The web is alive with the sound of clicking – on Google’s hot new social app, Google+, that is. It’s currently in demo mode, as the Google execs and lucky few that have been invited get to test it out and see its potential. So far, the result is a resounding in-your-face, Facebook!
By now you’ve gathered that it is a new site/app/feature akin to Facebook, that lets you connect with your friends. It does all the things that Facebook does – collates and presents a live stream of updates from friends and groups, is linked to hobbies and interests, includes a chat option, pic uploading, and instead of “liking” you can now “+1” something.
Now here is where things get interesting. Google+ works on the notion that, just like in real life, friendships and relationships have varying degrees. I know that I don’t know everyone of my Facebook friends, and so I tend to update less, and attempt to remain as impersonal as possible. Which kinda sucks, because it sort of defeats the point of Facebook…
Google+ offers you Circles – a feature that lets you group friends according to your preferences. You could have a Circle of college friends, work friends, frenemies, exes, whatever. And each Circle will have customisable settings so you can choose, almost effortlessly, who can see what, and when.
Sparks is a feature on Google+ that gathers (with a greater emphasis on personalisation) news and updates. You wont just get spam-like messages from hundreds of people you don’t care for, or groups you’ve given up trying to leave. Oh and it features integration with all sorts of other Google services, like YouTube.
Another feature that Facebook doesn’t offer, is video chat. Update: News just in is that FB have just upped their game and added video chat. Called Hangouts, this feature allows you to start video chats with one or multiple users, and start Hangouts at any time.What’s great is, whoever is in your circle, will be able to join in the chat, just like that.
The last feature is Huddle – basically a text chat service that lets you chat with groups or individuals.
Now similar apps or rivals have launched before – but Google+ is the only one to actually gain any attention as a serious rival.
Whether it will have a fraction of the success Facebook has, remains to be seen, but once the app is made available for everyone, I know I’ll be joining. It’s just nice to have options :)
As I mentioned, they’re still in trial mode, but you can take a virtual tour and add your e-mail address to the waiting list, here:
https://plus.google.com/up/start/?sw=1&type=st - Sunday Tribune