“Circles” New Google Social Network 1
“Circles” is New Google Social Arrangement +1, some time call Google +, Google’s new social arrangement. I was on the pre-invite list but for some reason, the invite never came and I am locked out. It is very weird for me to write about something that I did not encounter first hand and also very weird for me to not have access to a new Google product ahead of schedule.
That life said, everyone else at Quest Engine Land has been having a blast teasing me about having access to Google Plus. The SEL team has been ‘huddling’, ‘sparking’ conversations, making ‘circles’ without me, and even doing ‘hangouts’ without me – so I feel a bit left out.
Update: Google has now officially denied that Circles will launch here, but not that it exists. See final update not more than, as of afternoon Texas time Google does now deny that Circles exists. If what we’ve heard is right, the benefit will place forward photo, video and status thought sharing. All users impart on Circles will be shared only with the most appropriate circle of social contacts in their lives, not with all your contacts in bulk. Circles may be shown off at an event co-hosted tonight by the ACLU, an organization focused on privacy and the liberties it affords. It may not be a huge public launch yet, but it’s clear that this is a major product in the works at the very least. Please see not more than the fold for what I hope will be the final update on this for now.
As the New York Times notes the battle is for the most well loved entry point on the web. Facebook had 157.2 million visitors in May, while Google had 180 million (YouTube included). The visitors information at Facebook is not available to Google at this time.
And while many reports have looked at what will be offered, the New York Times went a modest deeper in to the reasons for this grab at social. Speaking to its two project managers – Bradley Horowitz and Vic Gundotra – the focus seemed to be about the increased information this project provides to advertisers. Google obviously watched as Facebook struggled at first to find monetization avenues and seem to have that covered:
“Mr. Gundotra and Mr. Horowitz said that knowing more about party Google users will improve all Google products, including ads, quest, YouTube and maps, because Google will learn what public like and eventually be able to personalize those products.”
Steven Levy at Wired, who washed-out a year with the team, shareds an fascinating insight. There is a mural at the entrance of the secured floor where the project was developed. It is a scene of a massive tidal wave about to overpower a fishing boat.
Getting Google+
Want to try the benefit? Aptly now, it’s strictly invite only. Some press are life allowed in, along with others that Google hand picks. There’s no ETA on when wider invites will be available.
Unusually, this isn’t life called a beta test or an experiment but rather a “field trial” that’s meant to finally gather some feedback from outside Google itself.
The limited test is probably wise. It’ll give Google more time to learn things it might not have anticipated life problems, as was the case with Buzz.
As for a wider release, and doable success, it’s anyone’s guess. As I said earlier, if you’re pleased using Facebook, there seems relatively modest to make you want to thrash over to Google Plus, at the moment.
Perhaps with further Google +1 integration, that might change. Perhaps if there are public who want a Facebook different, Google’s now got a core to build on for them. At least the guessing about what Google might be doing is over.
Our hands-on look at Google+ must be posted later today. We’ll update with a link here, or check the Quest Engine Land home page.
