SocialTimes.com

Posted: 26 Jun 2008 11:00 AM CDT

In a few months, the concept of most socializing on the web taking place within social networks will seem passé. Most people in the industry have come to accept that socializing is something that will take place everywhere on the web. How that is going to happen exactly is a whole other question. Some believe that we will become more social via a browser plugin, others are supporters of the new platform extensions like Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect.

However we get there isn’t as significant and knowing that it will eventually happen. One company which strives to make the whole web more social is RocketOn, which I was introduced to via a Techcrunch article this morning. The company provides users with mini avatars which they can use to interact with other users as they navigate the web.

As you interact with other people on the web, you can also invite them to games provided by RocketOn. Talk about a reduction in productivity! Based on the video below, the tool practically renders most sites useless. It looks really cool but imagine trying to read something while avatars are marching around and trying to talk to you.

So while this appears to be a pretty cool way to have fun on the web and interact with other people, I’m not so sure that this will be the primary way to socialize the web. Then again, on the web it’s not about who’s socializing, it’s about how you socialize so perhaps some people will prefer interaction via virtual avatars. How do you see “social” becoming part of the general web or do you think the web has already been “socialized”?

Breaking: MySpace “Data Availability” Goes Live

Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:33 AM CDT

Today, MySpace released the details of their new “Data Availability” initiative and announced that the APIs will go live later today. This is a huge announcement and it appears that MySpace has been working overtime to release the documentation of their new initiative prior to Facebook’s expected launch next month. This announcement comes earlier than many expected.

With this launch, users will be able to make their basic profile, photos and friend networks available to all third-party sites that support the new standard. As described on the MySpace data availability page, the new service uses the OAuth standard for authenticating third-party sites. MySpace will be releasing a video tutorial later today which helps developers begin creating applications.

MySpace will also be providing developers with libraries of simple client side controls so websites with minimal technical expertise will be able to easily leverage MySpace content and data. MySpace is now the first step to open up their public APIs and move toward making the web a more social space. While some have argued that this step creates a larger walled garden, I firmly believe that this is a great step in the right direction.

For those concerned about privacy, users will be provided with a central control panel in MySpace which “allows users to manage how their content and data is made available to third party sites they have chosen to engage with to ensure user content and data stays secure and private.” Additionally, “information will be served dynamically from the MySpace data store to ensure both the most up to date content and this allows users to give and revoke permissions easily and instantaneously.”

Last Night’s D.C. Bash in Photos

Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:15 AM CDT

Last night’s D.C. bash with Gary Vaynerchuk and Robert Scoble went off successfully. Unfortunately I was not able to stay through the entire event because I had another event to attend as well. By the time I left though, the venue was packed and people were busy networking. iStrategyLabs was doing interviews and just about everybody involved in D.C. technology and new media was at the event.

I put together the following compilation of the event and have also posted the photos on the Social Times Facebook Page. I will be tagging photos and Frank Gruber will be uploading and tagging photos on Flickr. Thank you to everyone that made it out last night and thank you to the event sponsors for making it possible to capture the moment and provide the free wine.

We will be hosting more events in the near future so stay tuned and we’ll be sure to update you on the happenings in D.C.

MySpace Teams With NBC for Political Contest

Posted: 26 Jun 2008 09:20 AM CDT

No stranger to embracing political discussion, MySpace has teamed up with NBC and MSNBC as part of the Decision ‘08 initiative according to Caroline McCarthy. According to McCarthy, “it’s a competition to choose MySpace’s ‘citizen journalist’ correspondents at the major parties’ national conventions later this summer.”

Surprisingly absent from the political conversation? Facebook. While Facebook had their own presidential candidate debate in partnership with ABC earlier this year, there have been no announcements of any other political events taking place for the company. That’s not to say that’s nothing planned though given that the company has at least one employee based in D.C. to help get political events organized.

Entrants into the MySpace contest must answer “Why do you vote?” “Why are you the best person for this job?” and “How will you stand out in the crowd and get the scoop no one else can?” A group of judges which includes Tom Anderson of MySpace will choose the finalists. Getting to cover the national convention parties sounds like an awesome opportunity for one lucky MySpace user.

If you’d like to participate in the competition, go check out the Decision ‘08 initiative on MySpace.