It would be everyone's worst nightmare - a nice shot across the bow of the open web.
Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
11–20 of 39 posts
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#12While the envisioned scenario would be a blow to Google, it would require so many outlandish developments that this is basically impossible. For one, Facebook would have to create a search engine, something that they have shown no interest in (they seem happy to farm that out to Bing for now), much less any capability. More importantly, people would have to use the Facebook browser. The author really overestimating how much people like Facebook. The example of iPhone and iPad apps' popularity aren't proof people love Facebook products (not to mention there is no iPad app), they like accessing Facebook. They like talking to their friends. If you pay attention to most people, they hate new Facebook products. I hear constant bitching about the apps, the interface, etc. The value proposition of a Facebook browser would be basically annoying the user at all times while all other browsers could do the same exact thing in a separate tab. Chrome didn't become popular because of tight Google integration, it became popular because it was faster. I don't see why a browser that just gives me Facebook updates would be any more popular than Rockmelt or Flock.
And, of course, Google isn't stupid. Google+ is a fairly competent attempt to head off even this out there future.
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#13All the user needs that the article lists and that a Facebook browser would answer to (instant notification, always on chat, etc.) could be just as easily be answered by a simple toolbar, on top of another browser. As for the adoption of a FB browser, I would be curious to see how it would fare. I'm pretty convinced that most early adopters which sustained the initial adoption of Firefox and Chrome would never use a…
Facebook probably doesn't need "early adopters" per se. A big banner across the top of Facebook would drive tens of millions of downloads within days and this would generate tons of ambient discussion on Facebook feeds. Assuming normal people don't turn against it (possible if the right frantic all caps messages start being spread around), it would definitely make a dent in IE usage.
That would be the easiest route probably. There's a big difference between "Facebook's Browser" and "A Facebook Toolbar for Firefox". You can't really do a toolbar for Chrome (just one icon per plugin).
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#14This is pure speculation. They aren't actually making a browser.. "Not yet"
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#15"As Facebook becomes the social platform of the internet, a custom browser is the next logical step."
You'll need to explain that, because I don't think it's a logical step at all. The remainder of the article presents some benefits, but mentioning those does not make for a clear argument for why facebook should attempt to compete with their own browser.
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#16Isn't that what RockMelt is trying to be? I know it isn't developed by Facebook, but with integrations like notifications, friends, chat, etc, it basically is the Facebook browser.
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#17>> People try Facebook’s stuff all the time—just look at the adoption rates for their iPhone and iPad apps An otherwise interesting article, but there is no iPad app.
This slip up does not make me confident that the author of this article has done their homework.
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#18Flagged. This is article is entirely fabricated.
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#19The title of this submission is quite misleading. This article is speculating that Facebook will make a web browser, not that Facebook is making a web browser.
It is also not clear that a Facebook web browser would be an overnight success, as this article presumes. I'd say the opposite in fact. There has been enough big, old fashioned media interest in Facebook's privacy slip ups, that any Facebook browser would be negatively talked about in the press.
Re: Facebook's Browser is Google's Worst Nightmare
#20What a bullshit article. Complete with photoshop mockups. Might as well be another rumor about the "next" iPad killer or how it would be cool if Vimeo built refrigerators with built-in video screens. I would certainly not even consider using or downloading a FB browser. Last thing I need is to be constantly Zuckerberged.