Why No Facebook Support in Ping?

[Paul Daniel Ash]

Many Apple users worldwide have spent some time scratching their heads over the new iTunes feature called Ping. Apple's so-called "social network for music" is supposed to let users follow artists and bands, as well as find out what their friends are listening to. However, there's no way to connect with friends, other than spamming them with email, because despite the fact that Facebook interconnectivity is still - up to this moment - advertised on Apple's site, Ping still doesn't have it. Steve Jobs blames Facebook, claiming they wanted too much.

In an interview by Kara Swisher at All Things D, Jobs says Apple was in talks with Facebook over Ping, but the two companies were unable to come to an agreement. He was quoted as saying Facebook wanted "onerous terms that we could not agree to." When Swisher asked what the hangup was, Jobs declined to elaborate. She pressed him on whether iTunes could support Facebook Connect to allow sharing between the two platforms. The Apple CEO was noncommittal. 'We could, I guess,' he shrugged.

It seems pretty clear that the hooks were in for Facebook support, and that they were only pulled at the very last minute when negotiations broke down, as Facebook connectivity was touted on slides during Steve Jobs's presentation yesterday. The tutorial video on Ping promises that "once you get set up, you can find your Facebook friends who have Ping profiles," and the Ping page on Apple's website says you can "find even more music fans with a quick search, by sending email invites, or by connecting to your Facebook account." And according to several Cult of Mac readers, the Facebook Connect button appeared on Ping yesterday, though it didn't allow them to find any friends.

Steve Jobs bragged about the "160 million credit cards" Apple has on file through iTunes, so maybe he's trying to make sure he doesn't have to share too much of the booty with Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg. Whatever the cause, it'd be surprising if Apple remains aloof much longer. Having a Ping page right now is like having a fax machine in the early 70s: useless unless you can find someone else who has one. Whether Jobs likes it or not, Facebook and other social media platforms like Twitter are how people find each other these days.

Source: AppleInsider

[Eagleye]

Thats the worst when Apple advertises a feature and then later it gets pulled. Who wants to spam ppl to "follow" you on Ping? I know I dont. This kind of reminds me of the iPad ad when they load up the New York Times page and the Flash video apparently loads up great. Then later, they replaced it with the horrible blue lego. Now, the facebook connect button is gonna be replaced with "Spam your friends!"

[robbpell]

hummm apple not being able to reach an agreement with another company. surprise? not to me.

[LastSonOfKrypton]

Too bad. FaceBook support would have help Ping's success a lot

[bxbrova718]

Apple is a market who is just deemed for success. To he honest it would have helped facebook alot more than it would of apple. Let's be real

[robbpell]

Apple is a market who is just deemed for success. To he honest it would have helped facebook alot more than it would of apple. Let's be real

how please tell me? do you really think ping is gonna take off so fast that people will forget about facebook? doubt it yea apple is on point with the ipod iphone ipad market but imo has no room to "compete" with facebook in a social network war. I for one will not be emailing all of my friends to follow me on ping.

[sh33436]

Why do you people bother me with this crap. I try to make you happy, but no, you just want to ***** and complain, how I want to take over people lives and do things my way. Will your right... I'm a big douchebag but got to my products. Lol just jk

[iLoveWindows&iPhone]

I really don't mind emailing a few friends... My facebook is so watered down with people I hardly know. It might not be such a bad thing adding only people u really want to follow. And if u have someones email address, then u probably r some what close to them, and would like to see what music they r listening too.

[karo_80]

Tried to download it on myspace no sucess

[isham.padron]

I will always see Itunes as a music player/Ipod manager. I just wish apple would focus on just that. I don't want a bloated Itunes that does it all but takes 10 minutes to load. No i'm not going to upgrade my system to keep up with the software.

[niqolas619]

Definitely need to connect Ping with Facebook, but I'm not sure at all how the best way to do it is. I mean, it should be more than just one of those jenky Facebook apps that are annoying as hell, but should be something more than just a list of 10 songs a person like that are also available on iTunes.

[zoso10]

Haha it doesn't matter either way to me, I don't have a facebook!
And yes I may be the only person to have a Ping but not a facebook.

[reanimationxp]

Ping will go nowhere without Faceboook, and as of right now has no content anyway. If I remember correctly it doesn't even index music you haven't bought or at least viewed in the iTunes store. What about my massive list of play counts since 2003, Steve? Those don't matter eh?

F*ck Ping, i'll stick with last.fm and scrobbling, thanks.

[macsoldier]

I wonder what facebook side of the story is or even the contract details and price, should be public since it was on the ping site people deserve to know what happend in full detail

[gthugballin]

Ping is a little bad. It needs f connect


Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

[Rhiokai]

instead of all this ping business, apple should allow facebook to intergrate music. ie link fb accounts with itunes and show fav music etc on the fb page, not apple making their own.

[unison999]

Jobs claims they wanted too much...
How does it feel with the shoes on the other foot Jobs!
I hope they stay separate, people can just use Facebook if they want them.

[reanimationxp]

I hope they stay separate, people can just use Facebook if they want them.

Wat? Ping will go nowhere if you have to spam your friends to join. It has to connect with something or it's going to be an apocalyptic failure. Without facebook it's just a sadder, shittier last.fm.

[whereswaldo]

The facebook thing worked for me last night, but when i woke up it was gone

[soulthoughts]

Haha it doesn't matter either way to me, I don't have a facebook!
And yes I may be the only person to have a Ping but not a facebook.

Nope. Count me in that bunch. No facebook either.