Hangouts and circles: tips for Google+

By Christof Kerkmann Oct 9, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Berlin - With Google+, internet search giant Google has launched a clear competitor to Facebook, which, until now, has been largely unchallenged in the domain of social networking. Users will find plenty of similarities between the two, but also some key differences.

Google's goal is to make online networking more personal. That means a video chat function that lets multiple people talk at once. It has taken great efforts to make its social network appear roomy. Everything seems well thought through.

Of course, the question now becomes: if you go to Google+, will your friends be there, or will the circles you create there remain empty?

Just like with Facebook, Google+ revolves around a ticker where the newest posts by your contacts can be viewed. On Google+, its called Stream, meandering through the middle of the screen as it displays photos, videos, links and commentary.

If you see something you like, you can attach your own commentary by clicking the '+1' button, Google+'s answer to Facebook's 'like' function. Doing so can launch a torrent of gossip or even a serious discussion.

With Facebook, those two possibilities often get hopelessly intermingled: Think of all the cases where questionable party photos have been made available to the wrong people, like potential employers. Google hopes to solve this problem by allowing users to selectively decide who sees which commentary.

Other users are not automatically labelled as friends, but have to be placed into circles, with separate groups for friends, family and acquaintances. And here, friend means an actual friends. People do not have the option to see in which circles you've placed them.

Thus, every time a person posts something to Google+, they specify which circles can access the news: whether it's just family, or the members of a tennis club, or all contacts. As a pleasant side-effect, this makes it easier to sort through news from your various circles.

The development has already had one effect: it's now available at Facebook as well, in a sign that the competition is forcing some change. Like Twitter, there is no need for both sides to agree before information can be exchanged. You simply follow news from those you find interesting.

Google+ does not offer individual mailboxes or photo albums, since it already has freestanding services in Gmail and Picasa. That means, if you already get your email via Google, you save yourself the need to get into yet another new system.

Of course, that shows some calculation on Google's part. It hopes that users it already has will stop by to check out the social network ... and then stay.

One thing that stands out: Google has integrated control options into every nook and cranny of its system, allowing people to quickly delete entries, end discussions, block other users or report misuse. The data privacy controls are also easy to find and use. Here you can set which other users can see your profile, a practical check to save yourself embarrassing incidents in the future.

Google is also hoping to score some points with technical details, like its new Hangouts. This lets multiple users make video telephone calls simultaneously - which is not available on Facebook and costs money on Skype. All you need is a PC with a webcam and a stable internet connection.

At the official launch of the service, Google announced that people using Android smartphones can log in and check out the Hangout option. It should soon also be available for the iPhone and iPad. People who really want to share everything can even send video directly onto their feed, making Google+ a kind of web TV.

And that's just for starters. Soon, Hangouts should allow collaborative work. Google is testing the possibility of the Hangouts for sharing pictures or using Google's office tools to draft a text. Already, people can use it to watch aYouTube clip together.

There's still room to grow as a gaming platform. For now, there are only 16 games available, with no blockbusters like Facebook's Cityville or Farmville. Nonetheless, Google has worked out a deal with German gamemaker Wooga, which has been behind successes like Monster World and Happy Hospital. Angry Birds is also there to help kill the time.