Can someone please explain what google's...

Thought  Jeremiah Owyang's explanation is a really good one:
www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/11/02/explaining-opensocial-to-your-executives/

Thanks yes what a great post - very easy to read and as he says directed less at the developer and more at the business decision level - we need to get Jeremiah over to Gooruze - would be great to see more from him.

by the way - here is a 1hr video on google introducing OpenSocial

also here is a great blog post by Ted (Founder or Dogster)

I think it is a bit like a set of standards API for what a friend is etc.

So you integrate it into your social network (ie: Gooruze), and then when people build an Ap for OpenSocial it can also be used on your Social Network.

by the way - would love to hear other people's opinions on this.
ie: what is OpenSocial.

Just to add to my comment above... everyone is amazed how Facebook opened their API and became a platform for others to build Aps for Facebook. So everyone now wants to open their API's for programmers to build Aps for their site... the issue is that unless you are very large programmers will not be interested in building for your site and thousands of other sites. I think OpenSocial will solve that issue.

Opensocial means you make an application for one system, and any social network that joins the "network", is then able to use that application.

The problem that was occurring was there were so many social networks, that it got ridiculous for programmers to try and code an app. for every, single, social network.

Facebook, got the wheel rolling by letting any developer make there OWN app. for facebook. Now google takes it a step further with open social. Make your OWN app. then be able to use it on anyone in the "network".

The network being , opensocial.

Great idea! Love it.

Side note: Talk about a KEY time for programmers to learn a new language, and subsequently monetize it. Holy cow that time is now. Wish I was a better programmer.

Thanks guys that gives me more to work with I'll go check out the links.