The Inquisitr » identi.ca

Fail: Twitter now not going to support OpenMicroblogging

Duncan Riley — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:08:51 +0000

Just when we thought Twitter may have finally redeemed themselves, they change their mind.

We ran a story at the beginning of November reporting that Twitter was looking at adopting support for the OpenMicroblogging standard, a play that would open up Twitter to real competition and ultimately be a great do the right thing community play from a company that has a track record of ignoring its users.

Alas though, it isn’t to be. Jesse Stay writes on LouisGray.com that Twitter has decided against playing nicely with it neighbors, saying that the standard isn’t right for Twitter and wouldn’t work for them. In return though it would appear that any move by Twitter was lip service, with notes that Twitter has not tried to communicate with the OpenMicroblogging community to address concerns. Evan Prodromou (Indenti.ca), head of the OpenMicroblogging group today offered again to hear suggestions from Twitter that could be incorporated in the standard, but with no response.

Sad, but not entirely unexpected. I guess they’re too busy working on a “revenue stream” they’re now promising for next year.

Twitter could soon play nicely with its neighbors

Duncan Riley — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:18:28 +0000

Twitter may implement support for the OpenMicroblogging standard, a function that will allow users on any supported service to subscribe to users on other sites running the standard.

Jesse Stay stumbled upon the revelation in the Twitter bug report system, with Alex Payne, API Lead for Twitter changing to accepted a bug request titled “OpenMicroblogging Support”.

For practical use, Twitter supporting OpenMicroblogging will allow users of services such as Identi.ca to follow Twitter users using Identi.ca, or likewise Twitter users following people on Identi.ca, or any other service that supports OpenMicroblogging. In direct application, if implemented very few people will likely take advantage of the offer, and it’s not about to radically change most people’s microblogging habits.

If Twitter does add support for OpenMicroblogging, it will be a radical step forward in opening up Twitter to the rest of the world, beyond the confines of the Twitter API, but with a pinch of salt. Jesse Stay compares Twitter to AOL and Compuserve, but I don’t believe the comparison is close, even if it works as a visualization tool. Twitter is not facing the challenge that AOL faced from the Internet, quite the opposite, Twitter is the dominant player and its competition is suffering from lack of numbers by comparison. Twitter is the blessed company that can do no wrong when it comes to user numbers, and it continues to power ahead, even without a business plan.

What this move would mean for Twitter is that Twitter has decided to lead by example by playing nicely with its neighbors. This would be a good community member play, a contribution to the great good with the belief that doing so would hold Twitter in higher regard across the broader tech community. And guess what: it would. Brownie points x100 for Twitter if it was to do this.

Seesmic Update: Nokia client, Twhirl update with Laconi.ca support

Duncan Riley — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:04:12 +0000

Two news stories on the Seesmic front this week that we’re late in covering: Seesmic on Nokia phones, and a Twhirl update.

Seesmic is now available on Nokia N95 phones, the first time Seesmic has offered a cell phone client. With the client, Seesmic users are able to record and watch videos directly on their phones. Users can also use the client to reply to their friend’s videos and build a threaded conversation. To download, visit m.seesmic.com. Details also in the video above.

In a positive response to a challenge I laid down in July, Twhirl now supports any install of Laconi.ca, the open source client behind Identi.ca. The first user was Leo Laporte for his TWiT Army. It’s a logical an easy add on for Twhirl that will help encourage development on the Laconi.ca code base, and a big thumbs up to Loic and Seesmic team for doing it.

Seesmic

Jisko: Competition for Identi.ca?

Duncan Riley — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:11:17 +0000

Jisko is a newish microblogging service that aims to compete with Twitter by offering an open source platform.

Jisko is open for business now and offers a range of standard features including replies tab, direct messaging, and friend lists. Bonus features include built in support for Jabber, a mobile client, and for current Twitter users, Jisko supports importing Tweets and posting back to Twitter, so you can switch while still continuing to use Twitter. An Adobe AIR desktop application is on its way.

For those who like their platforms open source pure, the entire code base is available on Launchpad here. There appears to be an API as well, but it’s not clear whether Jisko supports the OpenMicroBlogging, the standard supported by Identi.ca that allows cross install posting and reading.

My first impressions of Jisko are not great. The look of the service doesn’t excite me, and there’s really no defining features that set it apart from the growing army of Twitter clones. The site comes from Spain from what I can gather (the IP address points there, even if the domain itself is protected by Dreamhost) and the support wiki and documentation are all in Spanish, and the English parts of the site are only just in English, which isn’t going to help with global uptake.

However, the integration of the Twitter API does make for an interesting twist as it lowers the barrier to entry, allowing people to switch without having to give up Twitter.

There are now dozens of these sorts of sites in Europe catering to local audiences and I have no reason to believe that Jisko will break through globally, but stranger things have happened.

(via Killer Startups)

Laconi.ca list of installs plus desktop developer challenge

Duncan Riley — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:50:47 +0000

Indenti.ca continues to grow from strength to strength, as we’ve reported a number of times this week. A lot of this early success, 21 days post launch, is due to the community effort around the open source Laconi.ca code base that powers Indenti.ca. It allows others to run their own, compatible version of Identi.ca, and although the usability behind switching from one install to the next isn’t fully there yet (well, at least easily), you can sign up today to any install and follow people on any other installation.

Here’s the one thing though: all the desktop apps that are now supporting Identi.ca (with the exception on Spaz),are supporting Identi.ca alone, and not the other Laconi.ca installs. Before it’s even suggested, I get the ease of use argument. However, considering the only difference between one install of Laconi.ca and another is the url to the API (and presuming the API is on the installs), it shouldn’t be that hard to allow users to add the URL of their preferred Laconi.ca install as an option in the client. It’s important that the openness that has helped drive Identi.ca/ Laconi.ca to date be embraced by app developers as well, so that we encourage multiple installs, and by association further community development of the code base.

If you have an application that is offering Identi.ca support, please consider offering support to other installations of Laconi.ca, and know that by doing so, you’re helping encourage the development of the first true, open source, distributed Twitter client.

On the Laconi.ca installation front, here’s the latest list of sites currently running Laconi.ca. I vouch for the reliability of none of them, but if you’re interested in trying a different Laconi.ca driven site, this is a great starting point.

FriendFeed adds support for Plurk and Identi.ca

Duncan Riley — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:27:25 +0000

FriendFeed has added native support for microblogging platforms Plurk and Identi.ca, bringing the two services into the FriendFeed stream.

Previously, users could import messages from both services via RSS feed and marked as a blog, where as now both services are clearly defined, allowing users to hide feeds from both, should they so desire, without the hide affecting other feeds. Unfortunately, responding via FriendFeed to both services, a feature currently available for Twitter, isn’t available yet.

Before users of both services rush in to add their feeds, one word of caution. If you are using the excellent Ping.fm service, importing your Plurk and Identi.ca streams will see that message repeated on FriendFeed, and there’s no quicker way for a hide than doing that. I switch between Ping.fm and using Plurk (via Plurkair) and Identi.ca (via Twhirl) directly, so I’m not adding my accounts on both just yet.

It’s another sign of the growing popularity of both Identi.ca and Plurk, and the move will be welcomed by users of both services.

(via Paul Buchheit on FriendFeed)

FriendFeed

Identi.ca Latest: Indentifox, Posty, new features

Duncan Riley — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:03:57 +0000

The Identi.ca train continues to roll at the speed of light with a number of new features and clients.

On the client side, the first Identi.ca client has been released for Firefox. Identifox is a port of the Twitterfox client, and delivers the Identi.ca experience to the browser. Unlike Twhirl it doesn’t support push updates, but does support short urls, replies and recent updates, all from within Firefox or Flock.

Posty, an all in one AIR application for Twitter, Jaiku, Pownce, Tumblr and Friendfeed (see our review here) has added Indenti.ca to its line up. Identi.ca support comes with Personal messages, friends timeline, replies, and a public timeline in the menu bar, and as with all clients allows replies to messages. The updated version with Indenti.ca support is available for download here.

SarahinTampa reports a number of changes to Indenti.ca itself, including:

* Auto-follow your followers: a checkbox in your settings –> profile tab lets you automatically follow those that follow you. It’s recommended for “non-humans,” but I’m giving it a go.
* SMS: Another tab in your settings lets you get your dents via SMS. Just enter your phone number and carrier.

I said it yesterday, and I’ll probably keep saying it, the speed at which Identi.ca is moving is incredible, with the service now 18 days old. If it fails in the future it certainly won’t be for a lack of third party support.

Twhirl now supports Identi.ca

Duncan Riley — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:14:09 +0000

The next update of the Twitter/ FriendFeed/ Seesmic AIR application Twhirl will include support for Identi.ca, according to a scoop by Rafe Needleman at WebWare.

The even more interesting thing about the implementation: Twhirl supports push updates from Identi.ca, negating the need for regular refreshing (although the client can refresh as well). However Rafe notes that the process isn’t as simple as it sounds, with Twhirl users having to log in to both Identi.ca and GTalk for the push to work.

I wrote the Friday that Identi.ca is moving at the speed of light, and it’s getting harder to keep up. Two days after implementing the Twitter API, and less than a week after offering its first API, Identi.ca is now supported by a major desktop client. And in case you’ve forgotten, Identi.ca is now only 17 days old!

You can grab the beta release of Twhirl with Identi.ca support here and note that you have to add GTalk support to both Identi.ca and Twhirl (after you add your Indenti.ca account details) for the push data to work, although push isn’t compulsory. Rafe has all the instructions on how to do it here.

Now if only Twhirl would implement tabs for users to flick between services as opposed to requiring a window for each opened service

Twhirl

Identi.ca/ Laconi.ca moving at the speed of light

Duncan Riley — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:05:37 +0000

Proving the advantages of offering a microblogging platform open source, Laconi.ca, the script behind Identi.ca is now offering a Twitter compatible API, days after offering its first API, and exactly 15 days after launching.

Dave Winer writes:

Being compatible with Twitter is the developer-friendly thing to do, it means we will only have one code base to maintain. It’s good for users, because they have choice, they can use either Twitter or identi.ca, and not have to make a choice on tools. It’s good for identi.ca because they instantly get a base of apps that work with their service.

I’ve done a scan for Identi.ca apps and I can’t find any yet, but if you are aware of any, leave a comment. Expect new Identi.ca apps, ranging from web tools through to desktop clients, in the coming days, as Identi.ca development moves nearly at the speed of light.

Identi.ca

Identi.ca/ Laconi.ca gets its first API

Duncan Riley — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:47:05 +0000

The team behind the open source Twitter alternative Laconi.ca, the code behind the Identi.ca microblogging service, has released the codes first API.

The new API is described by the Laconi.ca dev team as Version 0 and not a “real API”, but a way to read and write to Identi.ca programmatically. The API 0 also has a time limit, where they only promise it will be available until “atleast September 30, 2008.”

By their own account, the new API appears to be a stop gap measure until a fully blown API becomes available, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

Full details on the API here, and there already appears to be some basic tools built using it.

See our previous Identi.ca/ Laconi.ca coverage here and here.

Identi.ca

Identi.ca gets replies tab, clones already appearing

Duncan Riley — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:04:14 +0000

Open source microblogging platform Identi.ca, which launched 5 days ago to a big splash, is already evolving with the addition of a replies tab.

The basic feature allows users to see who has responded to them on Identi.ca, bring the service one step closer to Twitter…well, while Twitter has replies working today anyway. Some reports have Identi.ca passing the 10,000 user mark over the weekend, a decent start for a brand new service.

On the Laconi.ca front, the code behind Identi.ca that also supports the OpenMicroBlogging platform, a number of Identi.ca compatible clones have already popped up. There doesn’t seem to be any serious competitors yet with most sites appearing experimental (and in my practice, not always working perfectly), but 5 days in, it’s a start. Some sites to check out

The procedure to subscribe from one service to another seems to be working, although the process is rather cumbersome and we are still a long while off being able to swap services at easily. To subscribe to a user on another install, visit their page, click subscribe, then in the secondary box add your personal URL from the service you use (for example: http://identi.ca/duncanriley). Then the rest should follow.

(in part via Dave Winer on FF, also hat tip to Michael C Harris on the Laconi.ca cross posting here)

Ping.fm helps platform overkill + Invites

Duncan Riley — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:26:15 +0000

If you’ve not heard of Ping.fm before but are suffering from social/ microblogging service overkill, Ping.fm is a service for you. The closed beta service has been around for some time, but I only got my hands on an invite recently, and my only gripe: why didn’t someone get me onto this earlier!

Ping.fm is a multiple platform updater. The service allows you to send updates to multiple services from the one point. For example, I can use Ping.fm to update Identi.ca, Plurk, Pownce and Twitter from the one interface, with one message, and one click delivery. I’ve named four services, but that isn’t even half of them. The full list: Bebo, Blogger, Brightkite, Facebook, FriendFeed, hi5, Identi.ca, Jaiku, LinkedIn, LiveJournal, Mashable, MySpace, Plaxo Pulse, Plurk, Pownce, Tumblr, Twitter, Xanga.

Users pick the services they want included in Ping.fm, and then via simple operators can also be selective when sending out messages. For example, if you don’t want a message going to every service, you can start with @s for a status update, or @m for a microblog.

So far I’ve only set it up to go out for status messages to Twitter like services and social networking sites, but notably I’ve not included Twitter so far because I don’t usually post “heading out for some food” type messages to Twitter. As a user though, you get to pick or choose to suit your preferred mix.

Ping.fm comes with an iPhone and mobile version, and each user is given a unique email address if they’d prefer to update via email (and this has been my preferred outlet when mobile so far).

As a service I’m lumping it in the Aggregation 1.5 mix. Although it doesn’t aggregate data in, it does push it out, so in one way it’s the opposite of FriendFeed (although FriendFeed does support posting to Twitter). Ping.fm + FriendFeed though together is the ultimate goal in this space, a service that aggregates all incoming information and allows data to be pushed out again. What ever it is, I love it. I can now update multiple services from the one place, so I don’t have to remember to log in and regularly use every service out there.

I’m not sure how many users this is good for, or for how long, but use the code “pingyoulater” to sign up to Ping.fm. It’s a service many of us have been waiting for.

“We’re all so desperate for a Twitter that works.” The Identi.ca wrapup post

Duncan Riley — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:47:33 +0000

A wry version of me could easily suggest that first adopters like shiny new things and flock en masse to each new thing that comes along. While that’s in part true, there’s actually a deeper need here. For an Identi.ca day one wrap, I’m turning primarily to FriendFeed, where some of the best commentary, content and links lie.

The best quote of the day: Leo Laporte
““It’s funny to see all the Twitterati flock to http://identi.ca – we’re all so desperate for a Twitter that works. Why not just clone it?”

Why not indeed. We love the community on Twitter, but we hate the train wreck it has become.

Where this need for working platforms becomes a challenge, from Veronica Belmont
“OK, I joined the new one. Man, I’m getting kind of tired of joining things.”

Shel Israel asks
“Is there anyone here who has actually left Twitter?”

Some have, some find it hard to part company, a point I fully understand.

Need friends to follow on Indenti.ca? Directeur and Dave Winer come to the rescue, both threads providing lots of great people to follow.

Talking of Dave, the most that started the morning for me: Oh happy days.

It’s not been all clear sailing in Indenti.ca land. Besides becoming very slow as more and more people signed up, they also broke the cardinal sin of new services: never upset Robert Scoble:

“Someone already registered scobleizer on identi.ca — I sent an email asking for my account back. Sigh.”

“Funny, my email to identi.ca bounced back. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL.”

A full, running update on the Identi.ca discussion can be viewed on FriendFeed here. The Inquisitr’s coverage here, and a more informal post I wrote on my personal blog here.

Other coverage: VentureBeat, Sarah in Tampa, Ross Mayfield, Tom’s Tech, Mashable and The Standard.

Could Identi.ca be a Fail Whale Killer?

Duncan Riley — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:48:51 +0000

Indenti.ca is a new microblogging service with extra features that immediately place this as a potential Twitter killer: it’s open source AND it supports OpenMicroBlogging.

If OpenMicroBlogging means nothing to you, let me explain. From very early on folks like Dave Winer have been calling for decentralized microblogging, where you can host your own microblogging platform but each site could communicate with each other. The main advantage of this system: when one service goes down the whole system doesn’t fail, like it does with Twitter. If you weren’t getting good service with one provider, you could then easily switch to another provider, while keeping the same friends and identity. Competition in this way encourages excellence, as opposed to Twitter which really only encourages lots of moaning.

The release of the code behind Identi.ca (called Laconica) is a bonus again, as in theory anybody can grab this code today, install it, and run their own microblogging service that is cross compatible with Identi.ca.

Bwana points out in a post that Indenti.ca is fairly feature poor so far, and the service lacks basics such as an API. There is a long list of “soon” features here, the bigger question though is how quickly some of the key features can be rolled out to keep people using the service?

Dave Winer on the other hand simply headlines it as “Oh happy day.” This isn’t a perfect service, but with open source code and cross host microblogging, Identi.ca could be the first real step to decentralized microblogging, and given Twitter’s ongoing service crisis, could be the beginning of the end for Twitter.

If you want to follow me (and I’ll follow you back) I’m on Indenti.ca here.