Yahoo! Messenger Blog » Fun Stuff http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:59:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 A short (and funny!) film about learning IM http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/11/01/a-short-and-funny-film-about-learning-im/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/11/01/a-short-and-funny-film-about-learning-im/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:14:08 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/?p=653 A co-worker pointed me to this short film about a 50+ couple, Mia and Florin Popescu, who are both a little scared of technology but determined enough to stick with it so they can IM with their son, Alex, who lives in the US. A piece of crumpled paper with instructions from Alex is their only map to the sometimes complicated world of Yahoo Messenger. It’s not a documentary but it feels like one!

Created in 2008 by Director Constantin Popescu, “The Yellow Smiley Face (Fata Galbena)” is a delightful and funny look at the steep learning curve computers present for those who have little to no experience. Watching the couple took me back to when I taught my own parents and grandparents. A powerful reminder that at some point in the past, I too had to learn how to use this machine that hums at my feet day and night.

What’s most charming about the film is the big payoff – Mia and Florin’s faces and excited chatter when they finally do connect with Alex and see him on-screen. A nice illustration of how all this complicated technology can ultimately help us make real connections.

Even if it is sometimes daunting.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager



]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/11/01/a-short-and-funny-film-about-learning-im/feed/ 11 Is the Yodel in Y!ou? http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/10/12/is-the-yodel-in-you/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/10/12/is-the-yodel-in-you/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:48:05 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/?p=617 This week, we’ve launched the first-ever Yodel Studio where Yahoo! users can come and record their personalized version of our famous brand sound.

That’s right, the catchy Yahoo! trademark, which is part song, part celebration shout, is ready for you to modify, mix and simply make your own. Be loud, be funny, be serious or be seriously silly, but most of all just be YOU! Just head over to the Yodel Studio, plug in your webcam, select a background track and…Yodel! If you need inspiration, there’s some samples to inspire you.

No webcam? Just use your video phone or camcorder to record your yodel, then upload it here. And if you want to really go all out, you can even download the backing tracks to edit and mix your Yodel at home. Then upload it through the site.

We’re also holding live events in New York, London and Mumbai with a little help from local (and famous!) musicians who will help coach eager Yodelers into giving their best performances.

Don’t think there’s much you can do with our Yodel? Check out the samples below by clicking the play button. Inspired? Record your own and share with your friends!

A Cappella
60’s
80’s
Big Band
Bluegrass
Bollywood
Country
Urban Hip Hop
Metal
Reggae
Techno

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/10/12/is-the-yodel-in-you/feed/ 6 A quick poll for the weekend http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/08/21/a-quick-poll-for-the-weekend/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/08/21/a-quick-poll-for-the-weekend/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:16:51 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/?p=513 It’s Friday and that got me wondering… What happens to your IM usage on the weekends? Answer the poll below and let us know.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager



]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/08/21/a-quick-poll-for-the-weekend/feed/ 12 Art imitates life imitates IM http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/08/04/art-imitates-life-imitates-im/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/08/04/art-imitates-life-imitates-im/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:03:12 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/?p=434 Yahoo! Messenger engineer, Adrien, finds a kindred spirit at the movies.


]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/08/04/art-imitates-life-imitates-im/feed/ 6 Give us your best Yahoo! smile http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/31/give-us-your-best-yahoo-smile/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/31/give-us-your-best-yahoo-smile/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:03:16 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/?p=426 A Philippines blog called “Yahoo! Purple Hunt Adventure” had a nice story about a 5-year old girl named Caitlyn.

After watching her parents communicate with friends and relatives on Yahoo! Messenger, she blurted out to her Mom one day, “this is how Yahoo! smiles!”.

Since then, our smiley has inspired her to practice drawing it and she even made a quick video, giving her best imitation of the “bouncy smiley” that you see when you’re signing into Yahoo! Messenger. Check it out below.

We’re all smiles over here too, Caitlyn.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/31/give-us-your-best-yahoo-smile/feed/ 3 Poll: Where do you use Yahoo! Messenger? http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/10/poll-where-do-you-use-yahoo-messenger/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/10/poll-where-do-you-use-yahoo-messenger/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:03:11 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/?p=356

]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/10/poll-where-do-you-use-yahoo-messenger/feed/ 18 Celebrate the 4th of July with Yahoo! Messenger http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/02/celebrate-the-4th-of-july-with-yahoo-messenger/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/02/celebrate-the-4th-of-july-with-yahoo-messenger/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:24:49 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/?p=363 This Saturday, July 4th is Independence Day here in the U.S. While you’ll probably be out enjoying hot dogs on the grill, summer sunshine and fireworks, here’s a few ways you can get in the spirit with Yahoo! Messenger.

Stars & Stripes for your Avatar
Visit the Fourth of July section on Yahoo! Avatars and dress your Avatar in some patriotic gear. Choose from flag-themed clothing and backgrounds filled with fireworks.

Skin it red or blue
Change your Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 skin to ruby red, icy blue or sky blue. Click the gold dot near the very top of the 9.0 Messenger window.

Wave your flag
Don’t forget about the hidden emoticon for the US flag. Hover your mouse on the emoticon to see the text shortcut ==> **==

Red, white & blue display images
Click on one of the images below to change your display image in Yahoo! Messenger 9.0. If you’re on a different version of Messenger, right click and save the image to your desktop. Then manually add it to your Yahoo! Messenger.

Happy Fourth of July to everyone!

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/07/02/celebrate-the-4th-of-july-with-yahoo-messenger/feed/ 25 What’s your “desert island” feature? http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/05/05/whats-your-desert-island-feature/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/05/05/whats-your-desert-island-feature/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 21:22:54 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/05/05/whats-your-desert-island-feature/ Which conversation feature matters most to you? Take the poll below to tell us.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager




]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/05/05/whats-your-desert-island-feature/feed/ 25 Courting in the digital age http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/04/29/courting-in-the-digital-age/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/04/29/courting-in-the-digital-age/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:00:34 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/04/29/courting-in-the-digital-age/ This video is from a couple of months ago, but love is always timely, right? Our broadcast team did a story on a couple that met in person, and then grew their relationship online using IM and webcam.

What do you think? Does IM help or hinder your relationships, love or otherwise? Have you relied on it to grow a relationship or keep it alive? Tell us in the comments.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

]]> http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/04/29/courting-in-the-digital-age/feed/ 11 Old-school handset for voice calls http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/03/26/old-school-handset-for-voice-calls/ http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/03/26/old-school-handset-for-voice-calls/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:02:18 +0000 Administrator http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2009/03/26/old-school-handset-for-voice-calls/ I may be dating myself, but remember using rotary phones as a kid? And how solid (but really heavy) those handsets were?

A company called YUBZ has brought them back to life. For awhile now, they’ve been selling their retro handsets for use with mobile phones. Just plug the adapter in your cellphone and voila, you’re transported back to 1978.

Well they’re about to make it work with voice over IP too with a new product called the YUBZ Talk Jack.

Connect the Talk Jack with the YUBZ handset, plug it into a USB port on your computer, and then use it to make retro calls through Yahoo! Messenger.

YUBZ handsets are $44.95; the Talk Jack accessory, available in pink or black, is $19.50. Head over to the YUBZ website to get your retro groove on. If you’re into bling, be sure check out the limited-edition gold handset.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

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