Flock Blog

There is no question that the social web has quickly become a global phenomenon, spanning all languages, cultures and geographies. Flock has been distributed in 18 different languages, spanning the globe, but until today we have not offered a Pan-Latin Spanish version. As we had alluded to last week, we are delighted to announce that Flock has teamed up with Univision, the largest and most popular Spanish-language media company to exclusively distribute both an English and Spanish-language version of the Univision Edition of Flock. Univision will help introduce Flock to the large, and rapidly growing Hispanic community online.

Of the 22 Million Hispanics who are online today, 40% frequently spend time on social networks like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. With the Univision Edition of Flock, this vibrant and fast-growing community can now remain connected to their friends, their favorite social networks, and stay up to date with the best Spanish content available from Univision.

Here at Flock, we’re thrilled to have partnered with the enthusiastic team at Univision, and couldn’t be happier about the excitement with which they’ve proudly introduced Flock to their loyal audience of users. We’d also like to extend a very warm welcome to the Hispanic community online, and hope that the Univision Edition of Flock makes your web experience much more personal and gratifying than it has been with conventional browsers.

If you’re interested in seeing Flock explained in Spanish check out this video:

If you speak Spanish, please give it a try by downloading it at flock.univision.com. We look forward to hearing your impressions.

Cheers,

-Shawn
CEO, Flock Inc.
Shawn ‘at’ Flock dot com

I am excited to announce that Flock will now be promoted and distributed by two major online partners to open up the world of Flock to more users around the globe.

The first partnership, which is launching today, is in Europe with Onet.pl, the leading portal in Poland with a monthly reach of over 12.4 Million Polish users. Onet.pl is a media powerhouse with a network of over 1.5 MM active blogs, serving a European audience well beyond Poland. The Onet Edition of Flock will be made available at flock.onet.pl as well as on our own site as the exclusive Polish language version of Flock available at www.flock.com/versions. The Onet version of Flock offers a deep custom integration into Onet’s social network (Ludzie), webmail, blog and photo sharing services. We’re proud to have partnered with such a well-respected media partner in Europe, and look forward to hearing from many new Flock enthusiasts from Poland and across Europe.

We have a second major media partner we’ll be making a public announcement about within the next three weeks. It is another market leader serving millions of users within the U.S. and across several large international markets.

We’re delighted to be partnered with these two leading web portals to deliver a unique web experience to their respective audiences through the lens of the Flock social web browser. To date, the Flock audience has grown almost entirely by word of mouth -- thanks to our enthusiastic and supportive users -- we couldn’t be happier to work with these incredible partners and open up the world of Flock to an even broader global audience.

Witamy naszych nowych przyjaciół z Polski!

(Welcome to our new friends in Poland!)

-Shawn Hardin
CEO Flock
shawn ‘at’ flock.com

It’s been a tremendous year for Flock so far. We just hit a really nice milestone that we’d like to share with everyone. Flock just exceeded 2 million total users on Facebook. Of total Flock users, those who are active on Facebook have grown 280% in the first three quarters of 2009. We are honored to have this many people from around the world electing to make the switch to experience the social web with Flock as their browser of choice.

We appreciate Facebook, and all of its loyal fans worldwide for helping spread the word about Flock. Flock is an independent effort, and as such we are even more critically dependent on our fans to spread the word about the Flock browser. We are humbled and honored by this vote of confidence and look forward to evolving the Flock product to continually improve the web experience for our fans.

We have listened and learned from you – our invaluable community of users. And our team is busy building and is incredibly excited about delivering an even greater experience for our users in our next version of Flock 3.0, which is scheduled for release in Q1 2010. Flock 3.0 will first be made available early next year as a private beta to those users of our current release. More to come soon on this incredibly exciting project.

-Cheers

Dan Burkhart
Vice President of Marketing

dan 'at' flock.com

Last Update, I Promise: Flock 2.5.2 is now available from our front door. It contains the latest Firefox security patch, the latest version of Flash, a fix for the Facebook Notifications Menu bug, and a fix for the Flickr/Yahoo! Mail conflict. Download and run the installer to manually upgrade; we'll be working on getting auto-updates out to you soon.

Update: It looks like we'll be able to have the Facebook fix (as well as the Yahoo! Mail/Flickr fix & the latest Firefox security patch) all rolled up and delivered to you as 2.5.2 sometime next week, assuming we don't run into any gnarly bugs. We'll keep you informed.

Update 2: The folks at Tabs Mix Plus have informed us that, regrettably, they do not and will not support Flock, so anyone running this extension will continue to have issues. There is already one alternative extension suggestion posted in the comments...please speak up if you have a recommendation!

Hey Flockstars,

Tabs Mix Plus, an extension for Firefox, issued an automatic update to their extension sometime in the last 24 hours. While it probably works great in Firefox, it appears they didn't test in Flock. Thus, Flock with Tabs Mix Plus v 0.3.8 installed will not load pages or show tabs..

We have and will continue to reach out to the Tabs Mix Plus team. In the meantime, to get Flock working you will need to disable Tabs Mix Plus:

1. Open Flock
2. Go to Tools>Addons
3. Go to the Extensions tab
4. Select Tabs Mix Plus
5. Click "Disable"
6. Restart Flock

We'll let you know as soon as there is an update for the extension that works in Flock.

There is also a bug currently causing the Facebook notifications menu in the lower right of the browser to show up blank. We have created a fix for this but unfortunately it cannot be sent invisibly over the air, it must be bundled in a browser update. We're working to get this fix and several others out to you as soon as possible...more info on this as I have it.

Evan Hamilton
Flock Community Ambassador
evan at flock dot com

Hey Flockstars,

Flock 2.5.1 is available today from the Flock homepage. This release fixes the Flickr issue I mentioned in my previous post as well as several other issues.

You will have to manually update to 2.5.1 at this time by downloading and running the 2.5.1 installer from our homepage. We'll be pushing out auto-updates as soon as we've had sufficient time to test the auto-update process across all platforms (don't worry: manual updating is quick, safe, and clean). Please make sure you restart your computer after installing 2.5.1.

Thanks to all of you who brought this issue to our attention. As always, if you experience any issues in the future, please don’t hesitate to let us know by posting to our GetSatisfaction page. We’ve always got our ears on.

Our endless appreciation goes out to you for your patience during this period.

Evan Hamilton
Flock Community Ambassador
evan at flock dot com

Hey Flockstars,

Update: Flock 2.5.1, including a fix for the Flickr issue, is available from our homepage as of July 28th. More info on this release.

As you may have noticed, the Flock integration with Flickr is not functioning properly. We've communicated with many of you individually, but we want to also provide a broader overview of the questions we’ve been receiving for the benefit of all Flock users.

Why do service outages happen?

Flock integrates with a number of services, and it detects these services when you log in. This makes it easy for you to discover and access Flock's social features.

Unfortunately, this also means that if some part of the login process changes on the service website and Flock can't recognize it, Flock thinks you're not logged in. You will have no trouble using the website, but Flock's features that integrate with that service may not work as expected.

How does Flock normally fix this?

Normally we can update the file that Flock refers to for recognizing service logins. Once we've changed this file, Flock downloads the latest version of this file automatically in the background. This usually happens within 24 hours, and thanks to our vigilant developer team this usually means 48 hours or less of downtime.

What is different this time?

This time the change made on Flickr.com was so dramatic that the changes we have to make go beyond what we can do in the file fix mentioned above. We're going to have to make additional changes to other browser files. This means that we can't fix the Flickr outage automatically over the air - we'll actually have to create a revised version of Flock.

Why do browser updates take so long?

Making an update or applying fixes to the Flock browser is sometimes quick and sometimes not. Regardless of how easy to fix, we still have to take all new versions of Flock through a rigorous testing process to ensure that we deliver stable, reliable code to our loyal community.

When our Flickr integration broke, we were already partway into the process of putting together Flock 2.5.1, which includes some key fixes: some rather troublesome Twitter bug fixes, some broken Facebook Chat functionality, and a bunch of other items that are negatively affecting many Flockstars.

At that point the choice was fairly clear: if we stopped work on 2.5.1 and created a new version of Flock that *only* fixed the Flickr integration, we'd double the amount of testing we had to do...and we would delay the release of the 2.5.1 improvements, hurting the folks who aren't affected by the Flickr issue but are affected by Twitter and Facebook Chat issues. By including the Flickr fix in 2.5.1, we're saving time and getting you a whole bunch of fixes sooner.

Ok, so when do we get the new version?

We're in the midst of testing Flock 2.5.1 now to make sure it’s a stable release, and we're hoping to have it out to you within the next two weeks. Keep your eyes here, on our GetSatisfaction page, on our Twitter account, or on our Facebook page for a notice when it is released. Please note that we will not be sending out an auto-update immediately - you'll initially have to manually upgrade by downloading and running the installer.

I hope this has given you a clear understanding of why there is no Flickr fix yet and what we're doing to ensure you have the best Flock experience possible. We're certainly not ignoring this issue - we're simply making the decisions needed to get you the latest and greatest version of Flock ASAP.

Thanks for your patience throughout this issue, and hang in there just a short time longer.

Evan Hamilton
Community Ambassador
evan at flock dot com

Update: One clarification I want to make based on feedback I've seen: 2.5.1 does not include any new features. We're not delaying your Flickr fix in order to get new features out the door. 2.5.1 is entirely bug fixes, which is why we want to get it out at the same time as the Flickr fix rather than delaying it.

At Flock, we love to hear from you. We want to make sure that Flock continues to help you discover, enjoy and share the relationships and content you’re passionate about. So while you’ve been talking, we’ve been listening. The result is a new version of Flock that reflects the new ways you want to use your favorite social browser along with two of your favorite networks—Twitter and Facebook.

The new version that we’re releasing today lets you keep your finger on the pulse of your social networks, yet it gives you the freedom to explore online without having to click back and forth between websites, tabs, applications and content. And now, Flock is the only browser that let’s you take Facebook Chat with you wherever you go on the Web. You can also drag and drop photos, videos, links and text into your chats, making everything simple, social and fun.

Flock 2.5 makes sharing and discovering content fast and easy. You just drag and drop URLs, photos, videos, text or other things you find on the web to a friend’s Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or other profile in Flock’s People Sidebar and it’s instantly shared. And now Flock comes with Twitter Search right in MyWorld, so you can keep up to date on all the topics you’re most interested in and save them in the best place possible, your Flock browser.

Last but not least is FlockCast, an effortless way to share information across your social networks. With FlockCast, you can broadcast anything from blog posts and picture uploads to Tweets and MySpace status updates directly to your Facebook profile. And when you share a URL in a Twitter message, Flock automatically shortens the URL.

Clearly, this new version of Flock is for those of you that are Twitter and Facebook fans. Our Facebook users have grown over 80% since the beginning of 2009! And, on Twitter, we are proud and appreciative of in the great things you’re writing about Flock across the Twittersphere… (check out #flock).

Flock’s popularity has been almost entirely driven by the generous recommendations coming from each of you (we just passed 7.5 million downloads). We’re extremely grateful for your support and hope that you’ll keep spreading the word. And now we’re giving you the opportunity to earn the recognition and rewards you deserve by telling your friends about Flock on Facebook at http://www.flock.com/refer.

As always, let us know about your experiences with Flock. What you have to say is important--and we hear you.

Thanks.

-Shawn

Hey Flockstars,

I'm super excited to announce a brand new tool for all of you passionate Flockstars out there!

Top Flockstars is a way for you to get recognized and rewarded for your hard work telling the world how much you love Flock.

We thrive on the word-of-mouth evangelism that you all generate.  The majority of our 7.5 million downloads have been generated by you telling your friends, family, and colleagues about Flock.  You love Flock, you tell your friends, and therefore we are able to keep making Flock better for you.  We're immensely grateful for this gift you give us, and we wanted to give something back to you.

It's pretty simple:

1. Log into Top Flockstars using your Facebook account - we'll show you which of your friends are already using Flock
2. Use our form to tell your non-Flocking friends to download Flock
3. For each person who downloads Flock and logs into Facebook, you'll get a token
4. Spend your tokens on nifty rewards!

If you're super-persuasive with your friends, you'll get visibility on the Top Flockstars leaderboard (I'm looking forward to watching the competition).  You can also compete on a smaller scale with the friends leaderboard, which shows you how you're doing against your own Facebook friends.  And, of course, you get the joy of knowing you've turned your friends on to an awesome browser.

This program is made possible through the power of Facebook Connect.  Instead of requiring you to sign up for a new account to participate, all you need are your Facebook credentials.  Simple.  We're pretty sure that Top Flockstars is the first program to use Facebook Connect in this way, and psyched to break new ground by creating another interesting way to get the most out of Facebook and Flock working together.

This program is all about you, and as always your feedback is key. Let us know what you think.

Now go get 'em!

Evan Hamilton
Community Ambassador
evan at flock dot com

While we often think of social media as a way to connect with our broad circle of friends, its influence has gone beyond the bounds of entertainment and communication to truly democratize information and to transform “readers” and “consumers” into publishers. Flock celebrates the diversity of human self-expression by making it simple to participate, publish and “write to the web” from your browser.

On May 4th and 5th, leading human rights advocates, journalists, and scientists will convene at The Soul of the New Machine conference being held on the U.C. Berkeley campus.  The conference will look at how technology can empower human rights around the world. Conference participants will explore how new developments in science and technology can be applied to human rights evidence gathering and analysis, advocacy, and outreach. The conference participants will learn about the latest advancements in mobile technologies and new media and how these systems have already been applied to expose war crimes and other serious violations of human rights and to disseminate this information in real time throughout the world.

Flock is a proud sponsor of this event. Flock’s users reside in 192 countries and territories around the world. This diverse global community has collectively engaged in more than 400,000,000 social actions including blog posts, uploaded photos, shared images, video and information content along with a myriad of communications and people connections.

How can Flock help empower human rights? By helping our users to document their reality, expose their truth, advocate change and raise their voice! The team at Flock salutes its users who are active all around the world shaping their online experience and their community every day.  We want to learn about your personal story. Let us know how Flock empowers your social action for social good. Please email your story to makingadifference at flock dot com.

If you’d like to learn more about getting involved and/or attending The Soul of the New Machine conference, go to www.newmachineconference.org. Those who are not able to attend in person can watch live video streaming and blogging of conference events on the conference site starting May 4th.

Knowledge and awareness are the important first steps in this journey.  We hope you’ll join us.

Shawn Hardin
CEO Flock

Felicia Bradley, photographer of the "floatin'" photo, has won the Flocktography Photo Challenge Grand Prize with 54% of your votes!

Floatin'

All the shots in this challenge evoked powerful emotions, but clearly Felicia's fun, relaxed, and social image clearly resonated with our community of confident, fun, social Flockstars.  It's a great shot, and we're very proud to have it on our homepage along with the other finalists.

Felicia will be receiving a "Eye-Fi Share" Wireless Memory card, which allows her to upload her photos to Flickr (and elsewhere) directly from her camera.  Felicia, we hope that this only further encourages you to keep taking fantastic photos and share them with the world!

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos and voted for the Grand Prize Winner!

Evan Hamilton
Community Ambassador
evan at flock dot com