Google’s Open Social API
API October 31st, 2007 - By Haochi
As reported on TechCrunch one and half month ago, Google is going to launch a new API, now we know it as Open Social. According to a recent post on TechCrunch, the API will be launched this Thursday Google Time, though Garett Rogers, who had the chance to play with the API before it became publicly available, says that the planned launch date is the 5th of November. (”Remember, remember, the fifth of November.” :) )
Marc Andreessen, founder of Ning (the social network) and co-author of Mosaic (the browser), detailed the API on his blog. He said that Open Social is the “exact same concept as the Facebook platform, with two huge differences” (a polite way to call Google a copycat, that is). The two differences are that “applications” written under the Open Social platform (standard HTML and JavaScript) can run on any participating social networks*, or “containers” - as referred to in the documentations, compare to the Facebook applications that can only run on Facebook.
TechCrunch says that developers can access the profile, friends information, and activities of the user that’s using the application.
Sounds great, now let’s just wait. (And then somebody’s going to jump out from nowhere and start screaming “Google is EVIL!”) :)-
*including Orkut, LinkedIn, Hi5, Salesforce.com, Friendster, Oracle, iLike, Flixster, RockYou, and Slide.
[illustration from Search Engine Land, used under a CC-license]
November 1st, 2007 at 11:46 am
It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of this. At first glance, it seems a great idea. But execution will be key, as will how fast other social network open-up the the idea.
Guess we’ll have to wait until November 5th!
November 1st, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Do you think something like this will help small companies like filmcrave.com get into larger sites faster?
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[unlinked - Haochi]
November 1st, 2007 at 6:57 pm
@youGio
Can’t say for sure, depends on what your site offers and what can your application do.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:08 am
That is why I specifically asked about filmcrave.com and left you the link to look at the site. The application could do just about anything - as it pertains to movies.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
It’s genius… the writing on the wall couldn’t be any clearer, this is the beginning of the end of thick client and MS should be very scared. It all coincides with Googles “cloud computing” strategy. Everyone logins in for free, you pay for “extras”, apps are added on a per need basis at a higher rate or long term subscriptions can be purchased. Plus, with the advent of key networking technologies from Intel and IBM, distributed system processing will allow them to even sell “processing power” to you (more money for them and completely controlled). A next gen device (5 - 7 years) will have a version of an OLED display, inductive charge capabilities and most of its processing capability will rely on the network it connects to…. along with the apps and music, video, tv, etc….