Google+ Insider's Guide News
News: Google+ Pro Tips Weekly Round Up: Google Adds Google+ Extensions
This week, Google held back on introducing a slew of new Google+ features, and introduced new Chrome extensions instead. The new additions won't replace of your favorite Chrome extensions, but they are very useful, and elegant.
News: G+Me Makes Google+ (Almost) Perfect: An Interview with Huy Zing
G+Me is one of our favorite Chrome extensions here at Google+ Insider's Guide. We love it because it's one of the most comprehensive extensions out there. It attempts to address the "noisy streams" issue, with list mode, and collapsible posts and comments. The creator, +Huy Zing, is very responsive to feedback, and he's been quick to address any issues that arise, including privacy concerns. He's even created a G+Me (Paranoid Edition) extension, for the extra careful Google+ user. And if you ...
Google+ Pro Tips Round Up: Week 8
It's been an eventful week for Google+. Facebook decided to up its game and start rolling out several major updates intended to address privacy concerns. We got a glimpse into the future of Google+ via an insightful discussion between +Bradley Horowitz and +Tim O'Reilly. And Google decided to integrate the +1 button more fully with Google+ by allowing users to share directly from the +1 button. That's not all, though—scroll down for more news & updates that occurred in the past week.
News: Psychologists & Neuroscientists on Google+
If you're a psychologist or neuroscientist who's using Google+, you should add yourself to this list. Likewise, if you know a brilliant psychologist or neuroscientist on Google+, you should add them to this list. Don't forget to add what they specialize in.
News: Google's Bradley Horowitz Discusses State of Google+ with Tim O'Reilly
Yesterday, Google's VP of Product Management, +Bradley Horowitz, sat down with founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media, +Tim O'Reilly, to discuss Google+, its future, and where it's headed. You can watch the hour-long video here: I wasn't able to find a transcript for this video, but O'Reilly has helpfully rounded up some of the more interesting points.
News: Facebook Takes Cues From Google+ and Adds Better Privacy Controls
After the launch of Google+ and its ensuing attendant fanfare and rave reviews, Facebook seemed to undergo an identity crisis. On July 6th, Facebook failed to make waves with its "awesome" announcement - the new group chat and video chat features felt lame in comparison to the Google+ hangout and huddle features. Facebook also faced ongoing criticism for its perceived lack of privacy controls. Over on Quora, workers confirmed a lockdown of sorts at Facebook, for employees to work harder on fe...
News: Google+ Knitting Request
Google+ Profiles Product Manager +Frances Haugen is working on a simple roll brim baby hat inspired by the Google +1 button. It looks like it'll be very cute. She's looking for advice on what to knit the hat out of, and whether she should do it differently. Check out the pattern below:
News: The Google+ Rap from Zach Katz
Ok, serious question here: is +Zach Katz even old enough to be on Google+? This rap tells you all you need to know about Google+, and also tells us that...well, not a lot of people actually know what Google+ is.
Google+ Pro Tips Round Up: Week 7
This week, we saw the implementation of collapsed comments, Google+ games were rolled out to everyone, and yesterday, there were several more announcements of enhanced features and tweaks.
News: 7 Talented Web Comic Artists to Follow on Google+
The visual beauty of images on Google+ means that it's not just a great place for photographers to shine, but also serves as a befitting promotional space for web comic artists. Below, 7 talented individuals who have utilized the Google+ platform.
News: 30 Days With Google+
An interesting take on Google+. Follow along as PC World editor Tony Bradley uses Google+ for 30 days, and read about his (mis)adventures. I really, really wish that the PC World's articles were less cluttered, though. It was really difficult to find the first post.
News: Vidyo - The Company Behind G+ Hangouts - Talks Tech
Ofer Shapiro, Vidyo's CEO talks with Robert Scobleizer and shows of their new telepresence architecture that scales video quality with each individuals connection. The result is a very high quality stream that works across several platforms: Mac, PC, Linux, iPhone, & iPad.
Circle Sunday: Anti-Theft Lunch Bags, London Riots Cleanup & Eureka Cancelled
Circle Sunday a web series about Google Plus, hosted by Sonia Autry. For a complete list of topics and this week's suggested users to circle, visit our website. Today's Topics:
News: Google+ Finally Improves Comments
One of the biggest complaints people had about Google+ was comments on popular people's posts taking over their streams. Today Google addresses those issues by rolling out the ability to collapse and expand comments. +Jonathan Terleski explains the simplicity of the function - click once to expand, click again to collapse. Check out how the collapsed comments work in the screenshots below. It's as simple as clicking an arrow.
News: Participate in Google+ Usability Study, Update iOS Google+ App, & More
Check into this spreadsheet from +Kimberly Johnson if you want to participate in a Google+ usability study! Although right now it's only open to people in the Bay Area, you can still sign up fo the phone study. Onsite participants get an American Express gift card.
News: Healthinnovations researching Google + for health
The first and only curated page investigating google + for the healthcare, health and pharma community. For all healthcare professionals involved in communications and e-marketing for their company, charity, brand or organisation.
News: Photographer Brings Google+ to the Real World with Photowalk
In a gesture to bring the social qualities of Google+ into the real world, photographer +Trey Ratcliff invited his Google+ followers to join him on a photowalk this past Thursday, held on the Stanford University campus. Over 150 people showed up to take pictures with fellow Googlers and Google+ users, and to socialize in "real life". This group photo was taken by professional photographer +Peter Adams.
Google+ Pro Tips Round Up: Week 6
We're ending the week with a lot of big announcements and updates. To date, Google+ has updated its name policy, but is still forbidding pseudonyms. Blocking people on Google+ became even easier, and yesterday, games on Google+ launched.
It's Official: Games Arrive on Google+
Today, +Vic Gundotra made it official and announced the launch of games within Google+. It's starting to roll out, and Google+ members will eventually see a link to the Games button at the top of their streams.
News: Use Google+ Hangouts for Teaching
Google+ Hangouts are proving to be a proficient platform for teaching and communicating in real time with others. If you're someone who creates instructional content online, you may want to consider using the platform for your next project.
News: The Google+ Song - Break.com Original
Wondering what all the fuss about Google+ is about? This music video, directed by +Andy Signore, has +Ashley Pitman singing to the tune of "Another One Bites the Dust" from Queen, explaining all the great features, from circles to blocking and muting.
News: Google+ Makes Blocking People Even Easier
+Eric Cattell, the Social Graph Technical Lead of Google+, announced a lot of improvements and added features this morning, most of them having to do with circle management and blocking people.
News: Google+ Updates Name Policy—Still No Pseudonyms
As Google+ became available to more people, it started running into issues of accounts being suspended due to names that did not sound "real". According to Google+'s community standards, names that users "commonly go by" were encouraged, but not pseudonyms. Those who were using pseudonyms in their Google+ profiles quickly found themselves suspended from using Google+.
Google+ Pro Guide: The Scrapbook - from +Vail Joy
A beautiful how-to from +Vail Joy on using the Google+ scrapbook.
News: 13 Firefox Add-Ons to Enhance Your Google+ Experience
We've covered Chrome browser extensions that make your Google+ experience richer and more useful, but there are still many users who prefer to use Firefox. To that end, I've gathered 13 Firefox add-ons to aid in the enhancement of your Google+ experience.
The Social Network Wars: Google+ vs Facebook
This infographic from SingleGrain aptly and succinctly describes the primary differences between Facebook and Google+. Which social network will reign supreme?
Google+ Pro Tips Round Up: Week 5
Last week's round up was all about third party services that sprang up to fill any Google+ voids. This week, I'll let you know how to keep up with the latest Google+ updates, and give you some great tips for interacting with your followers.
News: Fun with Circles shirt from Zazzle
I thought our CTO +Bryan Crow would either appreciate this geeky joke T-shirt or cringe in embarrassment. I don't know if I can explain it, myself, as I am most definitely not a geek. But as someone who's married to a nerd, can recognize nerdy jokes.
News: Doppelganger Dinners on Google+ Hangout: Interview with Mike Lee
Culinary collective Studiofeast is known for thinking outside the box, especially when it comes to food. They've hosted inventive and spectacular events like the L Train Lunch, where a high-end meal was served to guests on a moving train, and the Datalicious Last Supper, where results from a survey of people's desired "last meals" informed the menu.
News: Google social web engineer Joseph Smarr talks about lessons from Google+
Joseph Smarr talks to O'Reilly about lessons learned from Google+, including sharing, the API, the pseudonyms issue, etc. This interview was really fascinating.
News: Create a Google+ profile picture
Want to really promote your Google+ dedication? Add the Google+ strip to your profile in seconds.
News: Let Google+ Invade Your Computer: 9 Free Icons & Wallpapers
Google+ is taking over the world. But first, let it invade your computer! Google+ is inspiring a lot of graphic designers and artists to have fun with the plus icon and Google colors. All of the below icons and wallpapers are free for you to use.
News: Fix Your Google+ Frustrations with 18 More Chrome Extensions
Antimatter15, author of the popular Surplus Chrome extension, was suspended from Google+ for using a pseudonym instead of a name that fits Google's community standards. As such, he's no longer supporting the extension, and if you're using it, now might be a good time to find a replacement. It's a reminder that nothing on the web is guaranteed to work forever. Luckily, there's no shortage of innovative coders whipping up creative and useful Google Chrome extensions.
Google+ Pro Tips Round Up: Week 4
Last week, I demonstrated how to go a little deeper into your Google+ profiles, photos, and introduced cross-posting. This week, I'm highlighting a bunch of different unofficial resources that have sprung up that will help improve your Google+ experience, and give you the latest updates on Google+ Photos.
News: +Tyler Neylon Creates 50 Models with 50 Legos
+Tyler Neylon, a programmer and mathematician currently specializing in iOS app development, recently posted a fun project to his Google+ profile: 50 designs with 50 LEGO pieces, a set of 51 photos. Given a small 50-piece Lego set this past Christmas (well, Tyler admits: "...58 [pieces], actually, but many of them are very small, as you can see"), he craftily stretched his imagination to create 50 different models, though the kit included instructions for only 3.
News: Google+ Lists
Need to curated public Google lists? Look no further.
News: Top 104 Amazing Photographers to Circle on Google+
We've provided Google insiders, Google's community managers, authors, and celebrities for you to add to your circles. This week, we've discovered over 100 brilliant photographers for you to follow.
News: Games to Appear in Google+ Stream
Confirmed! Those of you who have been waiting (or dreading) the announcement of social games in Google+ can now look forward to them showing up in your stream. The anticipated games have yet to show up, but Google has confirmed that APIs will be made available for third party developers to access Google+, much like Facebook allows them.
News: Google Acquires Group Social Networking Site Fridge
The group social networking application Fridge has been purchased by Google, and two of its team members will be moving to Mountain View to work on the Google+ team. Fridge, in addition to being a group social sharing site, has photo and event sharing features. The event and calendar-sharing are popular requested features for Google+ users.