Facebook recently launched a profile cleanup utility which allows users to move applications to their ‘Extended profile’. While application developers are fuming and believe it decreases visibility of their applications, I am welcoming it with open arms. This is a huge pull back on part of Zuckerburg Inc from the MySpace-isque route they were headed on. While none of them started playing music or flash automatically, their presence meant it would take quite some time before you reach the wall. And no, this isn’t just high school users, it’s also people who’re too nice to ‘deny’ or ‘ignore’ requests.

While it still isn’t being used as much as I’d like it to be, there’s been a marginal improvement of some Facebook profiles, and it’s definitely a step forward.

Here’s hoping to cleaner Facebook profiles and lesser loading times.

It was only yesterday I was thinking about my previous blogpost could’ve been too early to point fingers at the Facebook team. I stood corrected and was pretty pleased with the way they had managed to allow third party developers to access the site without making it an annoyance. All flash and music related applications have a strict no auto-play rule to them. And most applications so far had been above par. Peace and order had been restored in the kingdom.

And then it happened. I was shocked out of my mind when I found out a friend of mine had added what seemed to be a Glitter Text. Mustering all the courage inside me, I managed to click on their profile. And conforming to my fears, there it was their name in glittery shiny horrible looking text. Not just that, applications such as Fortune Cookie and Famous Quotes put a line of text on an unnecessary image which is of a ludicrous size. You have to scroll for nearly 17 years to get to someone’s wall. Add to that, applications such as fluffPet and you the ‘Ridiculous meter’ running off the charts. Many would be inclined to blame Facebook’s decision to open the website up to everyone. But the cause of the problem here are the ‘College’ Students. ‘I am disgusted’ would be pretty much an understatement.

B

Facebook recently introduced the Facebook Platform at the F8 in San Francisco The platform allows developers deep access into the Facebook technologies, which essentially lets them build ‘Applications’ based on Facebook. So they are allowed to interact with users, conduct transactions and even display ads (Only where Microsoft ads aren’t being displayed).

The start up has been shaky to say the least. Applications have been frequently disappearing or simply not working. As I write this post, the Application directory is unavailable and I’m expected to look at my mini-feed to discover new apps. But that is understandable that this is a huge step forward for Facebook; and with the introduction of 40 something Applications on launch itself, the servers were bound to crawl. Obviously there are no doubts about the fact that Facebook will pull their act together in a matter of few days; and with Applications being constantly developed as we speak, this will definitely be something to talk about for the next few weeks.

But the real question remains, is this really a good thing? The Facebook applications are nothing but Widgets a user places on their profiles. This in itself beats the whole uniformity principle Facebook has become famous for. A visit to the website would ensure we would see all Users’ profiles in the same manner, and not with flashy colours or glittery fonts. While the last two things haven’t changed (yet), the introduction of Widgets means that every user will basically have a different profile-style altogether. After all, the platform does allow immense control to the developer. And with the platform open to pretty much anyone, what’s stopping a 13 year old with good programming skills but horrible color taste from developing an “application” that plays Avril Lavigne.

Sure Facebook has it’s brilliant privacy controls and all other restrictions which have made it miles better than MySpace. But can it pull this one off without comprising on its basic principles; simplicity and uniformity.

B