Google Friend Connect officially launched in May 12, 2008 [via Google Press Center]
Google Friend Connect is in BETA stage at the moment and requires people to register to be white-listed to use the service. Since my blog is fairly new anyways I figured I give it a shot and find out if this is a good Social Media Tool that Google claims it to be.
*Updated* – Google Announced December 4th 2008 that it will be open to any website owner to add Friend Connect in response to Facebook Connect.
Setting up
The first thing I had to do was set up a new site to use this service. Apparently this service will only work on self hosted sites where you would have to download 2 .html files to upload to your main server.
After setting up .html files, you are directed to choose a Gadget or Widget from the gallery. Apparently there will be tons of open apps to be available but for now there seems to be just 3 main apps.
- Add a Member Gadget – Similar to MyBlogLog’s members widget where users can add their profile to your site.
- Wall Gadget – This gadget allows users to interact with your site by posting comments, or links to videos on your site. Similar to a Shoutbox.
- Review/Rate Gadget - This gadget allows users to rate a page, or a section of a page. Users rate videos, articles, books, photos, songs, etc etc. This gadget is similar to the rating plug-ins or widgets currently out there in the blog world.
Review
Right now I just added the “Add a Member Gadget” to the bottom of my Blog and I will be testing to see how well this pans out and then I might venture in adding the other gadgets later, especially when more developers develop better gadgets.
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I don’t see the point yet in installing this on my blog. Maybe when they’ve made some nice social widgets, I might reconsider
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