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You do not rely on other companies only when you rely on open standards. Web development is an example (although you indirectly rely on Google for example). Al

You do not rely on other companies only when you rely on open standards. Web development is an example (although you indirectly rely on Google for example). All kinds of apps usually rely on an underlying commercial technology ( windows development, osx development, ios development) whose actions are outside your control.

quanticle 16y ago
The Facebook app and Windows app scenarios are not comparable. Microsoft knows that the only reason Windows has succeeded as much as it has is because of its vast and deep pool of applications. As such, there is an incentive for Microsoft to allow a relative amount of freedom when developing Windows applications. Indeed, a bare operating system is quite useless without applications to run on it. Facebook, on the other hand, became successful without any of the additional third party applications that use it as a platform today. A "bare" Facebook, without any third party apps, retains quite a lot in the way of functionality. This means that Facebook's interests are much less aligned with yours than Microsoft's.
- ignifero 16y ago
  Facebook became popular without apps, true, but they have yet to prove how successful they are. Zynga is more profitable than facebook itself, that must mean something. It's just speculation, but i believe things will change as growth starts to plateau and everyone has caught up with their old schoolmates. As for microsoft, well, remember netscape.
  - joe_the_user 16y ago
    Zynga is more profitable than Facebook itself, that must mean something. Yes, it means something. The question is what. It might mean that Facebook has strong incentive to steal Zynga's business. Considering there are rumblings that Zynga is casting about for other platforms, Zynga might think so. If Facebook could be the home of many profitable apps that it had fair and transparent way of taking a cut from, then you could feel like Facebook was likely to keep its ecosystem working. Until then, it seems like anyone building on Facebook is subject to continuous risk of, as you imply, a sea-change in Facebook's operations.
    - ignifero 16y ago
      But that s what fb is already doing. They have a long term agreement with zynga to use fb credits exclusively, and they are extending that exclusivity to all developers starting this July
bruce511 16y ago
>> although you indirectly rely on Google for example huh? how do you figure that?
- ignifero 16y ago
  Thats why it says indirectly. Google can harm your traffic if they want to

quanticle 16y ago

The Facebook app and Windows app scenarios are not comparable. Microsoft knows that the only reason Windows has succeeded as much as it has is because of its vast and deep pool of applications. As such, there is an incentive for Microsoft to allow a relative amount of freedom when developing Windows applications. Indeed, a bare operating system is quite useless without applications to run on it. Facebook, on the other hand, became successful without any of the additional third party applications that use it as a platform today. A "bare" Facebook, without any third party apps, retains quite a lot in the way of functionality. This means that Facebook's interests are much less aligned with yours than Microsoft's.

ignifero 16y ago
Facebook became popular without apps, true, but they have yet to prove how successful they are. Zynga is more profitable than facebook itself, that must mean something. It's just speculation, but i believe things will change as growth starts to plateau and everyone has caught up with their old schoolmates. As for microsoft, well, remember netscape.
- joe_the_user 16y ago
  Zynga is more profitable than Facebook itself, that must mean something. Yes, it means something. The question is what. It might mean that Facebook has strong incentive to steal Zynga's business. Considering there are rumblings that Zynga is casting about for other platforms, Zynga might think so. If Facebook could be the home of many profitable apps that it had fair and transparent way of taking a cut from, then you could feel like Facebook was likely to keep its ecosystem working. Until then, it seems like anyone building on Facebook is subject to continuous risk of, as you imply, a sea-change in Facebook's operations.
  - ignifero 16y ago
    But that s what fb is already doing. They have a long term agreement with zynga to use fb credits exclusively, and they are extending that exclusivity to all developers starting this July

bruce511 16y ago

>> although you indirectly rely on Google for example huh? how do you figure that?

ignifero 16y ago
Thats why it says indirectly. Google can harm your traffic if they want to