[Sigia-l] Google to take social networking to a new level

[Ziya Oz]

James Aylett:

> The problems with email have arisen largely from the absence of end-to-end
> verification, authentication and authorisation, which is a missing feature set
> rather than a problem resulting from sloppy and inadequate definitions.

So you're saying if pigs did indeed have strong enough wings they could fly?
:-)

The point (I think) you're making is a good one though: there is a
difference between the definition/architecture of base/format/API/protocol
layer and features that differentiate products.

Apple's iChat, for example, interoperates with AIM. But because it also is
compatible at the base level with the Jabber protocol it can also talk to
ICQ, MSN and Yahoo IM clients. Likewise, Apple's music DRM, FairPlay, rides
on public AAC format; QuickTime video is based on H.264, and so on.

However, the reason why Apple's been able to do the things it's known for
and differentiate its products based on common/public protocols is that
those very protocols are sufficiently well 'defined'. Jabber, unlike
Trillian and Adium IM clients that are client-based for example, solves the
interop issue at the server level, it's highly decentralized with no global
username reqs, allowing just the right amount of flexibility, stability and
extensibility. Without those 'definitions' I doubt it would have been as
successful, for Apple or anybody else.

So it turns out base layer definition/architecture is the prime enabler of
end-product capabilities, email inadequacies being great examples which,
BTW, have been acknowledged by the early shapers of email protocols.

-- 
Ziya

It depends.
If it didn't, you'd be out of a job.