Geeze...all the nerds around this place, and nobody is talking about Google+ yet?
As a handful of you are aware, I'm on Facebook - but it's a love/hate relationship, with more of the latter. I enjoy being able to connect with others there, but absolutely hate the inflexible design, PITA configuration options that are constantly changing, and limited privacy controls. The privacy issues in particular, prevent me from opening up on there...plenty of stuff I'd like to share, but not necessarily with "Friends" who are simply acquaintances, or folks for whom I was simply too chicken to deny their friend request. Don't worry, Brat Buddies - none of you fit in that category...
Google+ IMO, already blows Facebook away technically - it's not even close. The online interface is fast, sleek and clean. The concept of "circles", is ingenious and simple - it's just categories of contacts, and a contact can be in one or more circles you define. This allows you to post whatever you want, but only publish it to circles you wish. Wanna be blunt or risque? Share it with your "Drinking Pals" circle. Want to post pics of your kids without wondering what whack will end up with them? Post them to your "Family" and "Friends" circles. Did you accept a friend request from your boss out of pressure, so now can't discuss how crappy your day job is? No problemo - drop him/her into your "People I was Too Chicken to Deny Access To" circle, and don't include your "work sucks" posts with them. The possibilities are endless, I tell ya'...and more importantly, very easily managed.
Also, there's an absolutely fantastic Android app that makes for a far more productive and enjoyable experience than the FB Android app - likely the same for you lowly iPhone users as well (heh.) One of the cool options I just discovered - instant upload. You can configure the Google+ Android app to instantly upload all photos and video you take, but it doesn't make them public - they are simply held in a queue waiting for you to decide what to do with them. Share, delete, etc.
The main thing missing, is of course the most important - critical mass. Right now, it's more like a blog to me, as I'm only hooked up to a couple other folks there.
While it's not open to the public yet, invites are trivial to get. Drop me a PM if you want one, with your email address - I can send some out.
As a handful of you are aware, I'm on Facebook - but it's a love/hate relationship, with more of the latter. I enjoy being able to connect with others there, but absolutely hate the inflexible design, PITA configuration options that are constantly changing, and limited privacy controls. The privacy issues in particular, prevent me from opening up on there...plenty of stuff I'd like to share, but not necessarily with "Friends" who are simply acquaintances, or folks for whom I was simply too chicken to deny their friend request. Don't worry, Brat Buddies - none of you fit in that category...
Google+ IMO, already blows Facebook away technically - it's not even close. The online interface is fast, sleek and clean. The concept of "circles", is ingenious and simple - it's just categories of contacts, and a contact can be in one or more circles you define. This allows you to post whatever you want, but only publish it to circles you wish. Wanna be blunt or risque? Share it with your "Drinking Pals" circle. Want to post pics of your kids without wondering what whack will end up with them? Post them to your "Family" and "Friends" circles. Did you accept a friend request from your boss out of pressure, so now can't discuss how crappy your day job is? No problemo - drop him/her into your "People I was Too Chicken to Deny Access To" circle, and don't include your "work sucks" posts with them. The possibilities are endless, I tell ya'...and more importantly, very easily managed.
Also, there's an absolutely fantastic Android app that makes for a far more productive and enjoyable experience than the FB Android app - likely the same for you lowly iPhone users as well (heh.) One of the cool options I just discovered - instant upload. You can configure the Google+ Android app to instantly upload all photos and video you take, but it doesn't make them public - they are simply held in a queue waiting for you to decide what to do with them. Share, delete, etc.
The main thing missing, is of course the most important - critical mass. Right now, it's more like a blog to me, as I'm only hooked up to a couple other folks there.
While it's not open to the public yet, invites are trivial to get. Drop me a PM if you want one, with your email address - I can send some out.
