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What if Amazon and iTunes Implemented Facebook Connect?Today

Today was a big day for portable social network data. Both Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connection became available for any 3rd party website to interact with Facebook and Google users and their data. We've got our concerns about these kinds of initiatives coming from big companies (see our earlier coverage comparing Facebook Connect to OpenID) but it's also exciting to imagine what kinds of possibilities programs like this will enable.

The folks over at advertising firm Razorfish put together an interesting slide deck today illustrating what kinds of things would be possible if Amazon and iTunes were to implement Facebook Connect. It's a very good jumping off point for conversation about the possibilities in general, so we've embedded it below.

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The following presentation starts out with a basic discussion of Facebook Connect - the action gets started around slide 11. Thanks again to Chris Mes

Facebook Connect vs. OpenID: Who Will Emerge Victorious?Yesterday

Facebook Connect, the system the company has long discussed as "Facebook on sites all around the web," enters general availability today and we've got one big question - should website owners use Facebook or OpenID to authenticate and learn about their users? Will Facebook become a dominant identifier online? Will the OpenID community lose out to the company's proprietary system or will this challenge breathe new life into the movement for open source, standards based, federated user identity?

This battle isn't about "single sign-on" - it's about the payload that comes with it (friend networks, personal data, maybe more), it's about the developer communities, usability and ownership. It's very important to the future of our user experience online and it's a fascinating study in contrasts. Open Source vs. Proprietary technology isn't just about desktop software anymore - now it's about our identities and social connections, all around the web.

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Why Apple Should Be Worried About SongbirdYesterday

Earlier this week, the open-source music player built on Mozilla technology, Songbird, finally made its 1.0 release. After being in development for two years, this version feels like the kind of solid media player we've been expecting and hoping for all along. Although nothing is entirely bug-free, this release worked smoothly, with both performance and stability seeming greatly improved. Combine that with its extendibility through the the use of add-ons, and you'll find Songbird has a lot of promise as a worthwhile iTunes replacement.

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What We Liked

When we looked at Songbird in the past, many readers were quick to point out the player's sluggish experience, tendency to crash, and bugs. Whatever negative experiences you had before that drove you away from the software, now is the time to get it another shot.

New Android Phone Debuts, Looks Like a BlackberryYesterday

Starting today handset manufacturer Kogan began accepting pre-orders for the second Android phone, the Kogan Agora Pro, which makes its debut in Australia for $399 AU ($256 US). Unlike T-Mobile's G1, this phone comes unlocked for use on any carrier. However, what's really interesting about this second coming of the Googlephone is it's resemblance to a Blackberry. Will the combination of the Blackberry-inspired keyboard with downloadable iPhone-esque apps be the killer combination?

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In addition to the Kogan Agora Pro, a toned down version called the Kogan Agora, will also be available for $299 AU ($192 US). The plain vanilla Agora won't include a camera, Wi-Fi, or GPS. Both phones arrive unlocked phone for use on any Australian Carrier and come standard with a 624 MHz processor, 128 MB RAM, a microSD slot, 3G network, a touch-sensitive 320×240 2.5" screen, Bluetooth, central navigation key, and a backlit full QWERTY

Times Extra: The New York Times Opens Web Front Page to Outside ContentYesterday

At a time when the online world is continually seen as a more trusted source of news, mainstream media outlets find themselves forced into the position of becoming more and more open to keep their readers coming back. Removing "paid subscription" requirements that prevented everyday users from accessing content was one of the first cracks in the walled gardens. Opening APIs to other developers has been gaining favor. And now, another trend is coming to light: incorporating third-party content to supplement the original content the sites are offering. Today, the Gray Lady joined those ranks as the The New York Times launched Times Extra, a view of its front page supplemented with content from other news sources and blogs.

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The third-party content will be gathered and ranked by Blogrunner, a news aggregator purchased by The Times Company