Next Great Thing

It seems ironic that Facebook, the social network known for keeping its walls high, should think of adopting the motto: Make the world more open. But after they were forced to issue an open letter of apology back in September, their policy is to dialogue with users. Their new Platform, plus their open API, shows the SNS is truly taking steps to become a “social operating system,” in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s words. (Meanwhile, MySpace is attempting this by closing their doors.)

Many properties have given open access to their APIs giving developers the tools they need to create powerful applications. This crowd-sourcing enables users to build on existing applications and features to create new experiences for youth.

Here, our summer intern Marc test drives Facebook’s much-anticipated Platform–once he could find it….

The announcement of the new Facebook Platform on Thursday had people talking about the beginning of the end for MySpace. On Facebook, users can now utilize all sorts of new applications from various sites without leaving the comfort of their safe Facebook world. So on Friday I was disappointed (as an avid Facebooker) as I watched the site and refreshed the page every few minutes, because nothing ever came up.

Then I noticed on the right-hand side application tool bar a tiny edit button. After clicking, I realized that the platform has been up all along (Remember the movie “The Net”?). An application directory popped up of services designed by third party websites to be used through Facebook.

So why no big splash? People that love Facebook love it because they don’t have to be too tech-savvy to use it to its fullest. Shouldn’t the new launch be in a big banner on the home page?

The Facebook team has learned a lot of lessons (some the hard way) about how to launch new applications in their program. Facebook users are hyper-paranoid about their beloved SNS getting ruined. There were a lot of protests when a feed of your FB activities went live, but now most users appreciate it (How else can you find out that Jennifer Harvey from middle school got engaged?)

It would seem that one of the purposes in making a quiet launch is because some of these new applications don’t work right! In the scramble to be in the first wave, many of these sites still have glitches. Here were a few I played with:

Apparently a lot of cool widgets, but I wouldn’t know. There was an error loading, and it seems from the comments everyone had the same problem.

Press the Walkie Talkie button and you can talk to other friends on Facebook. I’m sure this is kind of cool, only nobody else has it loaded so I don’t have anybody to talk to.

Find favorite videos on the Veoh website and then they will play in your Facebook profile. The player is messed up and you can’t log in to show your favorites.

Users can search and add-in your favorite songs stream them on your profile (there is no auto-play feature like on MySpace, thank goodness). It can also inform you when your favorite artists are coming to town.

This is a feed where you can update your status and tell your friends what you’re doing. Most people familiar with Facebook will know that Facebook already had that…

Lets you comment on and review new movies. Great for movie lovers because they already have a large database of user reviews.

They facilitate personal loans and investments through Facebook. They have lower rates. I’m curious to see if people will trust this.

Post your favorite jokes, videos, and pictures from Collegehumor.com. Making your guilty pleasures public. Another problem arises–how do you moniter out the Girls Gone Wild pictures?

Use your phone to leave audio comments on other user’s pages. When the application comes up on someone’s profile, anyone can call the number listed on the site and leave a voice message for that person.

Through their wantlist application you post something you want (concert tickets, a puppy) and they help you find it. At least in theory, because this application isn’t working either.

Shows a feed of the music you’re listening to recently in iTunes. Shows a feed of the music you’re listening to recently in iTunes. Cool idea, but application still doesn’t work.

This under-advertised launch was wise. Facebook users (including me!) fear change, and need to adapt slowly. But as profile pages start to have streaming video and walkie talkies, the awareness of the new apps will spread fast. So add them today if you want to be cooler than all of your middle school’s other alums.

- Marc Matthews