Comments on: OpenSocial Still “Not Open for Business” http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/ Startup and Technology News Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:22:16 -0800 hourly 1 By: Google: Is it time to jump off the bandwagon?? | Ask BINC : The BINC Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2917999 Google: Is it time to jump off the bandwagon?? | Ask BINC : The BINC Blog Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:17:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-2917999 [...] examples of Google lacking process can be seen with Opensocial, Android, or just take a look at this list and see how many you’ve ever actually heard [...] [...] examples of Google lacking process can be seen with Opensocial, Android, or just take a look at this list and see how many you’ve ever actually heard [...]

]]> By: OpenSocial Delayed Until 2008 : Facebook Developer http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2446467 OpenSocial Delayed Until 2008 : Facebook Developer Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:38:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-2446467 [...] the founder of recent startup MediaPops, included the following statement about OpenSocial in a message to TechCrunch. Its clear we are pre-Beta at this point, with Google telling developers they are hoping to launch [...] [...] the founder of recent startup MediaPops, included the following statement about OpenSocial in a message to TechCrunch. Its clear we are pre-Beta at this point, with Google telling developers they are hoping to launch [...]

]]> By: Analysis: Bebo Snubs Google With Facebook Clone Platform http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1836104 Analysis: Bebo Snubs Google With Facebook Clone Platform Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:32:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1836104 [...] promise of Google’s competing OpenSocial platform (which Bebo is also supporting), it is just not ready yet. Bebo’s embrace of Facebook says a lot about the true state of competition between Google [...] [...] promise of Google’s competing OpenSocial platform (which Bebo is also supporting), it is just not ready yet. Bebo’s embrace of Facebook says a lot about the true state of competition between Google [...]

]]> By: Bebo Embraces Facebook Apps With Its “Open Applications Platform” http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1835992 Bebo Embraces Facebook Apps With Its “Open Applications Platform” Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:30:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1835992 [...] even announced, let alone implemented on any substantial number of social networks. (It is still not ready for prime time). Thus, it has become inevitable that developers who want to spread their extant applications [...] [...] even announced, let alone implemented on any substantial number of social networks. (It is still not ready for prime time). Thus, it has become inevitable that developers who want to spread their extant applications [...]

]]> By: wil http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1818477 wil Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:34:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1818477 I tried to build that into my site but just couldn't do it. There doc sucked and everything else. Google what ever. I tried to build that into my site but just couldn’t do it.

There doc sucked and everything else.

Google what ever.

]]> By: Steve http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1817979 Steve Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:21:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1817979 OpenSocial was certainly over-hyped, probably more by everyone else than Google themselves, just because the story was so good. I think in the long-run it's going to be successful, on a much wider scale than facebook's dev community. More than likely facebook will support it in the end, or else some easy tools will emerge to deploy seamlessly to both platforms. Facebook is so huge and has forged so many links between people and their friends that only a strategy such as this (where it's google + the world vs facebook) could possibly work. It's essential that OpenSocial is done right. If it takes some time to do that then in the grand scheme of things we should be supportive. We're talking about the single most important new standard going forward for the future of the web. If Google didn't do this, others would - it's inevitable and it's needed. We've seen the future on facebook, now we need a few years of hard work to get the whole network up to speed. Web apps and indeed most websites not built on a social platform will be vastly inferior in the coming years. OpenSocial was certainly over-hyped, probably more by everyone else than Google themselves, just because the story was so good. I think in the long-run it’s going to be successful, on a much wider scale than facebook’s dev community. More than likely facebook will support it in the end, or else some easy tools will emerge to deploy seamlessly to both platforms. Facebook is so huge and has forged so many links between people and their friends that only a strategy such as this (where it’s google + the world vs facebook) could possibly work.

It’s essential that OpenSocial is done right. If it takes some time to do that then in the grand scheme of things we should be supportive. We’re talking about the single most important new standard going forward for the future of the web. If Google didn’t do this, others would – it’s inevitable and it’s needed. We’ve seen the future on facebook, now we need a few years of hard work to get the whole network up to speed. Web apps and indeed most websites not built on a social platform will be vastly inferior in the coming years.

]]> By: Kid Mercury's Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1817640 Kid Mercury's Blog Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:53:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1817640 <strong>OpenSocial Still “Not Open for Business”...</strong> A shame that it's in all hype mode. The idea, though, is exactly what's needed. The article notes that one hard part will be getting everyone -- containers (like Ning), Google, and developers all on...... OpenSocial Still “Not Open for Business”…

A shame that it’s in all hype mode. The idea, though, is exactly what’s needed.

The article notes that one hard part will be getting everyone — containers (like Ning), Google, and developers all on……

]]> By: Willy Qwintinella http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1816551 Willy Qwintinella Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:38:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1816551 "Uh oh. That’s definitely a play from the Microsoft Playbook - release alpha level software under cover of deafening hype in an attempt to draw market attention away from the better product." No surprise here given that Open Social was announced by Vic Gundotra, a veteran of Microsoft who specialized in Smoke-n-Mirrors. “Uh oh. That’s definitely a play from the Microsoft Playbook – release alpha level software under cover of deafening hype in an attempt to draw market attention away from the better product.”

No surprise here given that Open Social was announced by Vic Gundotra, a veteran of Microsoft who specialized in Smoke-n-Mirrors.

]]> By: 113.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1816378 113.com Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:13:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1816378 so disappointing to the point that I'm going to tell my engineers to remove any OpenSocial reference from our site, /ac. so disappointing to the point that I’m going to tell my engineers to remove any OpenSocial reference from our site, /ac.

]]> By: 113.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1816368 113.com Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:10:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1816368 Yes it was (still is) indeed very half-baked and gradually becoming disappointing.. (actually -- very disappointing)... /ac. Yes it was (still is) indeed very half-baked and gradually becoming disappointing.. (actually — very disappointing)… /ac.

]]> By: Chris Saad http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1816325 Chris Saad Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:47:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1816325 The broader issue is how the social graph and data can be ported between all applications - not just widgets and containers. The open standards already exist, all that's needed is the context and reference design so that developers can come up with a great, common pattern for implementation. www.dataportability.org for more info. The broader issue is how the social graph and data can be ported between all applications – not just widgets and containers.

The open standards already exist, all that’s needed is the context and reference design so that developers can come up with a great, common pattern for implementation.

http://www.dataportability.org for more info.

]]> By: Russ http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1816312 Russ Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:40:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1816312 @ 24 OpenSocial Blogger - What "useful opensocial apps" have been deployed? I've spent a ton of time trying to find them without any luck. Most don't work or are merely test apps. I think the story here is that the press was that they were launching an API, not a spec that would eventually lead to an API. Google developers are now admitting how little is actually ready, and the containers are not "alligned". I agree that this could really be great once complete, its why we are investing development effort toward it. @ 24 OpenSocial Blogger – What “useful opensocial apps” have been deployed? I’ve spent a ton of time trying to find them without any luck. Most don’t work or are merely test apps.
I think the story here is that the press was that they were launching an API, not a spec that would eventually lead to an API. Google developers are now admitting how little is actually ready, and the containers are not “alligned”.
I agree that this could really be great once complete, its why we are investing development effort toward it.

]]> By: Jeremy Horn http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1816077 Jeremy Horn Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:25:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1816077 Exactly the concerns I expressed earlier in my blog post on OpenSocial back in November... http://tpgblog.com/2007/11/20/opensocial-impediment-or-catalyst/ Jeremy Horn The Product Guy http://tpgblog.com Exactly the concerns I expressed earlier in my blog post on OpenSocial back in November…
http://tpgblog....nt-or-catalyst/

Jeremy Horn
The Product Guy
http://tpgblog.com

]]> By: Joshua Beil http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815915 Joshua Beil Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:40:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815915 Same sentiments are echoed by a RockYou exec that I recently spoke with: http://www.beilblog.com/2007/11/opensocial-not.html Same sentiments are echoed by a RockYou exec that I recently spoke with:
http://www.beil...social-not.html

]]> By: OpenSocial Blogger http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815874 OpenSocial Blogger Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:21:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815874 Sorry Erick, this is a non-story. Anyone who has investigated OpenSocial for more than 5 minutes realizes that it's just a spec and that there are still many facets of it that need to be developed. Will it be complicated because of all the parties involved? Yes. Will it ultimately end up delivering something very powerful? Totally. It's amazing to consider that only one month from the announcement, there are already useful opensocial apps being deployed; the original timeline from many of the companies acting as containers was to implement something early next year. Instead we have a number of containers which work for testing and lots of interested developers helping to guide the featureset as they build their apps. Sorry Erick, this is a non-story. Anyone who has investigated OpenSocial for more than 5 minutes realizes that it’s just a spec and that there are still many facets of it that need to be developed. Will it be complicated because of all the parties involved? Yes. Will it ultimately end up delivering something very powerful? Totally. It’s amazing to consider that only one month from the announcement, there are already useful opensocial apps being deployed; the original timeline from many of the companies acting as containers was to implement something early next year. Instead we have a number of containers which work for testing and lots of interested developers helping to guide the featureset as they build their apps.

]]> By: Big Bopper http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815837 Big Bopper Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:07:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815837 Uh oh. That's definitely a play from the Microsoft Playbook - release alpha level software under cover of deafening hype in an attempt to draw market attention away from the better product. Anyone remember how bad Access v1.0 was? How about early versions of IE? Great end runs around the competition at the expense of consumers to be sure. In this case, it is at the expense of developers but the play is still the same. This doesn't bode well for Google in my opinion. It is the move of an overextended giant who won't let the smaller kids play in the same sandbox. Uh oh. That’s definitely a play from the Microsoft Playbook – release alpha level software under cover of deafening hype in an attempt to draw market attention away from the better product. Anyone remember how bad Access v1.0 was? How about early versions of IE? Great end runs around the competition at the expense of consumers to be sure. In this case, it is at the expense of developers but the play is still the same.

This doesn’t bode well for Google in my opinion. It is the move of an overextended giant who won’t let the smaller kids play in the same sandbox.

]]> By: Steve Ballmer http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815823 Steve Ballmer Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:01:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815823 Welcome to the Social! Welcome to the Social!

]]> By: Shifra http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815816 Shifra Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:57:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815816 Yes, they're being open about the fact that the APIs are not baked yet. But this is really a standard they're working on here, not a codebase. I don't have such a big problem with the fact that this standard is being floated before it's complete. Most standards need community input. Maybe a bunch of us should put energy into contributing to Shindig (when it's a reality) instead of complaining about the incompleteness of OpenSocial so far. I don't hear any actual claims from them that it's finished, or that it's a magic bullet. Yes, they’re being open about the fact that the APIs are not baked yet. But this is really a standard they’re working on here, not a codebase. I don’t have such a big problem with the fact that this standard is being floated before it’s complete. Most standards need community input. Maybe a bunch of us should put energy into contributing to Shindig (when it’s a reality) instead of complaining about the incompleteness of OpenSocial so far. I don’t hear any actual claims from them that it’s finished, or that it’s a magic bullet.

]]> By: KirkH http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815814 KirkH Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:55:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815814 Blogs need to turn into applications and people who don't write sign on and eventually you'll have social networks that ensure privacy through decentralization. OpenID+OpenSocial+Blog Plugins = We can quit worrying about the roads and focus on where we're going. Blogs need to turn into applications and people who don’t write sign on and eventually you’ll have social networks that ensure privacy through decentralization.

OpenID+OpenSocial+Blog Plugins = We can quit worrying about the roads and focus on where we’re going.

]]> By: whoopie http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815762 whoopie Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:22:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815762 oh and the cherry on top for G is getting the stock boost without actually having to build out...by time q2 08 rolls out, facebook will be passe, half of the fb apps will have been abandoned, and people will go back to their previous realities oh and the cherry on top for G is getting the stock boost without actually having to build out…by time q2 08 rolls out, facebook will be passe, half of the fb apps will have been abandoned, and people will go back to their previous realities

]]> By: whoopie http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815752 whoopie Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:17:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815752 google did the right thing. don't worry about what works, just announce everything, goose your stock, and cash out pump and dump mutherfreakers, and the idiots are hungry again for GOOG shares yeah basically BSing people may haunt you in five years, but who cares? by that time you are on your boat near tahiti while the plebs back home figure out how to clean up the mess google did the right thing.

don’t worry about what works, just announce everything, goose your stock, and cash out

pump and dump mutherfreakers, and the idiots are hungry again for GOOG shares

yeah basically BSing people may haunt you in five years, but who cares? by that time you are on your boat near tahiti while the plebs back home figure out how to clean up the mess

]]> By: drew olanoff http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815712 drew olanoff Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:53:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815712 This is another case of overzealous PR driving a company. Will OpenSocial be a hit? Probably. Will Android make Google some loot? Sure. Could Beacon be great with some work? Absolutely. But in the race to "be the first", they've stumbled a bit. Odd thing is, Google is good at the art of surprise, Gmail came out of nowhere, some of their best stuff was turned around rather quickly. That's why I was irked at OpenSocial. Maybe it's because they needed to see if others would be on board before they threw resources at it? Who knows. This is another case of overzealous PR driving a company. Will OpenSocial be a hit? Probably. Will Android make Google some loot? Sure. Could Beacon be great with some work? Absolutely.

But in the race to “be the first”, they’ve stumbled a bit.

Odd thing is, Google is good at the art of surprise, Gmail came out of nowhere, some of their best stuff was turned around rather quickly. That’s why I was irked at OpenSocial. Maybe it’s because they needed to see if others would be on board before they threw resources at it?

Who knows.

]]> By: Alan Wilensky http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815710 Alan Wilensky Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:52:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815710 Consider that these problems of nomenclature and basic API implementation issues, right out of the gate, is very bad form for an august provider of otherwise great tools. Many of Google's other programmer tools are well documented. I also have it from the inside that this is not happening with Android, the developers are quite pleased with what is, admittedly, a flavor of Linux with a phone HAL. I'll bet ya that the Google brass rushed OpenSocial out the door and maybe the owner of the product hasnt had time to think through all the issues. Social crapola in general, as a medium for programming better productivity for real services, is still in its infancy. Consider that these problems of nomenclature and basic API implementation issues, right out of the gate, is very bad form for an august provider of otherwise great tools. Many of Google’s other programmer tools are well documented.

I also have it from the inside that this is not happening with Android, the developers are quite pleased with what is, admittedly, a flavor of Linux with a phone HAL.

I’ll bet ya that the Google brass rushed OpenSocial out the door and maybe the owner of the product hasnt had time to think through all the issues.

Social crapola in general, as a medium for programming better productivity for real services, is still in its infancy.

]]> By: Michael http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815709 Michael Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:52:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815709 As far as I can remember OpenSocial was announced right after FB announced that MS buys in. I was surprised that they Google had kept both options open and was ready to launch OpenSocial so short after being turned down (or having turned down) FB. But, well, seems they were not ready after all. Maybe Google just announced to steal the hype from FB. Wait a second, that smells a bit like FUD tactics. Reminds me of the 800 pound gorillas of the past IT ages (IBM, MS). -- http://viibee.com, online dating is fun again As far as I can remember OpenSocial was announced right after FB announced that MS buys in. I was surprised that they Google had kept both options open and was ready to launch OpenSocial so short after being turned down (or having turned down) FB.

But, well, seems they were not ready after all. Maybe Google just announced to steal the hype from FB.

Wait a second, that smells a bit like FUD tactics. Reminds me of the 800 pound gorillas of the past IT ages (IBM, MS).

–
http://viibee.com, online dating is fun again

]]> By: skc http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1815708 skc Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:51:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/06/opensocial-still-not-open-for-business/#comment-1815708 Google, still a one trick pony. Google, still a one trick pony.

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