“Google Inc. on Tuesday broadened its assault on rival Facebook Inc. by opening its Google+ online social network to the public,” Amir Efrati reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“Google+, which launched in late June and which up till now had only been open by invitation to users, is also putting a heavier emphasis on video, one of its main technology advantages over Facebook. Facebook, which has more than 750 million active monthly users, recently inked a deal with Skype SA to allow its users to communicate with each other through their computer’s built-in video cameras,” Efrati reports. “Google+, which launched in late June and which up till now had only been open by invitation to users, is also putting a heavier emphasis on video, one of its main technology advantages over Facebook. Facebook, which has more than 750 million active monthly users, recently inked a deal with Skype SA to allow its users to communicate with each other through their computer’s built-in video cameras.”
Advertisement: LAST CHANCE, ENDS TODAY: Students, Parents and Faculty save up to $200 on a new Mac.
Efrati reports, “Google also added a key feature to the version of Google+ that works on mobile devices powered by Google’s Android software. Google+ users who own devices with front-facing cameras participate in a “hangout” using those devices, similar to the feature on Apple Inc.’s iPhone that lets people do video chats face-to-face, also known as ‘face time.’ [sic]”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
A eulogy for Google+ – August 15, 2011
Google+ may pass Twitter with one-fifth of U.S. adults online – August 9, 2011
ASCI: Low Facebook satisfaction opens door for Google+; Bing closes in on Google; FOXNews.com tops online news – July 20, 2011
Free Google+ for iPhone app debuts in Apple App Store – July 19, 2011
Department of redundancy department
F_ck Goole!
YES, the last thing I need in the world is yet another social network. The fact that it is from Google, doesn’t help either. They have way too much info on me already through search and email.
I will be switching from gmail the day iOS5 comes.
So what are they calling this release – “Public Beta”? “Final Beta”? “Golden Beta Master”? “Mo Beta Blues”?…
You would think that after four months the project could be actually final, but no: Google still states that it is beta.
Yes, they never fail to reassert “The perpetual beta” moniker.
Google is already on record saying G+ is not a social network, but an identity service. The latter is just a tad creepier.
Creepier, but true. This Google+ system is a total “big brother”.
Pfft. One freaking day after I *finally* secured an invite, it goes public to all the other riff-raff like me.
I should have followed Groucho Marx’s motto “I’d never join a club that would have me as a member.”
No chance in hell will I voluntarily give Google any of my info.
I think they already stole yours 🙁
I heard it was a social network for geeks
Allow users to choose to use a username instead of a real name, and I’ll be interested.
You can run but you can’t hide. Hell, I’m a lot more obnoxious when I’m anonymous, too!
i just tried it…. it isnt easy to use
OMG it’s blocked in China, oh well, I added myself anyway.
social mehdia