11.04.07
Sorry, OpenSocial is closed
Terry Chay seems like he’s holding back with his criticism of OpenSocial. What can I add about a Google project that is neither open nor social?
First, the list of exclusions.
Yahoo was not invited because Google thought of it.
Tagged is missing because Plaxo was invited.
Facebook was excluded because Myspace was invited.
Ebay was excluded because Google wants to destroy Paypal.
We need a moratorium on non-open self-proclaimed open projects. If you see “Open” in CaMeLCaps, it’s not open, it’s just Web 2.0. The terms of service do not appear “open.”
Google’s version of open is that you are open, and they benefit. Google wanted access to Myspace’s users to complement tiny Orkut, and Myspace complied. Google’s terms of service reads like a closed document. It starts out
“you may use the API as part of a commercial or non-commercial enterprise.”
But then it gets out of hand.
“Google may, from time to time and at its sole and absolute discretion …”
That’s not open, and and in what way does it include Plaxo and the others?
In the end, OpenSocial is just Google’s releasing their broken, easily-hackable Orkut code to the non-embargoed companies.
With these terms of service, can I, can you, add to their API? I really doubt it.
Zon said,
November 4, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I have one correction to make.
“Ebay was excluded because Google wants to destroy Paypal.” is completely incorrect, there is already a Paypal OpenSocial widget that is live, evidence below.
http://google-code-featured.blogspot.com/2007/11/paypal.html
Paypal has not just released their app, they have it featured on googles own blog, and on the front page of the OpenSocial API website.
Another note, you don’t have to be invited to be part of OpenSocial, anyone can write an OpenSocial app, it isn’t hosted on Google’s servers or anything, you host it your self and announce the path to it.
Do your research before you slam new technology.
David Kellogg said,
November 4, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Do my research? I did it. I list no lesser a source than Valleywag.
http://valleywag.com/tech/opensocial/googles-opensocial-closed-to-non+gang-members-318420.php
From VW:
“The problem? Seems that so far OpenSocial is only open to partners Google signed prior to launch.”
It is closed until proven open. No one believes this is open but a bunch of Google fanboys. May I list a few “open” projects?
Sun claims Java has always been open source.
Microsoft claims that anyone can read their code.
Oracle claims anyone can publish benchmarks on their code.
Google claims OpenSocial is not theirs and is open.
Where is the documentation? Where is Yahoo, Tagged and Facebook? How does davidkellogg.com make use of this API without telling Google who my service provider is? You sign me up, let me host everything myself, and I will believe this is open. It turns out Paypal did create an app on Saturday. Ebay itself is still not listed.