Google+: an overview

Phil Bradleyhttp://gplus.to/philbradley

G+ Stream or ‘home page’

Elements of the page: Google bar

• Google bar– Brings all the Google properties together– Notifications to the right – Share option extreme right

• Keeps me in the Google ‘family’

Elements of the page: Menu

• The menu links to the different ‘circles’ that I have created

• Also access to my ‘Sparks’• Chat option• Grey/red theme continued through

the product line

Elements of the page: Stream

• These are the posts from the people who I am following.– Public, or which are shared with me

• Also where I can write my own posts of what is new– Can link to an image, video, page etc.

Elements of the page: R/h menu

• This is where I see who my contacts are. (Avatars if they have chosen them, blank if not)

• Suggestions of people to follow• Button to create a ‘hangout’ or

video chat room

Posting

Posting

• Including text, image, video, link etc.• To a specific individual, email, or circle.• To extended circles • To the world.

Threading

• Time stamp, audience indication.• Pull down menu (right) to report/link etc

Circles

• How you arrange your contacts• As many circles as you wish• People can be in several• 1 or many thousands in a circle• Posts can be limited to specific circles• Like Twitter lists, only more functional

Sparks

• General news items on topics of interest

• Can create your own• Can’t delete what’s

there• Very weak option

Personal sparks

• Almost like Google Reader

• Can share content• BUT cannot affect it• Should be able to

add RSS feeds etc, but no.

• Disappointing!

Hangouts

• Killer application• Simple, easy to use• Less intimidating than other chat options• Max 10 chatters• Cannot store the chat• Cannot have an audience.

Adding images

• Add as many images as you wish• Create different albums for your material• See the images that others have uploaded• Great for photography geeks• Can tag or perform other actions on your

images• Can comment on others.

Your profile

• Click on your profile option and you can choose to see how it looks to:– A specific individual– The world

• Nice and simple, and so much easier than Facebook!

Other hints/tips

• If you want to refer to someone specifically in a post that you're writing, you can either +name or @name them.

• You can edit your posts with the pulldown menu

• If you want to see what your profile looks like, simply click on your name (top left hand menu option) and choose to edit profile.

Summary

• Good incorporation with other Google products (except where it doesn’t!)

• Not a Facebook killer, but nothing is.• Hangout is the killer app, if it’s improved.• Needs broader business appeal• Better Sparks• Looking good so far!