Google Launches Google+ Social Network

Randyll writes "Today, Google announced its decisive entry into the world of social networks by introducing Google+, a social network tied around Google services. Its aim is to be different from other networks with emphasis on privacy and a different kind of social networking. Instead of connecting with your friends, Google+ aims to center connections around specific groups—colleagues, projects, or groups of friends—with the ability to use high-quality video chats and a unique and rich web-based user experience. It is currently in beta with opt-in invites." Several other readers submitted speculation about another mysterious new Google service as well.

Re:Wait, there are Google services NOT in beta?

[sortius_nod]

The summary should have really said "limited release" rather than beta...

Bizarro Buzz

[MrEricSir]

It's the polar opposite of Buzz. You have to add friends manually, and manually assign them to one of four "circles" (Family, Friends, Acquaintances, Following.)

Then with EVERY damn thing you post, you have to assign to one or more groups.

So you get very fine-grained control, but at the cost of usability. It really is the opposite of Buzz in that way.

I'd be wary of Google services

[Bloodwine77]

They are starting to rack up a nice stack a corpses made from discontinued Google services. Google Wave, Google Translation API, Google Health, and Google PowerMeter to name a few.

I would hate to get too invested in a Google service only to have it disappear on me. As far as I am concerned, Google Search and Gmail are their only sure bets.

Google... transparent?

[caitsith01]

Google's transparency with privacy

In what possible universe is Google transparent about privacy?? Can you go somewhere to see what data they have collected about you? I think not.

You have literally no idea what data they have in the no doubt comprehensive profile they have built about you based on search and gmail. If you read their privacy terms there are an alarming number of "outs" for them to basically use that information however the hell they want. Add to that their creepy wifi data collection, creepy streetview cars, etc etc. Hell, a Google search is a pretty good record of your thoughts.

I consider Google one of the biggest threats to privacy going around. By comparison Facebook is child's play.

Re:Google... transparent?

[SpecialFred]

Try https://www.google.com/dashboard/ [google.com]. It has everything associated with your Google account, and you can manage most of the information. See also http://www.dataliberation.org/ [dataliberation.org], and, in the future, https://www.google.com/takeout/ [google.com]