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The Tragic Beauty of Google+

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Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#11
post #3

This is bizarre. This piece insinuates, with not a shred of evidence, that Google+ identity data is linked to Google Analytics data, and there is zero evidence that this is the case, or that it even makes any sense. (For starters, Google Analytics tracking code never touches the google.com domain in any kind of way and thus couldn't be used to link to account information.)

From their official blog: "What does this mean in practice? The main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience."

http://googleblog.blogspot.se/2012/01/updating-our-privacy-p...

Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#12
post #11
post #3

This is bizarre. This piece insinuates, with not a shred of evidence, that Google+ identity data is linked to Google Analytics data, and there is zero evidence that this is the case, or that it even makes any sense. (For starters, Google Analytics tracking code never touches the google.com domain in any kind of way and thus couldn't be used to link to account information.)

From their official blog: "What does this mean in practice? The main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience." http://googleblog.b…

Boom - and that includes Google Analytics:

"At Google, we are keenly aware of the trust you place in us and our responsibility to keep your privacy and data secure. As part of this responsibility, we let you know what information we collect when you use our products and services, why we collect it, and how we use it to improve your experience. The Google privacy policy & principles describes how we treat personal information when you use Google's products and services, including Google Analytics."

http://www.google.com/analytics/learn/privacy.html

Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#15

"it’s an identity system that follows you everywhere" Yeah, that really sounds like a good thing...

Google wants you to participate in an "identity system that follows you everywhere", so they can learn your behavior and preferences and show you relevant, timely ads. Facebook wants exactly the same thing, for exactly the same reason. Both services want you to stay logged in as long as possible. Both services offer authentication for 3rd-party sites to give you even more reasons to be logged in. The author sees a difference that I don't believe exists.

Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#16
The best google products have largely succeeded on their own merit. Google+ is not one of them. Google+ is the product you start shoving in your users' faces because you are angry they are not adopting it. And the less people adopt, the more you force it on your users. Ultimately, this is why good companies fail and while google is far from failing, I really don't think google+ has added much value in this world which is extremely uncommon for a google product that gets so much press.

It is the worst product to come out of google to date. I wish it dies.

Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#17
post #11
post #3

This is bizarre. This piece insinuates, with not a shred of evidence, that Google+ identity data is linked to Google Analytics data, and there is zero evidence that this is the case, or that it even makes any sense. (For starters, Google Analytics tracking code never touches the google.com domain in any kind of way and thus couldn't be used to link to account information.)

From their official blog: "What does this mean in practice? The main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience." http://googleblog.b…

Sorry, but that's not what that means. There are settings that allow people to opt to link their Google Analytics accounts to, say, AdWords or Webmaster Tools, but that's at the website owner level, not at the individual-navigating-the-web level.

There's simply no evidence that increased data sharing across Google involves linking Google Analytics data to individual personal accounts on Google+.

(If anything, the trend at Google is towards less integration between GA and Google Accounts; for example, Google now prevents Google search terms for logged-in Google Accounts users from getting passed in the referrer for search traffic.)

Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#18
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From their official blog: "What does this mean in practice? The main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience." http://googleblog.b…

Boom - and that includes Google Analytics: "At Google, we are keenly aware of the trust you place in us and our responsibility to keep your privacy and data secure. As part of this responsibility, we let you know what information we collect when you use our products and services, why we collect it, and how we use it to improve your experience. The Google privacy policy & principles describes how we treat personal inf…

Where in there does it say that personal traffic information is linked to Google+ information?

Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#19
post #17
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From their official blog: "What does this mean in practice? The main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience." http://googleblog.b…

Sorry, but that's not what that means. There are settings that allow people to opt to link their Google Analytics accounts to, say, AdWords or Webmaster Tools, but that's at the website owner level, not at the individual-navigating-the-web level. There's simply no evidence that increased data sharing across Google involves linking Google Analytics data to individual personal accounts on Google+. (If anything, the tre…

It clearly states that Google will correlate your information on all services. Please take time to read my post again. Speaking of evidence: I believe it's your time to provide some if you want to dispute this, "the trend at Google" just won't cut it.

Re: The Tragic Beauty of Google+

#20
Even though Google+ was/is compared to facebook...I don't think it is much like it. All I have really seen bloom from Google+ is hangouts with live streaming. I constantly hear businesses or other devs promoting a hangout feed.

Facebook I felt was more for the intimacy of family and friends; personal profile.

Linkedin for resumes and job experience; professional profile.

Google+ ... so far has really been promoted as a tool of Google's that is no different than Wallet, Gmail, Voice...or Google Reader. By a tool, I imply that the niche Google+ is carving is hangouts.

Please feel free to reply and tell me what/if you guys use Google+ and what for.

Side note: I'm a developer, and I closed my facebook and never opened a Google+ (at least by choice -_-, don't you love how Google automatically signs you up for G+).

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