04/10/09 4:10pm Computing Are the DiggBar and URL shorteners bad for the web?
There's now code available to block the DiggBar if you feel as strongly as long-time tech blogger John Gruber. dig deeper
Around the web: Daring Fireball
, Techmeme (9 comments)
, Megite Technology News: What's Happening Right Now 
Profile pages: URL, Digg Inc., Twitter, digg, URL shortener
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