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Google / YouTube

Everything you need to know about Google Plus

This week Google introduced its own social networking service which it promises will revolutionise online communication. So what’s it all about?

ON TUESDAY GOOGLE launched its long-awaited social networking service, dubbed Google Plus.

Widely seen as the search giant’s first serious challenge to rival Facebook, Google Plus opened to a small group of developers and journalists – and immediately filled to capacity. The company is expected to issue more ‘invitations’ to the service as it develops over the coming months, just as it did at first with Gmail.

In a blog post announcing the service, Google said: “Online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it.” But what exactly is Google Plus all about? Here TheJournal.ie takes a look at some of its key features – and how they went down with the first users.

‘Circles’

Google Plus bears a “striking resemblance” to Facebook, with lists of friends and streaming news feeds, according to the Washington Post. But a key difference is the Circles feature which encourages users to group their friends by category – work colleagues, college friends, book club, family and so on. This aims to fix one of the key problems of Facebook: what you share with your closest friends, you don’t necessarily also want to share with your uncle Daithí.

The Google pitch: “We found that people already use real-life circles to express themselves, and to share with precisely the right folks. So [...] we brought Circles to software.”

‘Sparks’

Sparks seems to be Google’s answer to Twitter – a way to plug in to news and content you’re interested in from all over the web. You input a list of interests, and it promises to deliver headlines, images and links from like-minded people and organisations which you can react to, comment on and share with others.

The Google pitch: “Simply add your interests, and you’ll always have something to watch, read and share.”

‘Hangouts’

Basically, Hangouts is a way to have video chats with several people at once. The aim is to make online conversation less like a phone call out of the blue and more like a time spent, well, hanging out. You hit the Hangout button, invite anybody you want to join you if they feel like it, and (hopefully) shoot the breeze.

The Google pitch: “Whether it’s inside a pub or on a front porch, human beings have always enjoyed hanging out [...] By combining the casual meetup with live multi-person video, Hangouts lets you stop by when you’re free, and spend time with your Circles.”

First users’ reaction

So far, only a relatively small group people have been able to play around with Google Plus. Their response has been mixed. Influential technology blog TechCrunch was impressed, with their reviewer writing that “I used Google+ for hours and kept coming back. And I have a desire to come back tomorrow.” Social news site Mashable said the project was “a bold and dramatic attempt at social”, adding that it was “solid”, but not “a Facebook killer or game changer”.

Meanwhile, tech news site GigaOm said the service wouldn’t worry Facebook, but that the communications features could sound the death knell for Skype. But The Guardian wasn’t won over – their reviewer called the user experience on a computer desktop “appalling”, Circles “too complex” and Sparks “almost useless”.

Video: Google’s own introduction to its Google Plus social networking project

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25 Comments
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    Mute Billy Nomates
    Favourite Billy Nomates
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    May 1st 2013, 8:12 PM

    In going to complain to Lynx that girls don’t get off with me in the lift like their ads when I’m using their spray

    619
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    Mute Ann Mc Kennedy
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    May 1st 2013, 8:18 PM

    I never got bunches of flowers when i used “impulse” either Billy if that’s any consolation!!!!

    271
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    Mute Sean O'Sullivan
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    May 1st 2013, 9:28 PM

    Billy…you must shower first before spraying the lynx! That should sort it!

    116
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    Mute LittleBlackPetal
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    May 2nd 2013, 12:20 AM

    And those tampax ads claiming to keep Mother Nature at bay… LIE!!!

    68
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    Mute MrKnow
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    May 1st 2013, 8:36 PM

    I always hated when eircom advertise there 8mb broadband as ‘next generation’ broadband! Maybe back in 1995 eircom.

    166
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    Mute Paul Whelan
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    May 1st 2013, 8:42 PM

    Star Trek is shiting itself.

    59
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    Mute Bernard Cribbons
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    May 1st 2013, 8:49 PM

    I had huge problems with sky too. Had to get comreg involved. People should drop eircom broadband and sky broadband. Just dont buy it and they will be forced to lay faster lines.

    53
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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    May 1st 2013, 9:00 PM

    Is it true eircom are doing sky’s broadband for them?

    54
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    Mute Trevor Flanagan
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    May 1st 2013, 9:50 PM

    Yup

    14
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    Mute richard fallon
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    May 1st 2013, 10:13 PM

    all broadband services use Eircoms lines, except those which offer fibre optic delivery.Eircoms lines are still the old copper ones and until these are replaced we will be plaqued with creepy crawly speeds.

    30
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    Mute Taxi Bill
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    May 2nd 2013, 2:19 AM

    I like a f****g ediot signed up to Eircom at the door, worst mistake I made in years, a guaranteed 8Mb became 4.5Mb, charged for a free modem, which I sent back and they still want to charge me for bills went through the roof, back to Vodafone last bill 28,€ and 300gb download V Eircom 10gb per month.

    16
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    Mute Trevor Flanagan
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    May 1st 2013, 9:53 PM

    I’m going to complain about that smug little git on the hello.ie ad, drives me nucking futs!!! Also 123.ie no one is that happy to be working in a call centre!!

    128
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    Mute Continent Simian
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    May 1st 2013, 8:30 PM

    I can believe it’s not butter. :(

    85
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    Mute divide by zero
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    May 1st 2013, 9:13 PM

    The fruity chewing gum they sell in my local’s toilet tastes rubbery.

    56
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    Mute Patrick Gormley
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    May 1st 2013, 9:25 PM

    Are there really lots of juicy apples in cidona ?

    28
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    Mute Gerri McCaffery
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    May 1st 2013, 9:40 PM

    I ate a Magnum and it didn’t grow back!

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    Mute LittleBlackPetal
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    May 2nd 2013, 12:24 AM

    @gerri- I’m surprised that ad is still going! Annoys me every time I see it. How can they get away with such a blatant lie/ bizarre claim, considering the little reasons that other ads have been pulled for!

    23
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    Mute Claudia Byrne
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    May 1st 2013, 11:41 PM

    Always “have a happy period”

    51
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    Mute Orly
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    May 2nd 2013, 1:33 AM

    When I was small I used to wonder what actual period they were referring to. Why didn’t they specify the timeframe? It sounds so vague, like some sort of half-assed festive greeting.

    24
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    Mute Richard
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    May 1st 2013, 8:53 PM

    No one made complaints about those beef (aka horse) burgers they purchased recently?

    42
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    Mute richard fallon
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    May 1st 2013, 10:15 PM

    and another thing, what the f is beef geletine doing in cream ????

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    May 2nd 2013, 1:44 AM

    Hear hear Richard. I bought some a while back and it was horrible. I’ve gone back to buying the liquid stuff and whipping it and if you put a spoon of sugar in it, it keeps a bit longer and tastes nicer with desserts!

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    Mute John Buckley
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    May 2nd 2013, 4:37 AM

    Gelatine is a thickener. Plus, this cream is a processed food product, why are you surprised that there could be ANYTHING in it ????

    8
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    Mute alan
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    May 2nd 2013, 2:17 AM

    Are Linus still running that 50 per cent off all air fares. Which there isn’t

    21
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    Mute Taxi Bill
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    May 2nd 2013, 2:24 AM

    And you mean if I buy the pills from the net my Mickley WONT grow 4 inches longer.!!!!

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    Mute Stiofán De Priondárgas
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    May 2nd 2013, 6:51 AM

    I’m forced to eat only birds eye stuff in my freezer because if that stupid bear, there was nice bit of fish I got in Aldi but he keeps telling me off I don’t know what to do :-( is there an agony aunt section on this site?

    18
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    Mute Marie Louise Ni Riain
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    May 2nd 2013, 2:27 AM

    123 just log in and save money!!! Ahhh jingles

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    May 2nd 2013, 2:25 AM

    The greyhound one is just rubbish

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