At a first glance the mass may dismiss Google+ simply because it seems derivative and redundant of Facebook and Twitter. The same was with ill-fated Buzz, Google’s earlier launched social networking.
Several experts have criticized Google+, quoting it to be a “reactive” product as it has mimicked some tweaks of Facebook.
The Guardian writes on its website that Google Plus desktop version lacks simplicity and speed of Twitter, and social aspect of Facebook. However, the site mentions that mobile version of Google Plus is much better.
Gearlive writes that two of the features of Google Plus will attract users – Hangouts, and unlimited, automatic uploading of video and photo. Hence, one must at least check it once before there are too many invites on it. Let us check the features one-by-one here.
Google+ Profiles
ur education, where you work, etc. The good part of it is it has drop down privacy box attached on each field. Of course there is also a custom privacy setting for those who want to be a part of Google Plus in just seconds or a minute or two.Google+ Circles
Initially Google supplied me with few invitations to Google Plus, which seems enough for a robust social network. It was though an unexpected announcement from Google. However, I didn’t solicit Gmail addresses for my contacts, I entered email addresses of other contacts and sent out invitations to them. Immediately Google sent an error message mentioning Google+ is over capacity. Oops! May be result of cloud computing.Fortunately, little later the problems were cleared and I was able to log in. Another problem occurred and it was more elegant aspect to spoil the mood – Circles.
You need to enter your circles to add a contact to it. However, the family, friends and “following” have been separated by default. You can also start your own Circle and name it according to your wish.
Adding friends to the Circle is easy. You just need to type the names of your known person in the search box and it is done. It also has a drag down feature in various circles added with circling animation to attract users with feel good effect.
Google+ Stream/Home
It is a bit odd. The “Stream” icon is missing. If you click on the “Home” button, you are then taken to the Stream, which is Google’s version of Walls of Facebook and Scrap of Orkut. This is the place where your friends can comment, post updates, issue +1 “likes”, etc.Here you have the comfortability of choosing the version of Stream such as Family or Acquaintances. The left-hand margin is filled with Sparks and contact list with whom you can chat, similar to Gmail, but there is no click-to-call feature in it. However, the video and voice chat options are there. The right-hand margin contains small icons indicating your circle contacts.
Google+ Hangouts
This may turn as one of the killer features that may turn users to leave Facebook. Hangout is a group video chat feature using video chat of Google. According to Google spokesman, up to 10 users can take part in the Hangout and it can be launched by anyone by just clicking on the Hangout option.The best part of Hangout is it works better than Skype video chats in low DSL connection.
Google+ Sparks
It is an alert feature that was offered by Google earlier as Google Alerts in Gmail service. Here users can sign in for following news on any given topic. Over years the Google Alert feature worked pretty well so I must say that Sparks will also be well effective. Users can follow almost any topic.Google+ Mobile and Photos
The photos are automatically uploaded through your phone or tablet to a personal or private archive within Google Plus. Both, the video and photo uploads are unlimited as long as those are uploaded from your tablet or phone. Up till now there is no restrictions on the number of albums or the file size. The only two restrictions are it limits the video up to 15 minutes and photos above 2048 by 2048 is re-sized by Google.Unlimited photo uploads is also a good feature of Facebook but it is restricted to 200 photos per album and only one hundred per mobile album. There, one can even upload videos at up to 720p resolution.
Google+ Wrap Up
Though the inviting part is a frustrating flaw in Google Plus but it could stand on its way in penetrating the social network war zone. Gmail users gets a jerk-less access to Google Plus, and this has to be counted as a plus point of it.On the way, Google needs to offer something new to its users. Also, the new has to be innovative to lure people away. May be, the video and photo uploads, plus the Hangouts would be doing this. According to Smart Money, the 750 million users of Facebook is a mountain too steep to climb. Moreover, Google has twice shy history, and one is the recent Buzz. Well, by the time Google+ is launched, let us hope for some more polished features and ways from the search engine giant.
Do comment below what is your catch for Google+ and let us know, including our readers, and next we come back with more Good and Bad, Pros and Cons of this new, though not new in social networking sites, of Google Inc.
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