It seems that the OpenID bandwagon is gaining momentum as a number of major players – Google, Yahoo, etc. – climb onboard. At the same time, OpenID seems to be a cool new toy for start-ups such as Tuloo and Twitterfeed.
The problem is OpenID is a pain in the ass. It’s not user friendly, it’s confusing and, in comparison, makes remembering a user name and password a thing of beauty. Until it works a lot better, I would suggest OpenID be used sparingly and judiciously, especially by start-ups looking to convince new users to try them vs. the dozen of similar services vying for attention.
The big problem seems to be how OpenID is being implemented. Since it’s a relatively new concept, anyone introducing OpenID needs to recognize the need for education (aka hand holding) and explanations about the benefits and what’s involved in actually getting an OpenID name. Right now, too many sites just seem to be throwing it up there on the assumption people know how to use it.
There, rant over. I feel much better.
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Technorati Tags: OpenID, Toluu, Twitterfeed


