I've never used Diaspora before, so I might be talking out my ass, but the first screenshots of Diaspora (<a href="http://blogtest.sourcedecay.net/images/screenshots/stream.png" rel="nofollow">http://blogtest.sourcedecay.net/images/screenshots/stream.pn...</a>) show a certain Facebook-ness they don't have now. And since it has clearly been redesigned over time, Diaspora coming out first hardly means Google is stealing here. Someone who has used the service from the inception could probably be in a better position to comment.<p>Also webcache, cause it seems to be down: <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENCA350&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Frichoakley.com%2F2011%2F11%2Fgoogle-and-diaspora-look-very-similar%2F&btnG=Google+Search" rel="nofollow">http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?source=ig&h...</a>
This is...interesting/funny/sad all at the same time.<p>Both of these designs could be argued as derivatives of FB itself. It makes me sad that neither of these are truly innovative designs.<p>When you have something new to offer the world, don't offer SSDS (same sh*t different site). Give them something unique and compelling instead of the same-old! Otherwise, you are nothing more than an also-running.<p>Lead, don't follow.