Want to know where the short url goes to?
 

Well. I for one sure do want to know exactly where a short url leads to before even thinking of going there.

So I googled a bit and came across URL X-Ray (urlxray.com)
Just feed it the short url and it will look it up for you.

Or you could grab the bookmarklet that allows for a javascripted window on top of any site so you can check those nasty short url's on the go. :)

Don't get surprised by nasty shortened url's, use the tools that snif it out. :)



Disclaimer: I am NOT affiliated with that site in any way, I just HATE short url's :p

I'm not a fan of those short links too, nice stuff. :)

If you're against short URLs you're against progress! :P

How else am I meant to "accidentally" link people to shock porn?

its funny because i posted a tinyURL and you don't like tinyURL's.

Not so much 'progress' as 'twitter' :P

Well Twitter has its own shortener t.co, and when you tweet one of those Twitter displays the true link abridged (for example "www.abandonia.com/vbull..."). Although t.co is designed to be used only by the tweet button, it's very easy to "hack" the URL API:

Replace "%s" with any URL. I've stored it as an Opera "search engine", so I type "tweet ..." into the address bar--or rather I type "tweet " in front of any URL I'm at and want to tweet--and presto. BTW there's little point in using t.co outside a Twitter post, only there it has the advantage of seeing the true link.