July 24, 2008 4:43 PM PDT

Facebook and the end of sheep tossing as we know it?

Facebook has had at times--what's best way to put this?--a contentious relationship with its 400,000 or so developers. But now, Facebook wants what CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes as "meaningful" tools on the service. He's going to need to need that legion of developers if Facebook is going to substantially grow. On Wednesday, the company debuted Facebook Connect, a program designed to allow users to access and feed their Facebook profiles and friends on any Web site.

In theory, that's a big deal. As with everything, we'll need to see how it plays out in practice. My CNET News colleague Dan Farber offers a good take where he notes that "underneath the "make the world a better place" is the fact that both Facebook and Google, as well as Yahoo, Microsoft, MySpace and others, want to be the portal for the masses."

Earlier Thursday, I sat down with Webware editor-in-chief Rafe Needleman, who was at Facebook's campus to cover the announcement. You can check out our conversation by clicking on the video link below:

Recent posts from Coop's Corner
Chris Shipley 1, Internet lynch mob 0
Why I'm passing on Google's 10th anniversary
Why the bar gets raised for Apple
First look at 'Spore': Why Electronic Arts is smiling today
We're from Google and we're here to help. Really?
Powered by Jive Software
advertisement

Latest tech news headlines

Resource center from News.com sponsors
What you need in business class email.
Mailtrust

Click Here!
Never worry about email again. From mobility and shared calendaring to virus and spam protection starting at only $3 per mailbox. more>

Rackspace Mailtrust
Total Email Relief

We'll take care of your email so you can take care of your business.

14 Day Free Trial

With expert support 24x7x365 we guarentee 100% uptime. Try us for free for 14 days. Never worry about your email again.

Just $3 per mailbox

Choose the plan that is right for your company and only pay for what you need.

About Coop's Corner

Charles Cooper has covered technology and business for more than 25 years. A graduate of Queens College and Columbia University, Cooper began his career in journalism at the Associated Press before moving to technology coverage. Before joining CNET News, he worked at Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. He received the Excellence in Journalism award from the Northern California branch of the Society for Professional Journalists for column writing.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Coop's Corner topics

Featured blogs

advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right
  • News - Business Tech

    Chrome's JavaScript challenge to Silverlight

    The advent of Google's Chrome browser, software pros say, should spur a big speedup for JavaScript, which would raise its standing against Microsoft's Silverlight technology.

  • Gallery

    Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week

    Here are CNET Reviews' 10 favorite items from the past week, including the TiVo HD XL, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50, and the Dish Network's newest digital TV converter box.

  • News - Apple

    Apple watchers spot 'iPod Nano' pix, iTunes hints

    The rumor mill has long been predicting a longer, leaner new version of the iPod Nano, and now it's conjuring up some pictures.

  • Coop's Corner

    Chris Shipley 1, Internet lynch mob 0

    Demo's impresario goes public with a tart and smartly written riposte to the shoot-from-the-lip crowd.

  • Video

    Katie Couric reflects on first Webcast

    The political conventions are over and so are CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric's first series of Webcasts. CNET's Kara Tsuboi sat down with Couric on the final night of the Republican National Convention to discuss what she liked about Webcasting, some of her most memorable guests, and whether TV news will still be around by the next round of conventions.

  • News - Digital Media

    Google-focused satellite enters orbit

    The search titan has exclusive rights among online mapping sites to images from the new GeoEye-1 satellite, which launched Saturday.

  • Video

    YouTube plays party politics

    During the presidential campaigning four years ago, YouTube didn't even exist. Now it's a tool candidates must master to get their message across. CNET's Kara Tsuboi stops by the YouTube upload booths at the Democratic and Republican conventions to find out why Google's video site has such a big presence in Denver and St. Paul, Minn.

  • News - Gaming and Culture

    Are Demo and TechCrunch50 fragmenting their audiences?

    With both events scheduled to start Monday, many press, as well as venture capitalists and others are having to choose which one to attend.

  • News - Cutting Edge

    Execs predict next Google-like tech

    On eve of company's 10-year anniversary, researchers and business pundits speculate about what technologies might someday have as much impact as Google.

  • Gallery

    Images: The art of 'Spore' prototypes

    Will Wright and his Maxis team worked on dozens of prototypes to test the elements of their soon-to-be-released evolution game. Here's a sampling.

  • Crossfade

    The Standard, 'A Different Skin': Free MP3 of the Day

    Eschewing the danceable beats favored by many of its post-punk brethren, while opting instead for more ominous and insistent rhythms, is what makes the Standard visceral and engaging. Download a free MP3 of "A Different Skin" courtesy of CNET Download Mus

  • Green Tech

    Duke Energy to invest in mini solar power plants

    Can hundreds of rooftop solar panels collectively operate like a central power plant? Duke Energy launches $100 million distributed solar program to find out.