Even though Google is fumbling this service, it really could launch decentralized social networking services.
They just need a 'phase 1' client that draws better imaginary walls between the 'parts' of the service, to fit most users' current conception of how the internet works.
People aren't 'getting' the idea that an email, a chat and a picture archive are the same thing under the hood. Google, meanwhile, is so proud of the technical possibilities that they won't shut up about that part. And it's confusing the crap out of the users they should be enticing.
Google needs to build that more-traditional-looking client and pitch it as a decentralized Facebook competitor.
My first thought was Wave. My second thought was Wave sucks (in my limited experience). I also like the idea of minimising the use of proprietary protocols. Can you imagine if email were invented today; lots of non-connected email islands.
Even though Google is fumbling this service, it really could launch decentralized social networking services.
They just need a 'phase 1' client that draws better imaginary walls between the 'parts' of the service, to fit most users' current conception of how the internet works.
People aren't 'getting' the idea that an email, a chat and a picture archive are the same thing under the hood. Google, meanwhile, is so proud of the technical possibilities that they won't shut up about that part. And it's confusing the crap out of the users they should be enticing.
Google needs to build that more-traditional-looking client and pitch it as a decentralized Facebook competitor.