Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#31

Post by notahacker » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 5:04 PM UTC

StavrosK wrote: post #7

Come on, we already have a perfectly good protocol for this, OpenID. It's unfortunate how big companies try to lock users in their own authentication services rather than educate them about OpenID (although I think the new JanRain widgets turn OpenID into a "Connect with X" service, which is great).

OpenID integration doesn't create an easy way for end users to share their likes with hundreds of Facebook friends who read newsfeeds on a daily basis, or tell you that 30 of your friends have become members. Love it or loathe it, there's a big value-add for marketers (and depending on the application, possibly also end-users) to Facebook Connect over a simple universal authentication system.

As others have pointed out, OpenID isn't even better than Facebook at what it specialises in: at best OpenID asks the user to remember whether they signed up with their Yahoo ID or their Gmail one and at worst to read a third-party FAQ just to figure out how to log in. Facebook Connect is a big blue button with a recognisable brand, and you're quite possibly already logged in.

If only their API wasn't such a piece of shit...

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#32

Post by jaspero » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 5:09 PM UTC

_b8r0 wrote: post #29

jules wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The browser extension is useful, even more so for non-technical people: you click a button and it's installed.

How many non-technical people do you know that use Chrome as their primary browser? I ask this because while I know plenty of tech savvy people that use Firefox, I'm in the minority on the Chrome/Chromium front amongst them, and I don't know a single non-technical person who uses Chrome.

I know quite a few non-technical person who use Chrome. I cannot guarantee that they know how to install an extension though. Most of the non-tech people uses internet primarily for FaceBook and they shouldn't be concerned when they see their FaceBook on say, CNN.com.

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#33

Post by mloc » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 5:25 PM UTC

This cannot be good for Google. If I was an exec at Google I would be very nervous about this. This is a good excuse and opportunity for people to start writing more ad blocking plugins. I am sure Google would not want that.

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#34

Post by jules » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 5:26 PM UTC

jaspero wrote: post #32

_b8r0 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many non-technical people do you know that use Chrome as their primary browser? I ask this because while I know plenty of tech savvy people that use Firefox, I'm in the minority on the Chrome/Chromium front amongst them, and I don't know a single non-technical person who uses Chrome.

I know quite a few non-technical person who use Chrome. I cannot guarantee that they know how to install an extension though. Most of the non-tech people uses internet primarily for FaceBook and they shouldn't be concerned when they see their FaceBook on say, CNN.com.

Installing this extension is as easy as clicking the big Install button on its page and then click Install when Chrome asks you whether you really want to install the extension.

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#35

Post by Snoddas » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 5:33 PM UTC

iambvk wrote: post #6

Kliment wrote: post #2

I do something similar with adblock filters. I don't use Facebook, so I have no privacy issue with connect, but it does improve load/render times by multiple seconds.

I too don't have a facebook account and the worst issue with Facebook connect is, its login box steals keyboard focus and completely annoys my browsing experience. I hope he releases this as Firefox extension too.

FacebookBlocker https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/212323/

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#36

Post by jaspero » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 5:40 PM UTC

jules wrote: post #34

jaspero wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know quite a few non-technical person who use Chrome. I cannot guarantee that they know how to install an extension though. Most of the non-tech people uses internet primarily for FaceBook and they shouldn't be concerned when they see their FaceBook on say, CNN.com.

Installing this extension is as easy as clicking the big Install button on its page and then click Install when Chrome asks you whether you really want to install the extension.

You still need to go to Chrome extension website right? It's not that when you go to a website that has FB connect, the Chrome asks if you want to block it or not. That would be effective though.

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#37

Post by kmavm » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 6:06 PM UTC

nozepas wrote: post #3

Of course one should be 'worried' about privacy with his/her data on facebook, but i don't think one should care less with the information google has about a huge amount of people. Just as a reminder: they know what you look for on the web (google itself), they know what you talk to your friends (gtalk), they know what you get via email (gmail), they know what videos you watch to (on youtube) and they now even have a…

Even before Chrome, they know what you read on a very wide cross-section of the web, too, thanks to the AdSense pixel.

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#38

Post by krosaen » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 6:23 PM UTC

StavrosK wrote: post #18

krosaen wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, OpenId is too complicated for most folks. paste in your url? c'mon. Even Brad Fitzpatrick realizes this: http://code.google.com/p/webfinger/ "People have been trying to use URLs as identifiers for people (as OpenID does), as it has great readability/discoverability properties, but this effort has largely failed because of UI/UX design failings, user confusion about URLs, etc."

You don't have to, there are widgets you can use where you just select your provider and enter your username, and everything's done.

good point, looks like stack overflow does this pretty well. there's also https://www.idselector.com and http://wiki.openid.net/Gallery

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#39

Post by rquirk » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 7:09 PM UTC

acqq wrote: post #19

nozepas wrote: post #3

Of course one should be 'worried' about privacy with his/her data on facebook, but i don't think one should care less with the information google has about a huge amount of people. Just as a reminder: they know what you look for on the web (google itself), they know what you talk to your friends (gtalk), they know what you get via email (gmail), they know what videos you watch to (on youtube) and they now even have a…

Maybe a Facebook engineer will make "Google disconnect" now?

I disabled my FB account back in May, but I'd find it quite difficult to do without all the Google services I use. Google Reader in particular.

Re: Google Engineer Builds Facebook Disconnect

#40

Post by jamesjyu » Wed, Oct 20, 2010, 7:33 PM UTC

jaspero wrote: post #36

jules wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Installing this extension is as easy as clicking the big Install button on its page and then click Install when Chrome asks you whether you really want to install the extension.

You still need to go to Chrome extension website right? It's not that when you go to a website that has FB connect, the Chrome asks if you want to block it or not. That would be effective though.

FWIW, you do not need to go the Chrome extension website to install an extension. It can be hosted by a 3rd party via a simple link on any website.