Displaying Cellar, Making it viewable Options

[gneas]

Don't think anybody's asked about this yet, so forgive me if someone has, but I was wondering if there is a way to make my cellar viewable to friends through facebook. Honestly, I'm new to facebook and so I'm still learning my way around, but it seems like all that happens is if I make a tasting note or add or consume a wine, it'll update my profile and my friends can see. If someone clicks to check out, say a tasting note, when the page comes up is there a way to allow them to then view my cellar contents if they wish? I hope I explained that clearly, hehe. I've just had friends ask me what I've got and it'd be nice if this functionality was available.

-- Gabriel

[Kristin Vinfolio]

Gabriel, thanks for your post. Good question. Yes, once you've added the My VinCellar Facebook application, when you add, consume or write a tasting note in VinCellar, your activity will automatically post to your Facebook wall and to the My VinCellar Facebook widget. When a friend clicks through from either of these places they land on the associated VinCellar wine detail page within the context of Facebook. On this page your friend can view details about the wine as well as the tasting note that you've written. Here, your nickname is linked. If they click on it they will land on your VinCellar profile page opened in a new browser window. From there they can link to a public view of your cellar. By opening a new browser window you can share your cellar without requiring them to leave Facebook.

Let me know how this works for you. As you use the application I'd love to hear other suggestions for integrating VinCellar and Facebook and vice-versa.

[gneas]

Ah. Got it. Thanks so much

[Pierre T184]

Hi Kristin,
Is there anyway to have "friends" on vinfolio only, without using facebook? I do not like to use facebook and make "public" daily events of my life.

[Kristin Vinfolio]

No. Currently, we leverage Facebook's "friending" platform. We do have an item on our product roadmap to support friending within VinCellar. This item has not been prioritized for development as we continue to investigate alternatives for leveraging other options without having to "reinvent" the wheel within VinCellar.

For example, when we implement Facebook Connect there could be options for leveraging Facebook friending architecture while offering VinCellar users options as to what is published to Facebook versus internally within VinCellar.

Also, within the next couple of weeks, we'll be rolling out "Following" functionality. This will allow you to maintain a list of VinCellar users for the purpose of viewing an activity feed of those users' public tasting notes and WinePosts. The only thing you won't be able to see for users you follow who aren't also your friends are the wines they are adding and consuming.

Keep your eye out for more information on this within the next couple of weeks.