A Geek Peek at Google+

So you’ve heard of Google+, but you’re not sure what it really is? Good thing we decided to share a few screenshots for those of you who haven’t had a chance to check it out yet. I’m sure everyone will get access to it soon, but until then, this is the state that Google+ is in right now:

http://www.geekfill.com/2011/07/06/the-current-state-of-google-pic/

I’m totally the dude in the Pac-Man shirt. Here’s what you need to know about Google+, though:

Profile

The Google+ profile is similar to a Facebook profile, although as you can tell, I haven’t shared too much info about myself yet, aside from a profile pic. So far, we like the simplicity of the profile, but we’ll see how it evolves over time.

Stream

As you may have guessed from the name, a Stream in Google+ is similar to a Wall in Facebook. What’s the main difference? I don’t think anyone really knows yet. Part of the mystery with Google+ is that I think most people who have received an invite are still trying to decide whether to use it for Twitter-like content, Facebook content, a combination, or something entirely new. Time will tell what the stream will look like, but I’m really hoping that it won’t simply be a combination of existing social media content.

Circles

I generally like the concept of circles as a way to group virtually everyone you know. I haven’t done much with circles though, so the ones you see below are the original ones that Google+ provides you with. What’s nice about circles is that it gives you a way to separate your conversations and streams according to circle. So, for those worried about the stream overflowing your Google+ page, this might be a nice way to share and view things in an organized fashion. The people in your “Following” circle are people who you don’t actually know, but like to keep track of. Think celebrities, or in our case, geek idols.

Plus Ones

Plus ones are very similar to likes on Facebook. You can see who +1′d something if they’ve shared it and you have access to your own +1 list as well on your Google+ profile. It’s simply another way to keep track of stuff you like or want to remember to check out later online. And, you can decide to keep your +1s public or private. This might come in handy when you’re looking for something online and find that someone you know (and trust) has already +1′d what you’re looking for. All you have to do is stay logged in to your Google account to +1 items and view them afterwards. Pretty smart move to ensure you’re always thinking Google.

Hangouts

Finally, we’ve got the concept of hangouts. Think FaceTime on your computer with a bunch of friends (or other people in your circles). Pretty simple, all you really need is a webcam and some pomade or hair gel for fly-aways. I’m pretty excited about this feature since Anil and I have family all over the globe. Should be fun to get everyone on here!

That’s pretty much it! So how do we think this will impact Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks? We’re not sure yet. For now, we’re simply sharing the basics of Google+ for those of you who haven’t seen it yet. Once we play around with it a bit more, we’ll share more of our thoughts. Stay tuned and let us know what you think so far!