Jan 17, 2012

We've waited since September, and now the new class of apps integrating with Facebook will launch tomorrow night.

Last month, U.S. regulations were altered to allow Netflix integration with the Facebook Open Graph. Instead of requiring the written consent from each user, all Netflix has to do now is offer an opt-out feature that keeps your viewing habits off of Facebook.

And now this partnership—and many others—are coming to fruition.

We’ve spent a lot of time wondering when exactly the Open Graph was going to fully open for business, and all those “verb apps” we’ve heard so much about are on their way. Users have seen plenty of music and reader applications popping up on Facebook, but lifestyle has been relatively absent from the site. Expect that to change. Foodily, Path, AirBnb, and Sneakpeeq are just a few of the day-to-day use apps that will begin hitting the site starting tomorrow, says All Things D, and will bring their own verb to match (Sneakpeeq’s is “peeq” for instance).

Netflix will arguably make the biggest impact on the site, given its user reach. There’s also the fact that music apps have had a decidedly easy go making use of Open Graph. All of the early adopters did incredibly well (with Spotify easily leading the pack), and benefitted from the Facebook boost. Video streaming is likely to receive similar treatment.

So soon enough (there’s an unveiling tomorrow night), you will have the option of doing just about anything with your friends via Facebook apps—including watching Netflix content. It’s the type of social element Netflix was hoping to inject in its platform when it first partnered with Facebook, and now after suffering through some archaic legal roadblocks, it finally can.

This also signals the end of our pre-Timeline times. Up until now, Facebook has very cautiously and judiciously phased in the new version of the profile. Users have had the choice to move over to Timeline or not—but that’s probably coming to an end. Don’t be surprised if by the end of the week, you’re forced to make the switch.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

.