Google+ > When does it go "Mainstream" (1 Viewer)

[Joe T]

Head of Google's Ailing Social Network Departs
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304788404579521900703666932?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304788404579521900703666932.html

Time to close the books on this one.

 

[[icon]]

Head of Google's Ailing Social Network Departs

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304788404579521900703666932?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304788404579521900703666932.html

Time to close the books on this one.

NOT QUITE DEAD YET!!

 

[SacramentoBob]

I'm a pretty big user of Google products and I never once used G+. OTOH, I rarely used MySpace or Facebook either.

 

[Maelstrom]

I still keep saying that people comparing this to Facebook and determining it is a failure because it hasn't replaced Facebook are looking at it wrong. Google+ is a backbone service that lets Google gather better signals for their search engine and it is integrated into the Google products it needs to be integrating into to make a difference. Whether people use it as a social network or not is really immaterial at this point. I think you'll continue to see it move this direction.

 

[[icon]]

I still keep saying that people comparing this to Facebook and determining it is a failure because it hasn't replaced Facebook are looking at it wrong. Google+ is a backbone service that lets Google gather better signals for their search engine and it is integrated into the Google products it needs to be integrating into to make a difference. Whether people use it as a social network or not is really immaterial at this point. I think you'll continue to see it move this direction.

Google+ started as a search engine down to completely copying facebook's layout and working in crap like circles. Google has now taken everything and the kitchen sink and placed it under the "Google +" umbrella in a desperate attempt to avoid egg on their face with yet another utter social failure.

All the backpedaling, rebranding, and consolidating in the world doesn't change the fact that Google+, as it was originally intended, was a total dud.

 

[Abraham]

Tc had A long post today discussing + as a backbone piece and not a product any more.

 

[Maelstrom]

I still keep saying that people comparing this to Facebook and determining it is a failure because it hasn't replaced Facebook are looking at it wrong. Google+ is a backbone service that lets Google gather better signals for their search engine and it is integrated into the Google products it needs to be integrating into to make a difference. Whether people use it as a social network or not is really immaterial at this point. I think you'll continue to see it move this direction.

Google+ started as a search engine down to completely copying facebook's layout and working in crap like circles. Google has now taken everything and the kitchen sink and placed it under the "Google +" umbrella in a desperate attempt to avoid egg on their face with yet another utter social failure.

All the backpedaling, rebranding, and consolidating in the world doesn't change the fact that Google+, as it was originally intended, was a total dud.

All I'm saying is that yes, it was initially pushed as a social network, but the branding and consolidating is all part of the plan, not backpedaling.

 

[[icon]]

Tc had A long post today discussing + as a backbone piece and not a product any more.

:throwsintowel

I still keep saying that people comparing this to Facebook and determining it is a failure because it hasn't replaced Facebook are looking at it wrong. Google+ is a backbone service that lets Google gather better signals for their search engine and it is integrated into the Google products it needs to be integrating into to make a difference. Whether people use it as a social network or not is really immaterial at this point. I think you'll continue to see it move this direction.

Google+ started as a search engine down to completely copying facebook's layout and working in crap like circles. Google has now taken everything and the kitchen sink and placed it under the "Google +" umbrella in a desperate attempt to avoid egg on their face with yet another utter social failure.

All the backpedaling, rebranding, and consolidating in the world doesn't change the fact that Google+, as it was originally intended, was a total dud.

All I'm saying is that yes, it was initially pushed as a social network, but the branding and consolidating is all part of the plan, not backpedaling.

I'm sure if Pepsi moved all their soda brands under the "Crystal" line I'm sure it wouldn't have been a flop either

 

[Abraham]

Saying it flopped at it's intended purpose and saying it has become even more important to google's success aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, that's the story of most technology. "We wanted to make x and ended up with something that does y, which is a lot better..."

 

[Maelstrom]

Saying it flopped at it's intended purpose and saying it has become even more important to google's success aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, that's the story of most technology. "We wanted to make x and ended up with something that does y, which is a lot better..."

I question they ever intended to "beat" Facebook, which is what people say it's intended purpose was. Present an alternative, sure, and it's done that. It is a viable social network that people are using. I still think the reaction "it'd dead Jim" is way to quick. Google has the ability to continue to let it grow, continue to pivot it into different areas as well. Being the backbone service and being a social network are not mutually exclusive either. I think to predict the death of Google+ is still way premature.

 

[Abraham]

I agree. It's easy to say plus was a vanity attempt to be as hip and exciting and engaging as Facebook three years ago. But the people at places like google don't think like that. Like Gretzky, they look for where the puck is going, not where it is right now. The press is that it didn't work, etc. reality may be that this was the plan all along.

 

[Fennis]

Saying it flopped at it's intended purpose and saying it has become even more important to google's success aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, that's the story of most technology. "We wanted to make x and ended up with something that does y, which is a lot better..."

I question they ever intended to "beat" Facebook, which is what people say it's intended purpose was. Present an alternative, sure, and it's done that. It is a viable social network that people are using. I still think the reaction "it'd dead Jim" is way to quick. Google has the ability to continue to let it grow, continue to pivot it into different areas as well. Being the backbone service and being a social network are not mutually exclusive either. I think to predict the death of Google+ is still way premature.

how about now?

Report: Google to end forced G+ integration, drastically cut division resources

When Vic Gundotra, the head of Google+, suddenly announced his departure from Google today, many were left wondering "why" and what it meant for the future of Google+. He didn't give a reason for leaving, but according to a report from TechCrunch, the likely reason is a major shakeup for Google's social network.

In short, Google seems to be backing away from the original Google+ strategy. The report states that Google+ will no longer be considered a product that competes with Facebook and Twitter, and that Google's mission to force Google+ into every product will end. With this downgrade in importance comes a downgrade in resources. TechCrunch claims that 1000-1200 employees—many of which formed the core of Google+—will be moved to other divisions. Google Hangouts will supposedly be moved to Android, and the Google+ photos team is "likely" to follow. "Basically, talent will be shifting away from the Google+ kingdom and towards Android as a platform," the report said. The strange part is that both of these teams create cross-platform products. So if the report is true, there will be a group inside the Android team making iOS and Web apps, which doesn't seem like the best fit.

A Google spokesperson gave Ars the same statement the company gave TechCrunch: “Today’s news has no impact on our Google+ strategy—we have an incredibly talented team that will continue to build great user experiences across Google+, Hangouts, and Photos.” On Gundotra's announcement post, Larry Page wrote "we’ll continue working hard to build great new experiences for the ever-increasing number of Google+ fans."

Despite Google's denial, it makes sense for the company to back away from Google+. The social network hasn't gained the massive userbase it would need to rival Facebook, and the aggressive integration strategy has been universally hated by users. As Google gets bigger and bigger, it faces harsher scrutiny, and few things the company has done have been more disliked than Google+. According to the report, Google+'s YouTube takeover was seen as "a rocky move" even inside the company.

It also makes sense for this to be the reason for Gundotra leaving. Google+ was his baby, and when pet projects like this get canceled or don't go well, it's typical for the company and the employee to part ways (See: Forstall, Scott).

It's unclear what the future of Google+ would be, and the report says that Google itself isn't even sure what to do with the rest of the Google+ team members. TechCrunch says that G+ is not officially dead, but with Gundotra gone and the resources being stripped away, the project seems more like the "walking dead." We imagine that internally, it's more like a drastic scaling-down of the social network, which at one point was deemed so important to the company that every employee's yearly bonus was tied to Google's success in social.

If the report proves true, we'll no doubt see the effects of this shortly. As a brand, Google+ is about at toxic as you can get. Any mention of the service getting close to a Google product usually results in instant rage among the denizens of the Internet. So while the identity, photo, and chat services will stick around, we'll start to see the G+ brand downplayed as much as possible. If the Google+ division really is being shut down and parted out to the rest of the company, will you miss it?

 

[3C's]

Do they still force you to sign into/sign up for + in order to rate apps on Android? Wouldn't mind adding some constructive criticism of apps but not at the expense of adding myself to +.

 

[Maelstrom]

Saying it flopped at it's intended purpose and saying it has become even more important to google's success aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, that's the story of most technology. "We wanted to make x and ended up with something that does y, which is a lot better..."

I question they ever intended to "beat" Facebook, which is what people say it's intended purpose was. Present an alternative, sure, and it's done that. It is a viable social network that people are using. I still think the reaction "it'd dead Jim" is way to quick. Google has the ability to continue to let it grow, continue to pivot it into different areas as well. Being the backbone service and being a social network are not mutually exclusive either. I think to predict the death of Google+ is still way premature.

how about now?

Report: Google to end forced G+ integration, drastically cut division resources

When Vic Gundotra, the head of Google+, suddenly announced his departure from Google today, many were left wondering "why" and what it meant for the future of Google+. He didn't give a reason for leaving, but according to a report from TechCrunch, the likely reason is a major shakeup for Google's social network.

In short, Google seems to be backing away from the original Google+ strategy. The report states that Google+ will no longer be considered a product that competes with Facebook and Twitter, and that Google's mission to force Google+ into every product will end. With this downgrade in importance comes a downgrade in resources. TechCrunch claims that 1000-1200 employees—many of which formed the core of Google+—will be moved to other divisions. Google Hangouts will supposedly be moved to Android, and the Google+ photos team is "likely" to follow. "Basically, talent will be shifting away from the Google+ kingdom and towards Android as a platform," the report said. The strange part is that both of these teams create cross-platform products. So if the report is true, there will be a group inside the Android team making iOS and Web apps, which doesn't seem like the best fit.

A Google spokesperson gave Ars the same statement the company gave TechCrunch: “Today’s news has no impact on our Google+ strategy—we have an incredibly talented team that will continue to build great user experiences across Google+, Hangouts, and Photos.” On Gundotra's announcement post, Larry Page wrote "we’ll continue working hard to build great new experiences for the ever-increasing number of Google+ fans."

Despite Google's denial, it makes sense for the company to back away from Google+. The social network hasn't gained the massive userbase it would need to rival Facebook, and the aggressive integration strategy has been universally hated by users. As Google gets bigger and bigger, it faces harsher scrutiny, and few things the company has done have been more disliked than Google+. According to the report, Google+'s YouTube takeover was seen as "a rocky move" even inside the company.

It also makes sense for this to be the reason for Gundotra leaving. Google+ was his baby, and when pet projects like this get canceled or don't go well, it's typical for the company and the employee to part ways (See: Forstall, Scott).

It's unclear what the future of Google+ would be, and the report says that Google itself isn't even sure what to do with the rest of the Google+ team members. TechCrunch says that G+ is not officially dead, but with Gundotra gone and the resources being stripped away, the project seems more like the "walking dead." We imagine that internally, it's more like a drastic scaling-down of the social network, which at one point was deemed so important to the company that every employee's yearly bonus was tied to Google's success in social.

If the report proves true, we'll no doubt see the effects of this shortly. As a brand, Google+ is about at toxic as you can get. Any mention of the service getting close to a Google product usually results in instant rage among the denizens of the Internet. So while the identity, photo, and chat services will stick around, we'll start to see the G+ brand downplayed as much as possible. If the Google+ division really is being shut down and parted out to the rest of the company, will you miss it?

Considering that is just a retread of the Techcrunch article I was reacting to earlier, yes, I still feel the same way. There really is not much in the way of new info in the Ars article, I was actually a bit disappointed.

 

[Quez]

Google+ has added a cool new feature called "Google Stories". It takes your pictures from Google Photo and assembles them into a photo story. It adds things like day, time, and place to the slides, and will show locations traveled to on a map. You can also add comments to the slides. It also goes back through all of your old photos and creates stories.

Google has really added some nice photo-related features to Google+. Auto-awesome is amazing & there is also a way to make your own video montage in about 30sec. This feature combines pics, auto awesome, or and videos and let's you put a music background. I think it's only available on newer android devices.

 

[Jaysus]

Google has really added some nice photo-related features to Google+.

That and the auto-backup are pretty much the only reasons I use it.

 

[Quez]

Google has really added some nice photo-related features to Google+.

That and the auto-backup are pretty much the only reasons I use it.

Google+ is also convenient for sharing the media, especially large files. It's already in their cloud, so you just have to pick who to share with instead of waiting for it to upload into another program.

 

[lumpy19]

Google+ has added a cool new feature called "Google Stories". It takes your pictures from Google Photo and assembles them into a photo story. It adds things like day, time, and place to the slides, and will show locations traveled to on a map. You can also add comments to the slides. It also goes back through all of your old photos and creates stories.

Google has really added some nice photo-related features to Google+. Auto-awesome is amazing & there is also a way to make your own video montage in about 30sec. This feature combines pics, auto awesome, or and videos and let's you put a music background. I think it's only available on newer android devices.

Agreed....I love the crap google does with my photos.

 

[(HULK)]

Google+ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Facebook

imo

 

[[icon]]

Google+ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Facebook

imo

This opinion is shared by 291 other people.

 

[Quez]

G+ is sort of like a combination of FB and Apple Icloud. Instead of your photos being uploaded and backed up & then having to share on FB, it all goes to 1 place.

 

[Maelstrom]

I have to say also if you are in a community that has adopted Google plus, their communities are pretty awesome. Obviously for me, being in tech (web dev), there are some pretty good communities around that industry.

 

[Quez]

Google I/O is today. Nothing spectacular so far. They are showing watches now.

 

[Quez]

They just announced android auto, and said most major auto makers onboard. So, it looks like Google is finally going to be in dash boards by the end of the year.

 

[MattFancy]

Google I/O is today. Nothing spectacular so far. They are showing watches now.

The new version of Android "L" looks pretty cool. I'm sure they'll go more in depth with it in the coming months, but it looks really neat.

 

[Quez]

It appears Toyota, BMW, Mercedes are the only ones not on board.

http://www.openautoalliance.net/#members

I wonder if Apple is trying to get in vehicles?

 

[chauncey]

Any word on the Nexus 8? Specs, release date, price?

 

[Quez]

I think they are dropping nexus but coming out with another phone or something.

Quite a bit going on with chromecast

-mirror screens of other devices

-allow apps

 

[(HULK)]

Google is basically expanding their platform to a complete ecosystem:

Phones: Android

Tablets: Android

Watches: Android Wear

Cars: Android Auto

TV: Android TV

Laptops: Chromebooks

Browser: Chrome

Home: Nest and some other stuff

They'll all interact with each other and be aware of each other. Pretty damn cool. Use Android Apps on your TV or Chromebook. Control your TV with your watch. Edit a Word file (yes! finally) on your Chromebook. Plan a route on your phone, open it up in your car's dashboard.

 

[MyLeftHand]

Google is basically expanding their platform to a complete ecosystem:

Phones: Android

Tablets: Android

Watches: Android Wear

Cars: Android Auto

TV: Android TV

Laptops: Chromebooks

Browser: Chrome

Home: Nest and some other stuff

They'll all interact with each other and be aware of each other. Pretty damn cool. Use Android Apps on your TV or Chromebook. Control your TV with your watch. Edit a Word file (yes! finally) on your Chromebook. Plan a route on your phone, open it up in your car's dashboard.

and all of that will tie into your google+ profile. Even if you dont know you have a google+ profile, every time you log in to any of the above you are accessing it.

This nearly all encompassing trove of user data will be leveraged in a big way via their core businesses, advertising

 

[[icon]]

From what I hear, It's doing so well they didn't even bother to mention it once at I/O

 

[[icon]]

Google is basically expanding their platform to a complete ecosystem:

Phones: Android NOPE

Tablets: Android NOPE

Watches: Android Wear NOPE

Cars: Android Auto NOPE

TV: Google Chomecast USE FOR NETFLIX / YOUTUBE STREAMING

Laptops: Chromebooks NOPE

Browser: Chrome YEP But locked down tight

Home: Nest and some other stuff NOPE

They'll all interact with each other and be aware of each other. Pretty damn cool. Use Android Apps on your TV or Chromebook. Control your TV with your watch. Edit a Word file (yes! finally) on your Chromebook. Plan a route on your phone, open it up in your car's dashboard.

and all of that will tie into your google+ profile. Even if you dont know you have a google+ profile, every time you log in to any of the above you are accessing it.

This nearly all encompassing trove of user data will be leveraged in a big way via their core businesses, advertising

Which is precisely why I'm using as few of their services as possible (see above)

 

[Quez]

From what I hear, It's doing so well they didn't even bother to mention it once at I/O

There is a 2nd day. I am sure they will talk about it.

 

[mr roboto]

Google is basically expanding their platform to a complete ecosystem:

Phones: Android NOPE

Tablets: Android NOPE

Watches: Android Wear NOPE

Cars: Android Auto NOPE

TV: Google Chomecast USE FOR NETFLIX / YOUTUBE STREAMING

Laptops: Chromebooks NOPE

Browser: Chrome YEP But locked down tight

Home: Nest and some other stuff NOPE

They'll all interact with each other and be aware of each other. Pretty damn cool. Use Android Apps on your TV or Chromebook. Control your TV with your watch. Edit a Word file (yes! finally) on your Chromebook. Plan a route on your phone, open it up in your car's dashboard.

and all of that will tie into your google+ profile. Even if you dont know you have a google+ profile, every time you log in to any of the above you are accessing it.

This nearly all encompassing trove of user data will be leveraged in a big way via their core businesses, advertising

Which is precisely why I'm using as few of their services as possible (see above)

Well as long as you aren't I guess it's a terrible strategy...

 

[Quez]

Google is basically expanding their platform to a complete ecosystem:

Phones: Android NOPE

Tablets: Android NOPE

Watches: Android Wear NOPE

Cars: Android Auto NOPE

TV: Google Chomecast USE FOR NETFLIX / YOUTUBE STREAMING

Laptops: Chromebooks NOPE

Browser: Chrome YEP But locked down tight

Home: Nest and some other stuff NOPE

They'll all interact with each other and be aware of each other. Pretty damn cool. Use Android Apps on your TV or Chromebook. Control your TV with your watch. Edit a Word file (yes! finally) on your Chromebook. Plan a route on your phone, open it up in your car's dashboard.

and all of that will tie into your google+ profile. Even if you dont know you have a google+ profile, every time you log in to any of the above you are accessing it.

This nearly all encompassing trove of user data will be leveraged in a big way via their core businesses, advertising

Which is precisely why I'm using as few of their services as possible (see above)

I could understand being paranoid and not using any technology, but to pick & choose because you think one company is worse than the other is ridiculous.

Verizon, ATT, FB, Google, Apple, the NSA, etc. All have way too much info on us. Unless you are going to completely unplug there is no way around it.

You pretty much give every app maker on your phone the ability to collect a bunch of info on you when you download an app.

 

[Socrates11]

Today is my wife's birthday and when she pulled up Chrome the google doodle was birthday oriented and when she rolled her mouse over it it said 'Happy Birthday [Her Name]!'. She was a little weirded out by it.

 

[TenTimes]

Do they still force you to sign into/sign up for + in order to rate apps on Android? Wouldn't mind adding some constructive criticism of apps but not at the expense of adding myself to +.

This.

Google started to bug me when I would type an email about vacation plans to someone, and then start seeing ads for airlines and stuff. That might be cool to most people, for me it was the realization that anything you do on the internet can and is being monitored, and google is leading the way on playing big brother.

Then G+ and the whole attempt at removing internet anonymity.

Doesn't that seem like a bad combination, or are only deviants like me bothered by this? I'm thinking it's the latter because what really bugged me was how google asked and asked me to change the name on my youtube account to my real name, and only deviants/stalkees would have a problem with that.

 

[eoMMan]

Google is basically expanding their platform to a complete ecosystem:

Phones: Android NOPE

Tablets: Android NOPE

Watches: Android Wear NOPE

Cars: Android Auto NOPE

TV: Google Chomecast USE FOR NETFLIX / YOUTUBE STREAMING

Laptops: Chromebooks NOPE

Browser: Chrome YEP But locked down tight

Home: Nest and some other stuff NOPE

They'll all interact with each other and be aware of each other. Pretty damn cool. Use Android Apps on your TV or Chromebook. Control your TV with your watch. Edit a Word file (yes! finally) on your Chromebook. Plan a route on your phone, open it up in your car's dashboard.

and all of that will tie into your google+ profile. Even if you dont know you have a google+ profile, every time you log in to any of the above you are accessing it.

This nearly all encompassing trove of user data will be leveraged in a big way via their core businesses, advertising

Which is precisely why I'm using as few of their services as possible (see above)

And you don't think Apple is doing the same thing?

 

[IC FBGCav]

Do they still force you to sign into/sign up for + in order to rate apps on Android? Wouldn't mind adding some constructive criticism of apps but not at the expense of adding myself to +.

This.

Google started to bug me when I would type an email about vacation plans to someone, and then start seeing ads for airlines and stuff. That might be cool to most people, for me it was the realization that anything you do on the internet can and is being monitored, and google is leading the way on playing big brother.

Then G+ and the whole attempt at removing internet anonymity.

Doesn't that seem like a bad combination, or are only deviants like me bothered by this? I'm thinking it's the latter because what really bugged me was how google asked and asked me to change the name on my youtube account to my real name, and only deviants/stalkees would have a problem with that.

I agree with this 100%. Plus they put people in my contacts without me approving. I have andriod phone and recently purchased a blackberry to get out from under these huge conglomerates that are spying on my information.

 

[chauncey]

If you want to crack on g+ because it failed as a social network then be my guest. But to act like Google is the big bad wolf of data collection and that is why you won't use their services is just immature/hypocritical/naive/etc. Anyone posting in this nerd thread is smart enough to know that apple, Facebook, Microsoft, the cell networks, etc are all tracking and using your data the same as Google. (Or what Quez said) I get the feeling some you (icon) are here just to antagonize, and if that is the case then carry on

 

[Quez]

I really wouldn't call Google+ a failure. If you are comparing it to FB, then it may seem like it, but they are different.

G+ is great for hangouts, location reporting, and especially sharing media.

The thing with G+ is that Google doesn't need to try and get people to sign up. You kind of get dragged into it if you want to take full advantage of the Google ecosystem. Photos, hangouts, cloud, etc. Most he people signing up for G+ are likely not signing up for the standard social network features.

I don't see it going away anytime soon.

 

[Maelstrom]

Google is basically expanding their platform to a complete ecosystem:

Phones: Android NOPE

Tablets: Android NOPE

Watches: Android Wear NOPE

Cars: Android Auto NOPE

TV: Google Chomecast USE FOR NETFLIX / YOUTUBE STREAMING

Laptops: Chromebooks NOPE

Browser: Chrome YEP But locked down tight

Home: Nest and some other stuff NOPE

They'll all interact with each other and be aware of each other. Pretty damn cool. Use Android Apps on your TV or Chromebook. Control your TV with your watch. Edit a Word file (yes! finally) on your Chromebook. Plan a route on your phone, open it up in your car's dashboard.

and all of that will tie into your google+ profile. Even if you dont know you have a google+ profile, every time you log in to any of the above you are accessing it.

This nearly all encompassing trove of user data will be leveraged in a big way via their core businesses, advertising

Which is precisely why I'm using as few of their services as possible (see above)

Why even use Chrome? Firefix is just as good of a browser, and they are commited to user privacy and are open source. There was a time where Chrome was head and shoulders above Firefix, but that hasn't been the case for quite some time now.

I can understand if it is because of the web developer tools, but even then Firefox (with Firebug) is right there with Chrome, I mainly use Chrome for development because I'm familiar with it. I use Firefox for browsing at home.