Google + ???

smilodon · July 06, 2011, 07:47:54 PM

So I've been browsing the promotional videos and blurb re the new Google+ service which I assume will be appearing in the UK in the near future. As far as I can tell it's Buzz version 2. I doubt it could be any worse than Buzz and to be honest from what I've seen it looks really decent. In fact if Facebook didn't exist I think it would become the de facto social network tool for the internet. Almost everything that's horrible and annoying about Facebook is fixed in Google+. It also seems to have legs for people who don't want to do the 'banal spill your life all over the web and post mindless drivel' sort of Facebook. Rather Google is doing it's usual trick of offering an intelligent, thought out and integrated way to connect to relatives, friends, acquaintances work contacts etc via the Internet.

The trouble is that Facebook, for all it's labyrinthine web layout and borderline illegal (non) privacy policy, is so widespread that I wonder if Google will be able to drag anyone away to what is clearly a far superior product. In the same way that Microsoft swamped the PC market with their products in spite of offering some truly dreadful operating systems, web browsers and early office applications it's entirely possible that Facebook will remain the standard for social networking even though their product stinks.

Happy to see a serious competitor enter the fray but not optimistic about it's chances.

BrotherTobious · July 06, 2011, 08:56:55 PM

I am on it and playing with it. It's alright has a up hill struggle but atm it gets my vote no stupid games like farmvile

suicidal_monkey · July 06, 2011, 11:55:49 PM

it's a bit weird, might be useful as it ties in with the rest of the google ecosystem, ...which is all very good- but is also a bit scary as everything sits under the one umbrella

BrotherTobious · July 07, 2011, 07:28:41 AM

Also it takes a while to figure out how to turn some things off like what info you are sharing.

smilodon · July 07, 2011, 08:41:34 AM

I do worry that I'm selling my soul to Satan as I get more and more tightly integrated with Google - Mail, contacts, calendar, Docs, RSS, video, search etc etc. The trouble is their stuff is just so well thought out, their privacy policy clear and 'not evil' (normally) and the adverts, such as they are are not intrusive or in your face.

It will be fun to see if they can beat Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. Then we can watch some new tec' company come along and knock them off their perch with the next new wonder technology

T-Bag · July 07, 2011, 12:50:10 PM

I'm on there. I have essentially no friends on there vs 200 odd on facebook so my friend feed is a bit drab. At first when I tried adding people it said they'd enable it shortly, now I just can't see the option to even get that far. I'm not sure if they moved it to somewhere I can't find, or if it's part of it being in closed beta and they've just removed the option. That's my biggest gripe so far.

Getting your data off is a total breeze. I tested it, and other than asking for my password a couple of times it couldn't be more straight forward. It makes me cringe at the thought of moving photos from Facebook. I hope it takes off, or at least the privacy policy is stolen by facebook. I don't see either happening fast, but Android was up against the iPhone and it now kicking ass, Chrome is against Firefox (Link) so as a company they certainly can find a space where others wouldn't succeed.

I don't think it will happen fast. I started using Facebook in 2005 and it took a while for it to get to its feet (3 years maybe till it was a way of life not one of a number of useful tools) I'd imagine with services like Tweetdeck and the awareness they have they could do it in less than half that. It depends how quickly facebook react, a powerful stomp in the right place now could essentially kill this project before it properly gets off the ground.

smilodon · July 09, 2011, 11:26:00 PM

Obviously it goes without saying that anyone who bungs an invite my way gets bundles of hard cash and/or my first born.

T-Bag · July 11, 2011, 12:35:22 AM

Quote from: smilodon;328448Obviously it goes without saying that anyone who bungs an invite my way gets bundles of hard cash and/or my first born.

The invite option has appeared on mine now, anyone who wants one can have one, just send me your email addresses (I have limited PM space so if I get flooded I might miss some)

kregoron · July 11, 2011, 05:16:59 PM

Google+ is still a wien in progress, tho the only people I don't see switching over is parts of older generation, my grand parents just started using fb and their strugling with that still

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk

smilodon · July 11, 2011, 06:15:22 PM

PM sent, plus temp boost to PM level to help community members who want an invite to get one. But remember subscription gives you 250 stored messages (wink)

T-Bag · July 11, 2011, 06:16:45 PM

That's OldBloke, Whitey and Smilodon invited (theoretically...hopefully I've done it correctly). Any more for any more?

(If the invite hasn't come through to your accounts that you provided me within an hour or so (it took 30mins for mine) you should send me another PM and I'll try something different).

TeaLeaf · July 11, 2011, 07:20:48 PM

Me please.....PM sent

smilodon · July 11, 2011, 07:34:58 PM

No joy yet, maybe Google are taking their time...

OldBloke · July 11, 2011, 07:57:08 PM

Got mine. Thanks, T-Bag :thumb:

T-Bag · July 11, 2011, 07:59:19 PM

I've given everyone's invites a nudge (oldblokes wouldn't take the nudge as he's a fully fledged member already).

Hopefully the rest of you will get yours shortly.