While this isn’t the “normal” type of post I put up here, I think Google+ is worthy of writing about. Since it is Total Review Thursday, I figured I might as well do my review and let you decide for yourself! I was lucky though to get an early invite and must say I really like what I see! While most current users are members of the tech community, it is sometimes very confusing to follow their conversations. Many of the posts and responses I see are over my head, but I’m okay with that. I know that when more of my actual friends come over, it will be an amazing way to keep in touch.
What is Google+?
Basically, for the non-techie people, Google+ is a mixture of Facebook and Twitter. Instead of “Friending” someone, you add them to a circle. You can create circles for family, friends, co-workers, coupon friends, whatever you want!
I have circles for:
- Family
- Friends
- Work Friends
- People from the net (these are people I don’t know, but are on G+ already)
- Tech Top Dogs (these are people that know their way around the tech world)
- Celebs
So what are these “circles” exactly? When you create a new post, you can decide what circles you want to share it with. So if I post about taking my kids to the park, I can decide who I want to share it with, or make my post public. Since not everyone needs to know about my daily activities, I would only need to share that with my friends and family…so I just select their circles.
What is even better about circles? When you are viewing your stream (think your news feed on Facebook), you can view everyone OR you can click on your circles and only view those people! I hate that my feed on Facebook is filled with businesses and things, I can’t see my friends! On G+ I can just click on family or friends and only see those people! It is SOOOO nice!
To put people in circles is SO easy too! You just click and drag them! That’s it.
But Facebook has video chat over Skype!
SO WHAT? You can only chat to ONE person on Facebook! On G+ you create a “Huddle” and can do a group chat, all with voice and video! Yep, just create a huddle, invite your friends and there you go! Take that Facebook…you were a day late and dollar short. :) G+ may not have gone “public” yet, but those of us with invites knew about the better option before Facebook announced their slimmed down version.
How do I sign up?
Well, it’s closed at the moment. Google has been opening invitations for very short periods of time and then closing them again. Hang tight, they will be there…..if you don’t have a Google account yet, get moving and sign up! Get your Gmail on and be ready for the newest way to keep in contact and network!
So that is my very simple breakdown of what it is and how it works….although I didn’t even touch on the amazing photo uploads (where Facebook also lacks) and the ability to upload gifs. So when you have the ability, sign up for Google+ and let me know what you think!
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