But what do friendfeed users get? I am not a fan of facebook, my family and friends are on facebook but they don't want to see what tech news I am discussing etc. if they close friendfeed down then great I will rebuild a new version :D It would be nice if they keep the 2 seperate and maybe share tech but I get the feeling friendfeed.com will just point to facebook in the end :( - Darren Stuart from FriendFeed MT Plugin

Marshall, from a product perspective, what is Facebook really getting here? Can't they implement everything you outline on their own? Is this really a talent play for Facebook? Was it defensive (e.g., was Twitter looking at FF)? Regarding social networks, it seems to me that a range of flavors will emerge (completely private like geni.com to the public cross-pollinated fire hose of FriendFeed). All serve a valid purpose for different/overlapping audiences. - tomturnbull from FriendFeed MT Plugin

I can't help but think it's like a Betamax/VHS scenario. For those of us who remember when (and no, you wise guys, I don't mean 8 -track!) both platforms were good, they came out around the same time... and it can even be argued that Betamax had better quality. FF has more options, but... if the "people" elect Twitter the platform and use it, then ultimately, Friendfeed is the betamax. A great technology that withers. There are many platforms chasing the same fickle (?) audience. - Jody Raines

Why would Twitter do that? It would be an idiotic move by Twitter, and force them into even further "walled garden" mode. Twitter needs to prove they're more open, not less - cutting off FriendFeed just removes them from becoming "the pulse of the internet". Not to mention I bet they have contractual obligations. - Jesse Stay

"It would be an idiotic move by Twitter" -- Has that ever stopped them before? - Ken Sheppardson

Ken, I didn't say it wouldn't stop them. I only said it would be an idiotic move. :-) - Jesse Stay

each user or group can be set as public or private in friendfeed this is closer to twitter permission system and would greatly improve facebook if implemented - Mike Chelen from FriendFeed MT Plugin

FriendFeed search sucks at picking up Tweets today. Something's happened. - Nick in Manila