HN user
"Facebook's privacy controls are actually more fine grained than Google+'s" > But confusing and convoluted to the point where most users have no clue what is being shared vs not. Circles makes it so much easier. Facebook lists were supposed to do that - but they were hidden away and not very easy to use - so very few users used them.
Should have qualified that - with Not always but often enough. Consider : AOL and Microsoft network from the late nineties gave way to the open web; Android is beating iOS globally in market share (~50% vs 20%).
Pretty much agree on most of the points in that blog post + the one that Paul Allen mentions - the Developer network and APIs will be huge pluses against Facebook. Again it is the same reason that Apple will eventually lose out to Android - closed systems/walled gardens and proprietary stuff will always lose out against open systems that does not restrict users and developers.
If you look at the filing it is not even a patent - it is called a "community design" - whatever that means - and it consists of just 3 line drawings that look so generic they could cover any tablet out there. Ridiculous to say the least!
That Robert guy is everywhere..:-)