Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today • Hacker News Board

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#21

Post by drostan » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:19 PM UTC

I think people exist in circles, but they don't necessarily talk or share in circles. If Google, or anyone, wants to mimic real social interaction, they need to find a way to enable talking to the right people for that moment and that content. Even the closest circles don't work in daily life. Rarely do I think "I'd like to go skiing with 'best friends' or 'school friends'". I'm much more likely to think of who skis, who hasn't just had a kid, who hasn't just lost her job, who has a job that allows vacation, etc. Maybe I make a circle for just that, but it seems a) difficult and b) overkill. The outreach and sharing only to that circle just isn't the hard part of the communication. Seems like all that solves is "I can't find that email thread about the ski trip in my inbox".

I'd love replies to this line of thought b/c it actually was a bit of a look in the mirror on some stuff I'm working on.

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#22

Post by michaelchisari » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:21 PM UTC

Appleseed has used friend "Circles" to organize friends since around 2006. Good to see this idea catch on. ;)

Here's to hoping Google's social network has some solid federation features baked into it.

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#23

Post by chrismiller » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:22 PM UTC

Google does not seem to own circles.com. I wonder if they are planning on using google.com/circles or maybe another alternative domain.

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#24

Post by zyfo » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:24 PM UTC

kunjaan wrote: post #17

Didn't Eric Schmidt say something like you should not be doing things you want to hide? To follow that thought, what is wrong with Facebook's idea of everybody is a friend and my life is an open book?

Schmidt is stepping down as a CEO in a month or so.

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#25

Post by nightpool » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:27 PM UTC

drostan wrote: post #21

I think people exist in circles, but they don't necessarily talk or share in circles. If Google, or anyone, wants to mimic real social interaction, they need to find a way to enable talking to the right people for that moment and that content. Even the closest circles don't work in daily life. Rarely do I think "I'd like to go skiing with 'best friends' or 'school friends'". I'm much more likely to think of who skis,…

Nobody has seen the UI of Google Circles yet, so maybe creating a circle is as easy as drawing a loop around a group of icons, kinda like how Bumptop, another company Google recently purchased, let you group desktop icons with gestures.

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#26

Post by bergie » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:28 PM UTC

lachyg wrote: post #2

I think a social network that has the ability for friend groups / circles is way over due. Will be interested to see this!

Pretty critical thing here is to make maintaining those separate circles trouble-free. Google might have the necessary machine-learning capability to automatically put people into the right circles. If you have to start from scratch and do it all manually this won't work

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#27

Post by twidlit » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:31 PM UTC

I like the name, and the concept 'hook'. Here is to hoping that Google nails the UX and if its really really good. utilize google.com / gmail / android tastefully to get to critical mass.

I am not sure if i want Google to be successful in social though, too much power in a single company...

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#28

Post by Stevenup7002 » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:31 PM UTC

karterk wrote: post #14

Stevenup7002 wrote: post #3

Interesting, but we already have Facebook groups, Diaspora, Frid.ge, I even developed my own site to solve this problem last year, Buddify. What exactly is new here other than social group separation? Speaking from experience in this field, I'm certain this won't take off, it's very difficult to gain traction with a new social network in an age where facebook is still growing at a steady pace. Unless I'm missing some…

Never say never. Admittedly Google's recent track-record with seemingly social products like Buzz and Wave is not terrific, something tells me they would have learnt from them and would be looking to do things differently this time (if at all the rumor is what it is).

Well I could be horribly wrong, of course. I prolifically said back in 2007 that Android would never take off ;). I just think the odds are against Google at the moment unfortunately.

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#29

Post by mscarborough » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:32 PM UTC

I wonder what the likelihood of an export feature is.

I'm not a big user of Google services (but more now with Android), but seems like there are some cool possibilities with Google Voice and gmail...provided they get the privacy protection part right.

Re: Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today

#30

Post by szany » Sun, Mar 13, 2011, 4:33 PM UTC

twidlit wrote: post #27

I like the name, and the concept 'hook'. Here is to hoping that Google nails the UX and if its really really good. utilize google.com / gmail / android tastefully to get to critical mass. I am not sure if i want Google to be successful in social though, too much power in a single company...

If you had to pick a single company to succeed in social, would you not pick Google?