The Microsoft Research Social Computing Group got a nice article in AlwaysOn.
Two things bug me though: one, a case in point as to why you need to pick your code names carefully. Reporters can't help saying that Wallop is going to "wallop" the competition. Wallop is a research project, aimed at creating deep communication and links between small circles of friends. There are no direct competitors to it, because there's no one else trying to do what they're doing. and besides, it's a research project -- we're trying to learn what makes an online community successful, and not just roll more social computing apps out into the world when no one has yet to figure out what they're really good for. So it's not trying to "wallop" anyone.
Yes, as the reporter says, there are a lot of diamonds in MSR. We're trying to be patient and design things right, and we're trying to work with our product groups who know much more than we do about building software and online services for tens of millions of users. Rushing doesn't make for a good experience for the customer. If and when we have something cool for the customer, you can bet that we'll get it out there. For now, it's still research, because (as is the nature of research) there are lots of unsolved problems.
9:42:55 PM  ; ;
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