Facebook/Spotify woes and Diaspora joy
General Discussion

Do very many of you guys use Spotify? Here across the pond we've only had it for a few months (since July I think). I've enjoyed it. However, just in the past week or so Spotify has started making new members register to Spotify through their Facebook account. If you do not already have Spotify and you do not have a Facebook account, you literally cannot use Spotify (if you already have Spotify, you've been grandfathered in).

I don't like how much Facebook is getting into my business and I'm upset that Spotify is allowing them to just a bit more. If Spotify does not change this soon (and I don't expect they will), I will be deleting my Spotify account out of principle.

Here's an article that gives a good explanation of the Spotify/Facebook shenanigans.
*clicky*

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Like I said before, I'm irritated with Facebook in general. I'm little frustrated with how much I depend on it for staying connected with friends. I would like to see my friends move over to a new social network, one that has ideas I support. "Diaspora" has potential. In a nutshell, Diaspora is a social network that values your privacy. That's their main goal (the creators were frustrated with Facebook, too). It's in the Alpha stage, so it's a little barren for a social network. Even so, I'd encourage anyone frustrated with Facebook but still wants to be on a social network to look into Diaspora.
Also, Diaspora is cool with pseudonyms, so you you're not required to give them your real name, unlike Facebook and Google+.
Check it out:
http://diasporafoundation.org/

If anyone joins or is already a member of Diaspora, let me know and we can connect! I'd love to see some more activity on Diaspora!

Also, how do you guys feel about Spotify requiring a Facebook account to use their service and how do you feel about Facebook in general?



( Edited 03.10.2011 03:51 by TAG )

It's simply ludicrous you now need a Facebook account to use Spotify. Luckily I've been using Spotify for ages and I don't think my Facebook account is even connected and it's still working.

As for Facebook, it has gotten worse every change they make. I'm pretty tired of it myself and I'll definitely check out Diaspora (especially since I love my privacy).

Diaspora is very much like Google+ in terms of looks, layout and features.

( Edited 03.10.2011 14:01 by Marzy )

Google+ "borrowed" from Diaspora (particularly the groups/aspects feature).

One of the main advantages of Diaspora is that you don't need to join the "official" site - you can download and run the software on your own private server, and still add friends, share stuff etc. with people on other servers (or pods as they're called), or join a different Diaspora service if you don't trust the one you're on with your data.

List of Diaspora pods:

http://podupti.me/

Entirely pointless Little Bo Peep account I made when I first wanted to try it out:

https://diasp.eu/people/1369

I don't use spotify much anymore, but I agree that it's a ridiculous concept that you need a facebook account to join!
Like most people I've been getting more and more pissed off with facebook. I've joined Google+ but basically no-one I know is on it. I'll look into Diaspora, but the problem is that even if I join I won't be able to socialise with anyone until they join. Still, can't hurt to try!