Quote from: gweedo on May 05, 2013, 05:04:50 AM

Quote from: SgtSpike on May 05, 2013, 04:27:56 AM

Quote from: gweedo on May 05, 2013, 02:52:28 AM

Quote from: SgtSpike on May 05, 2013, 02:16:19 AM

Quote from: gweedo on May 05, 2013, 12:44:20 AM

Quote from: doubledave on May 05, 2013, 12:42:41 AM

Quote from: SgtSpike on April 09, 2013, 07:36:41 PM

The current site owner no longer has interest in maintaining the site. I am talking to him about taking it over and getting it back up and running!

That will be nice if you could get the site back up.

Firstbits are encouraging spamming the blockchain... So I think it is good it is gone.

How so?

Well the way a first bit is calculated is by it's place in the blockchain, so if an address isn't in the blockchain no firstbits can be correctly calculated.

So lets say for very example purposes I had 1gh356 and you had 1gh354 if you gets coins to your address before me, then you would have 1gh35, and I would get 1gh356, even if my address was created before yours. That is why it is a verifiable system.

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Firstbits

I guess I don't see how this leads to any large amount of blockchain spam.

It may not but it is extra spam we don't need...

Firstbits are quite useful, actually... I'll steal from my website's FAQ as to why:

● Consolidating wallets between different computers. A quick firstbits lookup will show the full address to send Bitcoins to, rather than having to email a full Bitcoin address to myself or attempting to manually copy it down.
● Relative needs to pay me back for dinner? A friend bought a piece of computer hardware from me? If they need to pay me, I simply tell them what firstbits address to send it to, rather than having to remember to carry a QR code with me or emailing them a full Bitcoin address.
● Shortening the address for space-sensitive online postings, such as forum signatures, forum avatar text, email signatures, or tweets.
● Tipping! In the future, artists might sign their artwork with their firstbits addresses, in an effort to gain tips for as long as the image circulates. Writing in a full Bitcoin address wouldn't be practical, and relying on a centralized address shortener wouldn't ensure longevity of their tips.
● Memorizing the Bitcoin addresses of other people. For example, I might know that my own firstbits address is 1justin, which can prove handy, but because they are so short, I might also remember a friend's firstbits address is 1jones, and a relative's firstbits address is 1jerry. In this way, I can pay them for any reason at any time without having to ask them for an address first.