Steve Holstad's "the bright lights"

OpenSocial Google API Release taking on Facebook

Today is the target launch date for Google's OpenSocial, a programming API targeting social networks such as Orkut, LinkedIn, Friendster, Plazo & more.  This move is intended to challenge the stranglehold Facebook currently is developing with social network programmers.  I'm not much of a Facebook fan; nothing against the site itself, I just don't have the energy anymore to constantly monitor that type of site... I did check out Orkut, which seems to be wildly popular in Brazil & Asia, but much like David Hasselhof's singing career, totally missed the boat in the states.

Normally I don't post a lot of current event type news, but since Clarity has done so much to aid in Facebook development, thought that I'd put this out there to see if any of the Facebook developers would take a look at OpenSocial and see how it stacks up. 

Right now I have the feeling that:

- Trying to develop on a standard platform for multiple proprietary network sites will be frustrating

- If the target sites themselves aren't taking off, then why would devs commit to developing for them?

If anyone checks it out, post a quick review here.

Google's OpenSocial

TechCrunch breaks the news

NY Times