If you read slashdot or digg, you'll probably have read a TON of articles/blogs about how Facebook has opened their API. What Facebook doesn't understand, is that social networking (as the word "social" should denote) should be about the lowest common denominator. Much like how one of my co-workers XBOX 360 will crash with the "white" screen of death when attempting to play Gears of War! Let me explain that comparsion a bit.... Microsoft still doesn't get the lowest common denominator, they simply understand certain key demographics and not what is common across the board. However Microsoft does create some excellent technologies, and if challenged in the proper arena turn out some very spectacular products. Weather or not they will ever get anything 99% right, probably won't happen until they are VERY close to the end of their reign, and be forced to get it right. With that in mind Facebook opening their API's makes absolutely no sense to the normal, person. But to a bunch of Stanford graduated Silicon Valley or techie people it does. Perhaps this is Facebook saying to the tech world, "Hey, look at me I can do what Yahoo does!" When it comes down to dollars and cents all they have is that ad at the bottom of their pages. An excellent way to get dollars and cents might be to get some REAL content (other than the standard boiler plate social networking features)! I firmly believe the ONLY thing keeping MySpace in the running is the music! Look at Apple and what it has built on just music alone! It has literally propelled Apple into a completely different company. The fact that one of my best friend's 2 year old son could sing Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends" should be evidence enough that music spans generations. Lets take a look at MySpace, not only does it have the expected social networking features, but most importantly has a flash based music and video player on every profile page. And anyone that uses MySpace knows that they have thought, "I wonder what <insert someone's name here> profile song is?" I'm not expert, but perhaps the Silicon Valley (excluding Cupertino and Mountain View of course!....i.e. Apple/Google) still has a lot to learn about "people" (i.e. the lowest common denominator) especially when it comes to the internet and more importantly software! HINT: If Facebook really wants to really compete and win in the Social Networking arena, they need to pony up, and give their users a reason to stay on their site.
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