Google+

[21]

Anyone into this yet? Membership supposedly will reach 10 million today. Interested to know what anyone thinks.

 

[spikechiquet]

I don't see the reason for it. It's facebook. The circles thing is not a new concept...you can make groups in facebook. I just don't see a difference at this point.

 

[Cosmo]

I signed up, was underwhelmed, probably won't do anything with it.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I signed up, was underwhelmed, probably won't do anything with it.

How did you get an invite?

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I'm on there too, thanks to an invite from another SJer.

Honestly, between Facebook (personal and newsroom) and Twitter, I don't know if I've got time for another social media platform. But I'll stick around for a bit to see what Google does with it.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm on there too, thanks to an invite from another SJer.

Honestly, between Facebook (personal and newsroom) and Twitter, I don't know if I've got time for another social media platform. But I'll stick around for a bit to see what Google does with it.

At this point, I would agree with that, but I admit, I'm curious...

 

[Cosmo]

I signed up, was underwhelmed, probably won't do anything with it.

How did you get an invite?

Through a friend. Not sure how he got in.

 

[Buck]

But Facebook wasn't new, either.
It just became more popular than the previous platforms. Better interface/easier to use maybe?
I don't know. I'm sick of all this crap anyway.

It's akin to email back in the 1990s. Eventually everyone reaches the point of realizing 'It's enough, already.'

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I just got in... Looks interesting...

 

[bydesign77]

If anyone has an extra invite, I'd like to play, too!

 

[MileHigh]

I got in because a friend of mine works for Google.

Meh.

 

[Jack_Kerouac]

I'd love an invite, too, please.

 

[lantaur]

I got in just to check it out and see how it might help for work. Like most others, I'm on Facebook, so hard to see me converting over or constantly double posting. One thing which Google+ has going for it is the video chatting (and maybe even overall group chatting) that FB doesn't (not that I'd use it, but could see the younger crowd liking it).

 

[Thomas Goldkamp]

I see a lot of potential in it, but that's coming from someone who is hoping it can effectively replace both Facebook and Twitter. Ideally, I'd like this thing to get big enough that I can have it function as my personal and professional Facebook and Twitter accounts. In other words, I want one Google+ account to eliminate those separate four accounts. It would be easier to manage one Google+ account centrally than have to deal with four distinct accounts to get the functionality I want/need out of social networking.

Here are some thoughts I posted the other day on my blog, as well as one key feature I think is missing for Google+ to effectively compete with Twitter.

Google+ has tools to overtake Facebook and Twitter

And then if you're interested in cruising my profile, I'll link it below. What you can see is limited if you're not in my circles. As a brief explanation, I have circles set up on my account so that I can essentially tweet to my customer base (Florida Gators fans), while also using Google+ as my personal social media account for my close friends.

Here's how I have my circles set up (number of people I have in each):

• Friends (19)
• Family (1)
• Acquaintances (29)
• Florida Fans (101)
• Gators Media (16)
• General Media (20)
• Sports Media (27)
• Work (4)

Side note - 81 people have me in their circles

I push personal Facebook-type updates to Friends and occasionally Family and Acquaintances. I push Florida Gators updates to Florida Fans and Gators Media and sometimes Sports Media, depending on what the update is. General Media is more any thoughts that I have on Google+, technology, etc.

The cool thing about this as opposed to Twitter is that if I were to break some news, I could break it only to my Florida Fans group and not the Gators Media group, which would automatically happen on Twitter. Just thought about that and it intrigues me.

Anyway, I also use my circles to get updates. My Sports Media stream is great for a general idea of what's breaking in the sports world, just like I used Twitter for. Gators Media allows me to easily see what's going on in Florida sports. And my Friends and Acquaintances circles essentially let me check Facebook.

Obviously there aren't enough people on G+ yet to give me full functionality, but it's really neat so far.

Here's a link to my profile:

Thomas Goldkamp on Google+

And the general description that's public on my profile that explains how I use Google+ for anyone that stumbles onto me and might be interested in following me.

Born and raised just outside of New Orleans, La., I attended the University of Florida and graduated with a B.S. in Journalism. I currently work as a sports reporter for GatorCountry.com, covering Florida Gators football, basketball and basketball recruiting.

I use my Google+ account for both personal and professional use. At least 90 percent of my updates on G+ will not be public. I will post Florida Gators updates to a "Florida Fans" circle, as well as to a handful of different sports media circles.

My friends will not see those updates (unless they ask me to put them in that circle because they want the updates), as I will post all "Facebook" type status updates to my personal "Friends" circle.

Thus, if you want to follow me ala Twitter, just add me to one of your circles and I'll move you to the appropriate circle to receive the Florida Gators updates you want.

If you're my friend, I won't subject you to my Florida Gators updates unless you request it. The beauty of Google+ circles...

 

[Madhavok]

Meh. It's whatever. I'm already bored with it. I don't think I've checked it once today where in comparison I checked twitter about 50 times.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Meh. It's whatever. I'm already bored with it. I don't think I've checked it once today where in comparison I checked twitter about 50 times.

Is Twitter still down? Hasn't worked for me in more than an hour.

 

[Madhavok]

It's working for me. Both on Chrome and my phone.

 

[westcoastvol]

If anyone has an invite, I'd love to check it out. Please PM me!

 

[imjustagirl]

I wait until things get huge before I try them. I'm not a cutting-edge person.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I'd love an invite to try it out, and to have a fallback if the "Facebook is charging" rumors turn out to be true. If I have to pay for Facebook, I will part ways with it.