Wize Blog

Google FriendConnect Almost Ready

Google can drive traffic to small Web sites with friendconnect. A preview of the system will be available later today. The service should start in a couple of months.

According to Google, friendconnect can open up connections for webmasters: "by simply copying and pasting a few lines of JavaScript, it can implement the social functionality you want, and visitors can connect with their Facebook, orkut and other friends directly on your website.

You can see how friendconnect works in a video on Google.

Google gives a pretty good picture with an example from Ingrid Michaelson. According to Google, "visitors will be able to see comments by friends from their social networks, add music to their profiles, see who is attending concerts, and enjoy other features of the iLike application, all at Ingrid's website."

Friendconnect is also highlighted on the New York Times blog.

Google and Myspace vs Microsoft and Facebook

It’s Google and Myspace vs Microsoft and Facebook in a battle over who’ll dominate the online social network scene.

After yesterday's announcement that Google and Myspace announced plans to build applications using social network APIs called OpenSocial, developers can now write applications for smaller social network APIs.

According to an article in the LA Times, “software developers could now use a common technology standard Google had created to build features for MySpace users.”

Just hours ago, Slashdot reported that "starting tonight, developers can start writing applications using the social API for Orkut, MySpace, Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, Ning, Oracle, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo, and XING."

Just last week Microsoft had teamed up with Facebook, winning the right to invest in the fast growing social network site.

LG F92000 Photos Finally Out

Take a good look because to the left is the first image we have of the new LG F92000, dubbed as the "non-smart phone smart phone." 

Newlaunches.com states,

"It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard that helps it to be a messaging-centric device. The QWERTY keyboard slides out of the side and is kind of a take-off on the LG F9200. It features a 1.3-megapixel camera and a music player too. It provides instant access to Facebook right from the Messaging menu."   

The phones is not one that we would recommend for web-surfing, however, since it only has 1xRTT speeds. 

Truphone Demonstrates First VoIP-over-WiFi Call on Apple's iPhone: Includes Facebook Functionality

Two first time demonstrations are happening today in San Diego at DEMOfall 07 by a company called Truphone.  CEO, James Tagg will give the first public demonstration of a Voice over Internet Protocol over Wi-Fi phone call on the Apple iPhone.

In addition, what is really cool, is that with this application, any Facebook user will be able to click on a friend's Truphone 'Call Me' button, and a free phone call will be initiated to whichever phone their friend has chosen (i.e. free phone calls to any of your Facebook friends!). 

CEO James Tagg states, "People today use multiple tools to communicate in different ways at different times, but this multiplication of options can serve to confuse consumers. By providing the Facebook community with free call to real phones, Truphone will genuinely help bridge the worlds of traditional and internet telephony."

Free phone calls = more money to spend on cool gadgets and we are all for that!