Facebook has just launched its first widget for Facebook Connect, its recently-introduced platform that allows users to authenticate themselves using their Facebook logins. Dubbed ‘Comments Box’, the new widget allows site owners to integrate a comments section into their webpage. But unlike normal commenting systems, comments left in Comments Box will be relayed back to the users’ Facebook profiles, where the conversation can continue (users can also choose to receive notifications through Facebook whenever someone responds to their comments on other websites).
Until now only developers have been able to take advantage of Facebook Connect. This new widget represents the first time anyone, using a small snippet of code, can include some of the functionality afforded by the new platform. They’ll still need to create an account (as demonstrated in the video below), but compared to the effort required to fully implement Facebook Connect, this should be much easier.
Also important to note is the fact that Comment Box retains the Facebook ’style’, which for the first time will begin creeping beyond the borders of the social network. It’s also the first substantial widget created by Facebook, and the first in what will likely be a suite of similar widgets that could begin to encroach on the likes of JS-Kit, IntenseDebate (recently acquired by Automattic) and Disqus (some of which have already enabled Facebook Connect into their commenting widgets).
At this point it’s unclear how much blog owners with other commenting systems already installed will benefit from the new widget. According to Facebook’s blog post, “via [Facebook] APIs, you can access related comments made on Facebook as well to bring the conversation together”, which could help drive more comments. But in the end all of this content is going to be going to Facebook, which established blog owners and publishers are not going to like. It’s also bringing Facebook one step closer to becoming the universal standard for social content across the web – an idea that may alarm advocates for open standards like OpenID.
How To: Create a Comments Box with Facebook Connect in 5 Minutes from Pete Bratach on Vimeo.
IMPLEMENT THIS ON TC PLZ
Google Friend Connect has had this feature for a while, but there’s no doubt that Facebook’s implementation will win.
http://www.goog...nect/home/intro
Problem is, there is no “central repository” like a Facebook. I’ve been thinking about implementing GFC but I don’t see where I would benefit as much as something like this, where at the end of the day, nearly every one of my friends are reading their Facebook feeds and commenting on posts.
I prefer Google’s Friendconnect, as it allows users to log in with the ID of their choice: Google, GMail, Yahoo, AIM and OpenID.
I view my Facebook profile as private to such an extent, that I even dispise friend requests from people I do not know. Using my Facebook profile for comments on multiple websites across the web will only invite more unappreciated friend requests to my facebook profile, which I’d rather avoid. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way.
Sure, almost everyone is on Facebook, but almost everyone uses either Gmail or Yahoo too. So I’m rooting for Friendconnect.
I got the Comments Widget installed on my site in 2 minutes by just cutting and pasting the sample code! Awesome!
I just can’t believe they went back on their TOS change. People are dumb if they think they are getting any privacy from Facebook or Myspace. All they are doing is voluntarily supplying valuable info to huge marketing mills. Although there are ways to communicate with privacy: anonymous sites like http://www.anonboard.com
it is what it is.
Thanks for your good suggestion
This is an example widget. ???
“it’s just plain sexiii”
LOL. That was rich.
I must say this is pretty neat, and i expect this is only the start of widgets to come from facebook. I suspect disqus is pretty pissed.
Cool. We will be adding FB Connect to MeetingWave within the next week or so.
That’s cool
eh.
This is a nice proof of concept, but real publishers and bloggers will need something more for their sites for proper customization, moderation and community building purposes. Also there are other login systems on the web other than Facebook Connect which must be supported.
Posted an overview here: http://blog.js-...oof-of-concept/
Totally agreed, I wouldn’t even consider adding this to our site without being able to customize to our colors and layout.
If all websites adapt this, then what becomes of me?
Spot on. That’s what the question really who – who wants to be known and who wants to remain anon? The answer to that question remains to be seen and will sculpt the internet into the future.
For myself, and I suspect others – you want to be known for some things and not for others
The good news is that the Comments Box widget from Facebook Connect still allows anonymous comments.
- Is it skinnable? Facebook is fugly by default.
- What about trackbacks?
- What about SEO?
Cool idea but I’ll stick with something more blogger-friendly such as Disqus (woo!) or Intense Debate. Facebook has too much of my info already, they can’t have my blog comments too!
I almost forgot, its facebook! So now MY comments are THEIR comments right?!
lol! exactly
and if you decide to “deactivate” your account you have to re-visit all of the comments you’ve made and delete them one-by-one…
This may be the application that Twitter should have implemented months ago. We have a serious issue with the conversations that expand beyond the source. This will certainly be a proof of concept for Facebook that sites like FriendFeed should think about. I am really psyched about this and I am going to introduce it on my blog soon.
http://www.notronwest.com/blog
I Think This Is A Great Idea On Facebook’s Part.
First time I tried commenting using Facebook Connect. I like it!
It seems that there is nothing that can stop facebook’s taking over the whole world.
I’d really like to know facebook/twitter/friendfeed’s relationship.
Exactly. This is just the next step in their world domination…and people are too dumb to care.
I think Facebook is simply doing a good job. But of course at the same time it’s a huge threat to the current internet’s top players
.
I just got this up and running on my site. You can see it in action. I like what it offers so far.
Myself also agree with u.
http://yellowpa...me-loans/17.htm
oh. snap.
facebook: 1 disqus: deadpool
I don’t think I’ll actually use this at all. Why?
1) My custom commenting system looks and feels like the rest of my site.
2) It doesn’t take much to capture 200 characters of text. However, if it isn’t in your database, you lose a lot of control.
3) You can easily send your comments directly to other API’s. I’ve chosen to send member comments (that opt in) to Twitter, then let them know they can in turn install the FB Twitter App to sync them all up.
One comment, hits all three major sites. Mission complete
Best part of the demo video: “It’s just plain sexy” I LOLed
Nice widget with some useful advance features.
I will employ that facility.Sure.
One more interesting feature from Facebook. It’s the year of Facebook. Definitly.
“getting into a business” implies it’s a business which implies it should make money. Facebook isn’t in the “business” of making money. They are in the business of losing it hand over fist.
thanks for information….nice new comment box, I love facebook….my best social media
Nice feature, I’m glad I didn’t waste my precious time last week trying to implement the ‘old’ Friend Connect on my blog…. this certainly would do the trick within a lot less time.
However… I do have concerns wether the content of ‘my comments’ will be visible to Google Crawler and co.
I’ve implemented a hybrid version of this widget on my blog:
http://www.mmtercan.com/?p=38
i like this. now i can see when someone replies to my coment on disqus?
What I Would Love to see now is a News Feed Widget for all website interactions.
Whilst it’s a nice idea, I’m not keen on the idea of my postings getting reported back into my Facebook feed.
Nor am I keen about seeing all the comments that my friends make on other sites. I don’t really care about seeing their discussions on some other blog or forum.
Sometimes it’s better to keep things separate.
this is gonna be huge for facebook. see my take at adsonfacebook.wordpress.com
More insights from the Palo Alto dev garage.
Voice, Media, Verification – How Facebook’s Philosophy Is Evolving
http://willobri...hy-is-evolving/
interesting idea……
I won’t use it either, and I’ve written specifically why… http://blog.per...t-quick-review/
Partially because of SEO, partially content control. Technical control doesn’t matter as they’re probably more stable than I ever will be on my own host. Seeing the recent TOS debacle though, I think FB showed their hand regarding what they think about the content – namely that they want to own it. That doesn’t really sit well with me.
I hope disqus will integrate this widget!
First time I tried commenting using Facebook Connect. I like it!
What is facebook?
I keep hearing about it on the internets.
does it work ?
good idea for fb. but I am not sure for me.
Interesting….is this now going to appear on my news feed?
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testing
my comments
aaa
gravatar testing
What happens with anonymous comments?
nice job.
Great feature
I like face book the most.
I was wondering what people think of this feature? Do you like it?
Well, I was wondering if people actually post to their facebook page or do they just use it as a login system?
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First time I tried commenting using Facebook Connect. I like it!