At this point you’ve probably already received an invitation to join the Google+ project, or are badgering your buddies to send you one.
Google’s clever reliance on word of mouth and a limited field trial has managed to build demand for the new social network, while also keeping it cloaked in mystery. What exactly is Google+, and what makes it different from traditional social networks like Facebook?
Only time will tell if Google+ can hold a candle to Facebook’s global dominance. But if buzz about the new network’s exclusive launch is any indicator, the world of social media is in for a shake up.
How Is Google+ Different?
In your everyday interactions, you share different details based on whether you’re hanging with your closest friends or interacting with co-workers and clients in a professional setting. For instance, you want to promote your business to potential clients, not necessarily your pals; likewise, you probably don’t want to share your pictures of your baby niece – or photos from last weekend’s pub crawl – with your boss.
Facebook doesn’t easily differentiate between these groups. Google+ does, thanks to Circles that allow for greater privacy by separating close friends from acquaintances.
Other new features include a simplified but more powerful mechanism for uploading and sharing photos and the ability to drop in on a friend’s video chat via Hangouts.
New Privacy Concerns
That said, this is still the Internet we’re talking about. Privacy is relative. By signing up for Google+, you must agree to give Google permission to customize content and advertisements.
Google also warns that “things may not always work as intended” during the initial trial, and it’s up to you to share data and personal information wisely, as the search engine giant is not responsible for data loss.
The Elusive Google+ Invite
Who would have thought a simple red button could cause so much excitement?
While anyone with an e-mail address can sign up for Facebook, you have to be invited to join Google. You know you’re in (or almost in, as it were) when you receive an e-mail with a famous russet rectanglular button imploring you to “Learn more about Google+.” Click on it and you’re either taken to a preview page or launched directly into the world of the Google+ project.
Getting Started With Google+
If you click on the magic button, you’ll be transported to a welcome page where you can learn more about features like circles, hangouts, and sparks. If you already have a Gmail address or other Google account, you can use it to log in. If not, you’ll need to first sign up at Google.com.
Of course, there’s still no guarantee you’ll get in on your first pass. If you see the “Keep Me Posted” button, you’ll know you didn’t quite make it into Google’s current queue.
At this point, you can leave your e-mail address or, if you’ve already been invited, try again until you’re accepted.
Creating Circles
Circles are the hallmark of the Google+ project. When you sign in for the first time, you’ll see your default circles: Friends, Family, Acquaintances, and Following (similar to Twitter, Google+ users have the opportunity to follow strangers – say, an admired blogger, artist, or celebrity – without reciprocation).
You can also create custom circles. Maybe you want to separate your current friends from your high school friends. Maybe you want to create a category for “Crazy People.” The sky is the limit. When you add someone, they receive a notification that they’ve been added to a circle – but they won’t know which circle.
Most of us have at least a few friends on Facebook that we don’t really want to share content with, but don’t have the heart to unfriend. Google+ appears to solve the problem by giving us the ability to place them in a separate circle, one that we may never share information with, without risk of hurting their feelings.
Making Connections
Google automatically suggests people based on your Google contacts, but by clicking on “Find and Invite” you can also import connections from Yahoo, Hotmail, or your computer’s address book. You can search for other connections by typing a name into the Find People bar. When you locate a connection, add that person by dragging their photo into a designated circle.
Sharing Information
In terms of layout Google+ is surprisingly similar to Facebook, although perhaps more streamlined. It features a simple white background flanked by ads and centered on a stream of posts. When you want to “share what’s new,” select a circle from the left side of the screen and post your information for the group to see.
Like Facebook, posts are ordered by most recently updated rather than chronological order, which may irk some users. Unlike Facebook, you can choose who to share information with by selecting circles on the left side of the page.
Adding Photos on Google+
To upload, photos click on the green camera icon in the post bar.
You’ll be asked whether you want to add single photos, create an album, or add photos from your phone (though currently only Android users are able to upload pictures from a mobile device).
Video uploads work the same way, with the additional option of being able to add video directly from YouTube. You can also add a link or location by selecting icons in the post bar.
Once uploaded, you can apply captions or edit photos in your albums with Google Photos (formerly Picasa) software.
Joining Friends for Hangouts
Both Facebook and Google+ are launching new video chat options. What’s the difference between the two? Facebook’s Skype-powered video calling tool allows users to connect one-on-one. Google’s Hangouts, on the other hand, works similarly to the typical chat feature.
When you sign into your account, you can see which of your contacts are hanging out. If two of your friends are engaged in a video chat, you can simply drop in – much like, as Google puts in, you might bump into a friend or two when you’re out and about in town.
What Are +1 and Sparks?
Google’s +1 is the equivalent of the Like feature on Facebook. Give a +1 bump to a funny video, your friend’s cute kitten, or your favorite band. You’ll also able to view the number of +1s received by each post.
Sparks is a tool that will search for videos and articles based on your specified interests. Facebook allows users to share news items pulled from the web; Google+ brings you things to share. Are you into photography? Music? Cycling? Type any topic into the Sparks search bar, pin the interest, and you’ll have a custom feed of information that Google hopes you’ll share with your connections.
A Work in Progress
Despite its fresh features, Google’s network still has some work to do. While it’s possible to access Google+ from a mobile device, only Android users can currently utilize the Google+ app (though an iPhone friendly app is said to be on the horizon).
With 750 million users, it’s a rarity to be unable to find a friend on Facebook. However, your Google+ stream may look a little spare – at least for now.
So, what are your thoughts on Google+? Does it solve Facebook’s biggest shortcomings? Does it miss the social media mark? Is it just another online time waster? Let us know.
The Google+ project: A quick look
