Gawker redesigned its comment system recently and seeded the ability to leave comments via a Facebook profile. It’s not active yet, but I think this new capability is amazing and evolutionary.

Gawker’s network of sites aren’t the only ones experimenting with using an open(ing) architecture. Social-network-for-professionals LinkedIn will provide CNBC its user profiles. Users will be able to recommend articles, see who is connected to companies mentioned in the stories and the whole thing will have some crossover onto the cable channel. (I hope someone gives CNBC an MSNBC-like makeover. Yikes, is it loud!)

Like I said, none of this is revolutionary; it’s just evolutionary. Gawker and CNBC’s moves further realize the social/sharing/geektopia nature of the Internet and break down walls. No longer will contrived barriers hold your online “identity” within the bounds of a .com.
(more…)