From my perspective, which is both at a developer level and at a user level, it is becoming more and more complicated to render all of the API, framework, and features in one homogenous process. Don't get me wrong, I am a great supporter of heterogenous platforms but the problem lies in accessibility and the openness of standards.
There is a lot of very interesting development at the moment trying to resolve just that. Simply take OpenID for example. It seems like most web apps are jumping on the open standards wagon.
From my perspective the industry is moving towards a higher level of architecture and development. SAAS is a great example as it seems we have gone through a full process of commoditization and we are looping back to the innovation stage. However in order to ensure the greatest outcome for our development we need to consider componentization. Open standards and universal formats are a keystone in this allowing developers to build more complex and intricate products relying on a simplified and universal base.
Taking this into consideration I am asking you why is Facebook behaving with such a closed door policy. Facebook connect is probably a great tool but it seems to me that this isn't the trend for the future. To me it is yet another framework to learn and stirring my critical chain a little more. So I am asking you: Is Microsoft leading Facebook astray?
Is there a link between Facebook's development strategy and Microsoft's? As an investor in Facebook, MS probably has a certain pull in the decision making process. Moreover Facebook really seems to adopt similar strategies to MS, which have now proven, to be redundant in the long-run.
I look forward to hear from you on the subject