At its face, OpenTape (see “My OpenTape” sidebar, right) appears to be nothing more than a plain ol’ music 
list. Yet, such simplicity should not detract from what it truly represents — a harbinger of the decentralized web to come. Knowingly or unknowingly, internet users are currently in the midst of a pivotal fight to pry away control from biased and greedy media conglomerates. The purpose is not to become an overnight video sensation, a copyright thief, or a machine of self-promotion…the drive is towards a democratic web wherein all users control the digital life stream. OpenTape comes on the heels of RIAA actions against the now defunct Muxtape and the still treading Pandora. By open sourcing Muxtape’s functionality, OpenTape has provided users greater control, just as Indenti.ca and Wordpress who preceded it. The walled gardens are being scaled and the clouds are slowly dispersing; the vision is becoming ever so clear: a web where the public will host their own open sourced, decentralized applications. Furthering the cause, are the impending public releases of buddypress and sweetcron.
