Tech | June 29, 2011 | 6 comments

Google Plus: the new Facebook killer?

Google has launched its own social network in an attempt to take on Facebook, as well as tie together its existing services like Gmail and Google Chat.

Google+ is only presently available to a limited number of users (though you can sign up for an invite here) but demos show it bears a strong resemblance to Facebook, with profile pictures and a central page featuring comments, pictures and links shared by friends. 

If you've noticed the new black bar across the top of Google's homepage, you'll have seen where you'll be able to access Google + once you're signed up.

The Google+ Project: a quick look

What looks particularly interesting is the 'Circles' feature; Google +'s way of allowing users to separate friends into specific groups rather than having one big pool like on Facebook or MySpace. 

Circles demo

 

Another feature is called 'Sparks'. 'Sparks' is all about giving people the ability to curate and share interesting content with like-minded people. It relies on a lot of use of Google's +1 button, which is still yet to really take of.

Also worth a mention are two final features, Huddle (video) and Hangouts (video). Huddle is for Instant Messaging among a group and Hangout allows video conferencing among multiple users.

If all of that sounds interesting, have a play with Google +'s excellent demo or have a read of this very thorough Wired article on the processes and aims behind the building of Google Plus.

One final thought, though Google+ sounds very interesting, do we really want to give more personal info to a company that already knows what we search for & email?

  1. groups:
    News and Politics,   Tech,   Technology
  2. tags:
    Tech,  Technology,  Facebook,  Google,  3 more
  3.     
    |

6 comments // Google Plus: the new Facebook killer?

  • REBOOTME
  • Milieu
  • ThaCarter8186
  • maasanova
    • +1
      maasanova  

    • I wonder if Google will change their privacy features on a regular basis without notifying their subscriber base like Facebook does.

    • 1 year ago
  • richjm
    • +1
      richjm  
    • maasanova:

      Google's track record isn't perfect.

      When they launched Buzz, they automatically signed Gmail users up, revealing people's most emailed contacts to anyone who cared to look. There was a massive outrage at time.

      What worries me about Google is I trust them generally as a brand but they know insane amounts about me. Everything I search for and everything I email, who my most emailed friends/contacts are, what ads I click etc. If they were ever hacked, I dread to think what people could find out.

    • 1 year ago
  • maasanova
richjm
more from Tech:
from the community

top videos