Google+ Opens to All • Hacker News Board

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#141

Post by lukesandberg » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 10:32 PM UTC

sssparkkk wrote: post #133

I got all excited when I saw 'Huddle' had been replaced by 'messenger'; thinking this would mean google talk and huddles had been integrated. I mean, wouldn't it be great to have an alternative to the closed stuff like whatsapp/kik/etc? Google would have to start by releasing a native google talk client for the iphone (why isn't there one yet?!). I'm amazed that after all these years there's still no real open standa…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Messaging_and_Presen...

XMPP is pretty much the standard instant messaging protocol these days and it is supported by google talk... im not sure about Huddle though... i assume it is also through google talk just with a special ui for selecting circles.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#142

Post by Peaker » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 10:41 PM UTC

ericd wrote: post #77

cryptoz wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love Google+. I have an Android phone and an Android tablet. I live in Google's world and I love it. I'm very excited to use the new Hangouts, too! However, my girlfriend has an Apps account. So our online lives are now totally separate - I don't see anything she posts on Facebook and she doesn't see anything I post on G+. And that's where a lot of the bitter comes from. Google's built an amazing product that many…

I dunno, I think most of those are hot air from a relatively small number of outspoken people. Not letting me just get everyone I care about onboard in my initial flurry of enthusiasm was probably a blunder, though. Hopefully everyone will get onboard in the initial excitement of my other friends.

I used to be very excited when G+ launched, and try to get all my friends on board.

I want Facebook to die, and it seemed Google understood that they can't afford to anger their users with Facebook-like policies -- when they're so far behind as it is.

Then came the Real Name or We Delete Your Online Life stories. That truly angered me, and I no longer advocate Google+ to any of my friends.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#143

Post by tensor » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 10:45 PM UTC

brador wrote: post #38

kadabra9 wrote: post #19

Too late, guys. Facebook is already copying the features that make G+ cool/useful (circles, etc), and the one big, inherent advantage you had in your favor (Your user base, e.g every Google account) you alienated by keeping it "invite only" for too long. Either open it to everyone sooner, or hold off on this prolonged "invite period" so you don't risk confusing / alienating people that want to try G+ but can't. G+ fe…

Agreed. I wouldn't use Google+, I would also recommend to everyone I know that they never use Google+. The implications of loosing my gmail account over a trivial name change are just too seemingly random and risky. It's just not worth it. Facebook won by default. Google+ had a chance, it really could have succeeded, but something went terribly wrong with it's management. Piss poor execution and hints that Google is…

Remember, there are those of us for whom Facebook has not only lost, but it was never in the race in the first place. Personally, I value my privacy more than any feature Facebook has to offer. Facebook has shown a history of being outright hostile towards privacy.

They will never be an option. Privacy is not only about performance, but about trust. Facebook is not trustworthy.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#144

Post by micampe » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 10:46 PM UTC

xnxn wrote: post #41

I'm alarmed that the comments here are so bitter. Am I the only one who's had a positive experience with G+ so far? (Is my perception rose-tinted because I really, really want Facebook to die?) The new Hangout stuff is great, and the addition of screen sharing has now obviated my need to use Skype. Maybe when On Air opens up I'll be able to broadcast my programming sessions.

> Is my perception rose-tinted because I really, really want Facebook to die?

Yes.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#145

Post by tomkarlo » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 10:49 PM UTC

bunnyhero wrote: post #137

tomkarlo wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's true of Facebook, too. Complain to your legislators, it's because COPA is so impractical that nobody bothers to attempt to comply with the measures necessary to allow kids on a social media site.

Facebook is 13+, but Google+ is currently limited to 18+.

I believe they've (the G+ team) already publicly stated that's coming down to 13.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#146

Post by ElbertF » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 11:56 PM UTC

jsz0 wrote: post #102

Is anyone actually using Plus? My stream is so dead I don't even bother checking it anymore. It's a ghost town over there.

I do. It's not that busy but even with just a couple of active friends it's fun to use. Just like Twitter three years ago.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#147

Post by ElbertF » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 11:58 PM UTC

tnorthcutt wrote: post #90

Could a mod edit the title? As it is right now, it's rather misleading to those of us hoping that they've finally made + open to apps accounts.

It's open for everyone, meaning you can sign up without an invitation.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#148

Post by muyuu » Wed, Sep 21, 2011, 12:08 AM UTC

toyg wrote: post #129

muyuu wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- Privacy considerations - Identity theft - Stalking

Yeah, because Facebook is SO private, and completely devoid of impostors and stalkers. Honestly, if this is the worst that anti-googlers can come up with, well... it isn't much.

In facebook one can at least use nicknames, and it doesn't force you to link everything to your account (picasa, youtube, email, etc).

One can have no real data searchable in facebook.

I'm no anti-nothing, by the way. Grew up past that long ago.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#149

Post by nhebb » Wed, Sep 21, 2011, 12:08 AM UTC

munificent wrote: post #139

0x12 wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can't simultaneously have an invite system and a huge marketing push. It's like pretending that you are classy and telling a lot of people that they are not part of the crowd you consider good enough to make it through the front door. You have one chance to launch a service like this for a large audience. If you want to do an invite only private beta to get the kinks out then you would probably have to do that un…

> You can't simultaneously have an invite system and a huge marketing push. What huge marketing push? All Google did was post a blog about it and send out some invites.

I never signed up for +1, yet I saw +1 buttons next to all my search results. While not a TV or radio ad blitz, that is a form of marketing.

Re: Google+ Opens to All

#150

Post by muyuu » Wed, Sep 21, 2011, 12:11 AM UTC

calloc wrote: post #124

muyuu wrote: post #97

Google+ first didn't let me to use a different name for my account, and then showed me a nice dialog, in words to this effect: "do you want to link Picasa to your account? (yes) (cancel Google+ account creation)" So long, Google+

Picasa is what is used for Google+'s photo backend. You are not required to share anything from Picasa on Google+ and vice-versa.

Google has it though. Well, this made me go to Picasa and delete everything except for random funny internet pics. Same as youtube made me go and delete all my personal flicks when they forced me to link it to my gmail account. After creating another gmail account to link it to.