Confusion Over Domain Expiration Dates Caused By "Buy a domain" Renewal

We're seeing some reports of panic, from a few Blogger blog owners who recently renewed registration of their "Buy a domain" purchased custom domains, with Google Apps informing them that their domain registration is now renewed - but with a back dated expiry. This appears to be a known Google Apps issue.

Roberto of "robertosblogs.net", in Another Google Stuff-up, shows us the confirmation letter, that he recently received from Google Apps.

This message confirms we have renewed your domain registration for robertosblogs.net with GoDaddy.com . Your credit card has been charged $10 and your domain registration is valid until April 5, 2011 .

Some people, reporting this scenario in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken have been rather panicked, and fearful either that they had just wasted $10 - or that their domain now needs an additional payment (for 2 years?).

Fortunately, an online lookup service such as the Name.com Who.Is display can provide the necessary detail, and help set the concerned owner straight.

REGISTRY WHOIS FOR ROBERTOSBLOGS.NET
Domain Name: robertosblogs.net
Updated: 2 seconds ago - Refresh

Registrar: GODADDY.COM, LLC
Whois Server: whois.godaddy.com
Referral URL: http://registrar.godaddy.com
Status: clientDeleteProhibited, clientRenewProhibited, clientTransferProhibited, clientUpdateProhibited

Expiration Date: 2013-04-06
Creation Date: 2008-04-06
Last Update Date: 2012-03-15

Relax a bit, Bob, and enjoy a cuppa.

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What's The URL Of My Blog?

We see the plea for help, periodically I need the URL of my blog, so I can give it to my friends. Help! Who's buried in Grant's Tomb, after all? No Chuck, be polite. OK, OK. The title of this blog is "The Real Blogger Status", and the title of this post is "What's The URL Of My Blog?".

Where's The Dashboard?

We see this confusion, a couple times a week, in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I? . Where is the dashboard? In the Classic Blogger GUI, the display which contained the "Blog List" (at the top), and the "Reading List" (at the bottom) was labeled "Dashboard". Many people also called the "Settings" / "Template" screens for the various blogs, linked from the Blog List, the dashboard. The New Blogger GUI has no page with the label - and no links "To The Dashboard". The Navbar (another unlabeled feature) has two links - "Design" and "New Post" - which lead to different dashboard sections, when you are appropriately logged in to Blogger . And, the "B" logo at the far left of the navbar will, similarly, take you to the Blog List / Reading List.

What Is "ghs.google.com" vs. "ghs.googlehosted.com"?

With Google Domains registered custom domains becoming more normal, we are seeing one odd attention to detail, expressed as confusion in Blogger Help Forum: Learn More About Blogger . My website uses "ghs.google.com" - am I supposed to use "ghs.googlehosted.com", instead? It's good to be attentive to detail, particularly with custom domain publishing . This is one detail that may not require immediate attention, however.

The Real Blogger Status

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