Tumblr Vs. Missing-E Browser Extenstion

Backlash: David Karp Takes On Jeremy Cutler

Tumblr is a micro-blogging platform and social media site that allows you to post pictures, audio, video, text onto your own page as a kind of cyber scrapbook you share with like-minded viewers, but lately it's also be the site of controversy thanks to a user who created an extension that made it even more useful scooped Tumblr's programming staff.

Tumblr has been gaining popularity since its creation in 2007 by David Karp thanks to its easy interface and customizable features that allow you to interact with other users through online chat and by reposting comments on others' blogs. But it became even more useful when Jeremy Cutler released a browser extension called Missing-E that optimized many of Tumblr's features.

Missing-E: Tumblr's Unofficial Browser Extension

Missing-E was created by Jeremy Cutler, and is a browser extension that works with internet browsers to add features to Tumblr's programming that are not normally offered. Some of the Missing-E features include:

• one-click reblogs
• reply to replys,
• magnifier,
• book marker,
• time stamps,
• sidebar tweaks

There are others this handy extension adds to the 'Tumbling' experience. Although the Tumblr layout is easy to maneuver and to work, Missing-E makes things more convenient for bloggers and makes the experience of browsing and interacting with Tumblr more pleasing.

Tumblr Discredits Missing-E

David Karp and the team behind Tumblr now issue a pop-up to Tumblr users every time they log into their Tumblr accounts. It tells you Missing-E will cause data loss, privacy, performance and support issues and then gives you the option to keep using it or to uninstall the extension. There have been no reports that Missing-E causes these problems for the users who have it installed.

Cutler has been trying to compromise with the Tumblr staff to work this out, but the staff is not having it. They have threatened to delete his personal blog on Tumblr if he doesn't stop distributing Missing-E. The Tumblr community at large agree the site is overreacting to the presence of the extension and its positive feedback because it means a user beat them to the development punch.

Anthony de Rosa of Reuters covered the Tumblr troubles in depth and inspired another round of debate. Browser extensions and hacks are a part of the economy and ecosystem of the Web. Instead of whining about server and support issues, Tumblr should focus on making its own features and add-ons to improve the site before its users or competitors do.