A couple of people mentioned that my previous post on Google OpenSocial was too long and needed a five sentence elevator pitch style summary. Below is the five sentence summary of my analysis of Google OpenSocial that cuts through the hype and is just the facts.

OpenSocial is billed as a standardized widget platform for the Web, it isn't. OpenSocial is a standard set of REST APIs which social networks can utilize to expose user profiles and relationship data. Everything else required by a widget platform from authentication and authorization to user interface integration and an application directory is unspecified. OpenSocial is to a standardized widget platform as an internal combustion engine is to an airplane. A step in the right direction but still very far from the end goal.

Hope that helps. I have to go rake some leaves and run some puppy related errands so I might be slow in responding to comments over the rest of the day.