MakeUseOf - Google Plus

The 5 Best Google+ Alternatives to Use Instead

Dan Price — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:00:00 GMT

Google+ is no more. After several years of underdevelopment, the consumer version of Google+ is shutting down on April 2, 2019.

Google+ Is Officially Shutting Down in April

Dave Parrack — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 18:30:15 GMT

We already knew Google+ was shutting down, but we now know exactly when and how Google+ will be disappearing from our lives. To be fair, most of us have already moved on from Google+, but this is important for the few people who still use the social network.

15 Tech Things We Said Goodbye to in 2018 (And What to Use in 2019)

Dan Price — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 18:00:00 GMT

As another year draws to a close, it's time to cast our eye back to the previous 12 months and pay homage to all the things we had to say goodbye too.

Google Shuts Down Google+ After Data Leak

Dave Parrack — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 22:30:06 GMT

Google is shutting down Google+, at least for consumers. The company announced the move after reports that a security bug had led to hundreds of thousands of people having their data exposed. And partly as a result of this, Google+ is getting the chop.

7 Tips for Those Who Want to Start Enjoying Social Media Again

Ben Stegner — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 17:00:00 GMT

Do you remember when social media was actually fun?

Google's Screensaver for Mac Is Full of Beautiful High-Res Photos and Images

Saikat Basu — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:30:23 GMT

When it comes to wallpapers and screensavers, more is always merrier. It makes finding the right image to customize your desktop with a little easier. Now, add Google to the list of sources you can turn to for Mac screensavers -- all you need is a tiny tool called Featured Images.

The One Tool You Need for Managing Your Social Feeds

Rob Nightingale — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:00:00 GMT

If you're like me, you find yourself endlessly flicking between different social platforms, struggling to actually stay up to date with any of them.

How to Mute Social Media Friends Without Unfollowing Them

Nancy Messieh — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 11:30:56 GMT

Do you find yourself annoyed by your friends' social media posts, but don't want to publicly unfollow or unfriend them?

How to Automate Your Social Media Posts & Save Precious Hours

Nancy Messieh — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:30:46 GMT

Whether you're running a personal account or are trying to promote your small business online, social media management can be a full time job. While automation is often frowned upon, particularly as a marketing tool, there are ways to automate your social media content thoughtfully.

Here Are the Best Times to Make Social Media Posts

Nancy Messieh — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 11:30:22 GMT

If you're running a small business or website, knowing when to post to your social media networks is key. Breaking down information from several studies , we looked for patterns and put together a guide on when to post to the six major social media networks.

Spotify Adds Video Content, Twitter Removes the Ads... [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 18:30:14 GMT

Spotify finally adds video clips, Twitter VIPs saved from ads, Google+ is no longer required, tour the Guggenheim Museum for free from home, and watch Pokemon invade the Super Bowl.

Let Google+ Die Already, Pushbullet Screws Free Users... [Digest]

Dave Parrack — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 17:30:26 GMT

Google relaunches Google+ again, Pushbullet pushes people to pay, Google releases the Chromebit, teach kids to code with Minecraft, and the first trailer for A Very Murray Christmas.

Google's Plus: The Latest in Long Line of Social Flops

Mihir Patkar — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 21:30:00 GMT

Google is brilliant. They made the best search engine. They made the best email app with Gmail. They made the world's most popular operating system in Android. And they have plenty of other successful products.

YouTube Drops Google+, The OnePlus 2 Flagship Killer... [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:30:21 GMT

The unimportance of Google+, the OnePlus 2 arrives, eBay Now is no more, Steve Jobs is The Man In the Machine, and everything wrong with Super Mario Bros.

Hidden Features For Your Favorite Social Networks

ROFL — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 06:30:49 GMT

You probably use Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and LinkedIn at least somewhat regularly. In fact, you probably use at least one of these social networks all the time. You also probably think you have a good handle on how to make the most of each of these services, but as it turns out, there are a lot of hidden features that most users don't know about. Don't believe us? Check out the infographic below for a look at some features for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn that you probably aren't using.

How Google+ is Rethinking Social Media

Shay Meinecke — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:00:00 GMT

You may remember a few years ago when Google+ attempted to compete with Facebook as a social website. Google branded their social initiative as the next big sharing site in which Google.com would finally be personalized. Their attempt at competition has not yet met expectations.

Google Kills Google Plus Links, Check Your Privacy Settings, & More... [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 15:30:45 GMT

Google+ shunted to the sidelines, Google privacy settings, Facebook threats are fine, LEGO Worlds channels Minecraft, BlackBerry prevents Typo, and the FIFA official who doesn't understand satire.

Apple Promotes Jony Ive, Amazon Pays Tax In Europe, & More... [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Tue, 26 May 2015 15:30:09 GMT

Ive got a new job, Amazon pays tax, Microsoft leaks music, Google+ loses Photos, Iron Man loves Samsung, and Call of Duty fans battle Master Chief from the Halo games.

Apple Hates Free Music, Microsoft Loves Windows Phone, & More... [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Tue, 05 May 2015 15:30:30 GMT

Apple attacks Spotify, Microsoft prepares Lumias, Google+ mimics Pinterest, Tesla sells used cars, Ryan Gosling eats cereal, and kids react to the Apple Watch.

The Handy Guide to Social Media Keyboard Shortcuts

ROFL — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 07:30:11 GMT

Do you use social media, either for fun or work? Would you like to make your social media experience more enjoyable and efficient? As with anything, mastering keyboard shortcuts can be a great way to achieve that goal. But every social media site has it's own set of keyboard shortcuts; how are you to remember them all?

Your Facebook Year In Review, OK Google, Buy Me A Chromebook [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:30:00 GMT

Also, Sony wants to release The Interview online, Google+ improves your videos, Reddit Notes $5 million giveaway, and LG trolls pets using televisions.

Google+ Is Here To Stay, Twitter Sues The Government, And More... [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 15:30:00 GMT

Also, free GitHub tools, Project Spark games, Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies, and every Game Boy start screen.

Google Unmasks Elite Hackers, iPads Can Give You Rashes, And More... [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:30:30 GMT

Also, Hidden From Google tracks blocked search results, naming rules relaxed on Google+, Oculus cancels Rift DK2 pre-orders over eBay sales, the story behind one man and his Wikipedia bot, and Weird Al details Word Crimes.

Google Chromecast Goes Sports Crazy Adding WatchESPN, MLS, And More

Dave LeClair — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:30:35 GMT

Fans of Google's little $35 streaming stick known as the Chromecast are in for a treat, as the company has just announced a bunch of new apps coming to the device. Most of them are centered around applications for watching some of your favorite sports, but there is also a feature that will come in handy for those who like to use Google+ to share their photos with friends and loved ones.

Surface Pro 3 Reviews, Happy Google Employees, Free Amazon Fire TVs [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Mon, 26 May 2014 15:30:30 GMT

Today in Tech News Digest, Microsoft Surface Pro 3 reviews, an update on Apple buying Beats, Google keeps its employees happy, free Amazon Fire TVs, the PlayStation 4 in China, Google+ Stories, and an iPhone ringtones dance track.

Google+ Adds The Awesome Touch To Your Memories With Stories & Movies

Saikat Basu — Fri, 23 May 2014 07:30:46 GMT

Travelogues are fun to look at but a pain to create. Especially, if you have carried back tons of vacation photos and videos. Google has launched Google+ Stories as part of Google+ that automatically stitches your photos, videos and the places you visited into an easily viewable travel slideshow. Google+ Stories will get to work when you return from your vacation and also include your location history and the geotags in photos to help you, family, and friends travel through the enjoyable experiences again.

The Future Of Google+, FB Newswire, Next-Gen Minecraft, Oculus Prank [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:30:51 GMT

Today in Tech News Digest, Google+ may be dead, FCC talks net neutrality, Facebook launches FB Newswire, Lyft expands into new markets, mobile addiction grows, next-gen Minecraft allows save transfers, and the true potential of Oculus Rift is revealed.

Google+ Hangouts For iOS7 Gets Animated Stickers & 10-Second Video Messages

Saikat Basu — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 08:30:40 GMT

Google now brings an optimized version of its Google+ Hangouts app to iOS7, so you can start with a colorful homescreen and sign into a cleaner look. That's only the beginning, as the iOS7 makeover includes animated stickers, 10-second video messages, and picture-in-picture video calling as one of the optimizations for iPads.

Google+ For Android Gets Photo Editing Across Devices & New Image Filters

Saikat Basu — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:30:12 GMT

Is it time for renewed attention to the combination of Google+ and Android for socially interacting with photography? The latest slew of changes to the Google+ for Android app brings non-destructive photo editing across devices and new filters and tools. Plus, there's more on offer beyond the usual round of bug fixes that should help you to take Google+ a bit more seriously for photos.

Google+ Meets Gmail: Everything You Need To Know About The Explosive Combo

Nancy Messieh — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 02:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that Google has been working hard to push its social network into the mainstream. Google has killed off some of its own products — e.g, the late Google Reader — in an attempt to drive more users into the arms of Google+. A more common tactic, however, has been to create bridges between the social network and other popular Google products.

Google Apps Adds 'Email via Google+' Options, Page Admins Need To Opt In To Use It

Dave LeClair — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:30:08 GMT

Just the other day Google announced that Gmail was getting a heavy dose of Google+ integration, and now, Google is adding that same functionality to Google Apps. This means that businesses who use Google as their email provider can be contacted using the "Email via Google+" button. However, admins must first enable this feature via the Admin panel, as they may prefer to prevent unnecessary emails from coming through the channel.

Any Google+ User Can Send You Emails On Gmail Now (And Here's How To Disable It)

Mihir Patkar — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 22:30:02 GMT

After integrating Google+ in YouTube for your comments, the search giant is now turning towards Gmail to give its social network some more visibility. From today, any Google+ user will be able to send you a message on your Gmail. To send a message, all you need to do is add that person to your Google+, whether they've befriended you or not.

Google+ Sign-In: Is It Bad Or Good For You?

Joel Lee — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 21:00:00 GMT

Ever since Google+ became required to comment on YouTube videos, there's been a huge wave of backlash spreading across the Internet. The backlash, however, has slowly died down. Users are beginning to accept the fact that Google may not be rolling back the changes regardless of how much people hate them. But is it really as bad as you think?

It's Not Really Dead: 7 Reasons To Start Using Google+ Today

Erez Zukerman — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:00:00 GMT

I wake up in the morning, and check what's new on Google+. Yes, really. Google is putting a lot of brawn and brains behind the social network everyone loves to hate, and it shows.

OK, Google: We Get It. Just Go Ahead And Add Google+ To Everything. [Opinion]

Justin Pot — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:00:00 GMT

You know what, Google? Screw it. I'll use Google+.

60 Minutes With The NSA, Facebook Donate, Amazon 4K, Google Blackmail [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:30:51 GMT

Today in Tech News Digest, the NSA gets some good press for a change, Obama makes plans to meet a group of technology executives, Facebook launches a 'Donate Now' button, Amazon embraces 4K ultras HD, China is rumored to be getting the Xbox One in 2014, Twitter is rumored to be developing an 'Edit' feature for tweets, and Google's evil scheme for persuading you to sign up to Google+ is finally revealed. Probably.

Prepare Your Social Accounts For The Holidays With These Festive Covers

Yaara Lancet — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Your computer gets festive wallpapers for the holidays, aren't you social accounts jealous? Knowing how people like visuals, social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ have added huge covers for us to play with. These covers are perfect for a theme, and are a great way to bring some holiday cheer to your accounts.

NSA WoW WTF, Google+ Ads, Windows Threshold, BlackBerry Bieber [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 16:30:17 GMT

Today in Tech News Digest, the NSA spies on gamers, Google+ ads are incoming, Socl lands on smartphones, Microsoft's plans for Windows Threshold are (possibly) revealed, hundreds of National Geographic maps are now available online, an anti-spying social network is launched, and BlackBerry is revealed to have rejected Justin Bieber.

Xbox One Leaks, iPhone 6 Rumors, YouTube Haters [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:30:32 GMT

Today in Tech News Digest, an Xbox One escapes into the wild two weeks early, Intel acquires education startup Kno, Digg Video has arrived to waste your time, Prefundia leaves beta, Wikimedia launches Beta Features, new larger, curvier iPhones could be next for Apple, and Jawed Karim, co-founder of YouTube, launches a sweary attack on the new Google+ commenting system.

YouTube's Comments Section Now Cleaned Up, Courtesy Of Google+

Mark O'Neill — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 22:30:08 GMT

It used to be the case that, if you wanted to see the lower levels of Dante's Pit of Hell, you only had to go as far as the comments section on YouTube. There lived all kinds of lowlife, racists, foul-language lovers, and those with keyboards with the caps-lock key permanently stuck on upper-case. And once you were in, it was difficult to claw your way back out again.

Google Secrets, Instagram Ads, Patent Wars, Netflix 4K [Tech News Digest]

Dave Parrack — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:15:24 GMT

Tech News Digest is a new column designed to deliver the latest technology news in bite-sized chunks. In today's Tech News Digest, the secret behind Google's floating barge is (probably) revealed, Instagram adds ads, the smartphone patent wars intensify, Netflix begins testing Ultra HD video streaming, iGoogle gets buried for good, Amazon launches Kindle MatchBook, Google+ appeals to your vanity, a female driver is ticketed for wearing Google Glass, and Kanye sues Chad.

3 Steps To Get Google Authorship For Yourself And Your Website

Ryan Dube — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 23:30:00 GMT

If there's a knock on your door and when you answer, a man tells you that he's an FBI agent and needs to search your house, would you let him in without checking his identification? Probably not.

You Can Now Finally Get a Vanity URL For Your Google Plus Account - If You're Eligible

Mark O'Neill — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 22:15:58 GMT

Finally, Google Plus users can get a vanity URL for their profile. Google Plus has been around since 2011, but in those two years, you haven't been able to get a proper vanity URL for your profile.

A Little Bit Of Me: 4 Reasons Why You Should Set Up Google Authorship

Ryan Dube — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 18:30:00 GMT

What would you say if you spent a year writing a novel, only to have someone come along, copy down that entire novel and then republish it as though it's their own? Not many writers would be very happy about that!

Is Facebook Going The Same Way As MySpace?

Ryan Dube — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 19:30:00 GMT

Greek philosopher Heraclitus wrote: "The only constant is change". This is especially true on the Internet, where some of the most popular apps, websites and services of today are nothing more than a memory tomorrow.

4 Services That Let You Schedule Google+ Posts

Chris Hoffman — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 19:30:00 GMT

Need to schedule posts on Google+? Google is not going to make it easy for you. Google+ doesn't let you schedule posts as Twitter and Facebook do.

Picasa Web Albums Destined For The Trashcan As Google+ Muscles In

Mark O'Neill — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:13:06 GMT

In a not-so-subtle sign of things to come, Google is now automatically diverting all traffic from Picasa Web Albums to the Photos section on Google+ instead. But if you have a large number of photos stored with Picasa Web Albums, then don't worry because Google is still allowing access to Picasa Web Albums for the time being, so you can move your photos out. Just use this link.

Everything You Need to Know About Using Snapseed in Google+

Nancy Messieh — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMT

When Google acquired the popular mobile editing app, Snapseed, one of the first things they did was axe the Mac version of the app. They recently re-introduced Snapseed for desktop users, no matter which operating system they happen to be using. The only catch is that Snapseed is now browser-based, as long as you're using Google's own browser, Chrome.

Google Search Adds Support For Hashtags - But Only From Google Plus

Mark O'Neill — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 00:15:08 GMT

We all know what the "hashtag" is - it's that invention by Twitter where you start with a # and can have really long tags such as #thisisareallyreallyreallylongtag. Some people love using hashtags, while some others absolutely hate them and want them gone.

Google+ Improves RAW To JPEG Photo Conversion With Support For 70 Cameras

Saikat Basu — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 18:15:55 GMT

Google+ now gives photographers more latitude with RAW to JPEG conversions by adding RAW support for 70 camera makes. Google+ has always been a favorite destination for photographers with the feature to store full-size photo uploads. This change helps them to upload large-sized RAW images for backup without converting them to JPEG. But Google+ converts them to JPEG for faster image load times when someone wants to view them. Editing the JPEG is also faster.

More Than Just A Social Network: 5 Creative Uses For Google+ On The Go

Nancy Messieh — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 20:30:00 GMT

There's a lot you can get out of Google+ as a social network, but if there's one place it really excels, it's on your mobile. Available for both Android and iOS users, the Google+ app is a slick offering that gives you access to all the main features of the social network. You can post links, images, and text updates, as well as share your location. You can also access Google+ Communities and Google+ Events.

Join These Today: 10 Of The Most Interesting Communities on Google+

Ryan Dube — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 19:15:00 GMT

To help you get started with Google+ Communities, I've decided to compile ten of the most intriguing or interesting Communities out there. These are ones that have at least over 10,000 users, and receive frequent updates every single day. Of course, these updates need to be unique or fun, and something worth coming back for every day. Turns out that's a tall order on Google+ these days, but in the Communities section, it isn't really as rare as you might think.

The Final Showdown: Google+ vs. Facebook, Which One Is REALLY The Best?

Yaara Lancet — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 03:30:32 GMT

It's an age old dispute (well, two years old, anyway): which is better, Facebook or Google+? Even here at MakeUseOf, we can't quite agree. While my colleague Erez stated 18 months ago that Google+ will take over Facebook in two years (time's almost up!), I had my doubts.

Speed Up Social Time With These Social Media Shortcuts

ROFL — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 20:20:43 GMT

Did you know that if you pressed Alt + 1 while browsing Facebook, you'd be brought to your homepage? Alt + 2 brings you to your profile page. Knowing these keyboard shortcuts for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Plus can save you a tremendous amount of time. And learning them couldn't be easier with this helpful infograph by Quintly.

Stretching A Circle: 5 Ways To Use Google+ Circles For Personal Productivity

Saikat Basu — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:30:43 GMT

Are we underestimating Google+? It certainly seems so because the people around me are still in the Facebook haze. We do so at our peril because feature for feature, I firmly believe that Google+ is a foot ahead of Facebook. Lately, I have been re-discovering the social network which is gradually becoming the center of operations for Google.

Get More Out Of Google+ Hangouts With These 5 Creative Ideas

Nancy Messieh — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 04:00:57 GMT

Google+ Hangouts are a pretty cool tool - one which we've put to good use here at MakeUseOf. Whether it's to hold editorial meetings or to host our own Podcast, Technophilia, we're big fans of everything that Google+ has to offer. We've already provided users with a handy guide on how to use Google+ Hangouts to meet with friends and told you why Hangouts are cooler than any other online video service- and now we want to give you a few extra ideas on how you can get even more out of the service.

Have Better Social Conversations With Replies And More For Google+ [Chrome]

Saikat Basu — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:00:25 GMT

No conversation on Google+ starts or ends without a mention of Facebook. But while mentioning it, I will continue from here to say that Google+ has moved out of the shadows and is a viable social network for a lot of specific purposes. If you have been following my recent posts, you would have seen me take to Google’s favorite child with a camera in hand. Connecting with photographers on Google+ taught me a lot about its place in social media. Lately, I have been checking up on Google+ Hangouts for streaming conversations with interesting people.

Quiet Google+ Feed? Here Are 10 Techies You Should Follow On Google+

Nancy Messieh — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 07:00:51 GMT

If you're still trying to navigate the labyrinth that is Google+ and are wondering who to follow, we've got a list of 10 must-follow photographers, techies, and more that will liven up the quietest Google+ feed out there. With Google employees, tech bloggers, photographers, vloggers, designers, entrepreneurs, and more, there's an incredibly lively discussion going on on Google+, it's just a matter of knowing where to look.

Learn Photography: Connect With Top Photographers On Google+ Communities

Saikat Basu — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:31:45 GMT

The best way to learn photography is to take as many photos as you can. The second best way to learn photography is to be a voyeur and look at good photos other top photographers have taken. In my fledgling attempts to learn the fine art of the lens, I am doing the former…but more than that when the shutter’s closed, I do the latter. You cannot train an eye to be creative perhaps, but looking at a few great shots and sharing some of your own could take you a few inches closer.

Circles, Everywhere: Streamline Social Networking With Lists

Saikat Basu — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:01:19 GMT

Let’s face it. Social networks are in our faces now and most of us are on more than one. We have two choices – ignore it or wade in and swim with the social currents. There are benefits to both and probably more than a million articles have argued for both sides. But if we have to swim with a social network like Facebook, Twitter, or Google+, we might as well arm ourselves with a damn good boat and a few life jackets. The tools to build one are there. The most vital oar to navigate the choppy waters is often the most ignored – friends’ lists.

Build Up Your Google+ Community With These Great Tips

Joel Lee — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:00:37 GMT

Though there was a lot of hype surrounding Google+, a lot of people who tried it out ended up returning to their usual social networks, like Facebook. However, if you thought that Google+ was dead, gone, and buried for good, you may be pleasantly surprised. It’s still kicking and some communities are actually flourishing on the platform.

How To Create An Easily Recognizable Google+ URL With Your Own Username

Yaara Lancet — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:30:36 GMT

Are you on Google+? A year and a half ago, when Google+ was launched, you probably heard this question several times a day. The youngest sibling in the social media family has since then accumulated over 200 million active users, and is doing its best to remain relevant and innovative in this harsh and competitive arena.

Bring the News to Life With These Slick Google Reader Alternatives

Guy McDowell — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:00:06 GMT

At a very basic level there are really three major components to the World Wide Web and the information we get from it. Google, Facebook, and...well...porn. Seriously, porn accounts for over one-third of all Internet traffic. That pretty much leaves the other two thirds to Google and Facebook. Google gets the lion's share of that.

New To Google+? Quick Tips You Need to Know

Chris Hoffman — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 02:30:37 GMT

Google+ was never quite the Facebook killer it was hyped up to be, but it’s been growing steadily ever since it’s been introduced and now has over 100 million active users. Whether you’re just getting started with Google+ or you signed up a while ago and never gave it a chance, these Google+ tips will help get you up to speed with Google’s social network.

5 New Ways in Which You Didn't Use Google Circles Before

Tina Sieber — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:30:56 GMT

Google Plus Circles allow you to organize your contacts and the people you follow into groups. Most people intuitively group contacts based on how they know them, i.e. family, friends from school, colleagues etc. For Google Plus Circles, a better way to arrange people is to ask yourself two questions; (1) What do you want to share and experience with your contacts? and (2) How much do you care for what they want to share with you? I touched on the first point in a previous article. The key is, how you want to interact with people doesn't depend on how you know them, but on the type and quality of the relationship.

7 Must-Know Tips About Managing Your Google+ Circles

Tina Sieber — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:01:50 GMT

Google Plus isn't dead. In fact, it's been growing. Some people even think Google Plus will prevail big time in 2013 and they have solid arguments. This should make those happy who are already using Google Plus and are seeing its value in one way or another.

10 Tips For Improving Your Google+ Status

Bakari Chavanu — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 05:31:15 GMT

There are mixed reviews about the growing popularity of Google+. As yet another social networking site, Google+ hasn't of course been around as long as Facebook and Twitter, so it may be too early to judge its viability. However, if you're looking to enhance your presence on Google+, now's a good time to get started.

How To Use Google+ As Your Social Media Dashboard To Cross-Post To Facebook, Twitter & More

Nancy Messieh — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:31:41 GMT

If you're active on several social networks and run your own blog as well, chances are you're posting a lot of the same content in several different places. To make life a little easier for you, you could simply start to post everything from one place - Google+ - and automatically post that content to several different networks and sites.

Is There Anything Left For Facebook Alternatives? [Opinion]

Craig Snyder — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:31:02 GMT

Being #1 is tough. For any sports fans out there, Facebook is the Patriots, Yankees, and Heat of its kind. The social network is so methodically "good" to the point that we're ready to jump on the bandwagon of anyone willing to come close to knocking it off. Remember when Google+ first broke news? The Internet was going nuts, buzzing with rumors that Facebook would finally be put to rest. And maybe Myspace's routine greatness was part of what contributed to its eventual downfall to then-underdog Facebook?

Quick, Easy Ways To Download Photos From Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Google+ & More

Nancy Messieh — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:31:15 GMT

With the amount of information we post online, we're putting an awful lot of faith in third party services to keep our content and photos safe. Between Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+, there's no limit to the way we share our images online. And thanks to a few other third party services, there's no limit to the ways we can back up our online photos to our computers.

Sync Posts Between Facebook, Twitter, Google+ & Your Links [Facebook Tip/Hack Of The Week]

Angela Randall — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:31:27 GMT

If you're a fan of Facebook, you're probably a user of a few other social networks too. You might have an account on Twitter or Google+, which you might use for work or just as a place to chat. You might also collect links in Google Reader, Delicious or Evernote. But do you know how easy it is to link them all together in just the right ways?

How To Create A Google+ Page For A Business, Club, Or Yourself

Bakari Chavanu — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 22:01:09 GMT

It should be clear by now that Google+ is definitely not going anywhere. It's gaining in popularity and is a great complement or alternative to Facebook. If you're already set up on Google+, you might want to look into adding a Google+ page for your business, organization, club, or just good old personal self-promotion.

How To Use Google+ Hangouts To Meet With Friends

Tina Sieber — Thu, 31 May 2012 03:31:11 GMT

Google Hangouts is a key feature of Google+. If you are not using Hangouts already, you are missing out! Maybe you haven't yet joined Google+. Well, if you do have a Google account, then joining Google+ is a matter of seconds. Or maybe you haven't quite figured out how to use it. This is where this article comes in. Once you get the hang of it, you will want to use it more often.

4 Ways to Get Your Google Plus RSS Feeds

Angela Randall — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:35 GMT

Are you sick of sites like Facebook and Google+ keeping your activities secret in their private walled garden? Does your participation in new social networks depend on whether you can share that information with more than just the people within that network? Since Google+ doesn't offer the RSS feeds themselves, some of us are always hunting for ways to get the information out.

Google Plus: A Guide For Everyone

MakeUseOf — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Curious about Google+, but don't know where or why to start? Check out "Get Into Google+: A Guide For Everyone", the latest free Google Plus guide from MakeUseOf. This guide, by author Maggie Marystone, teaches you everything you've ever wanted to know about Google

5 Things I Like and 5 Things I Hate About Google Plus

Ryan Dube — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:00:32 GMT

When Google + finally came out, I actually avoided using it for up to a year. Not only was I skeptical, but I've been an initial user of a social network before, and it's absolutely no fun. Once I signed up, I was able to find my way around in due course, but I discovered that there were a few things about Google Plus that I really liked, and a few things that I didn't like at all.

Why Google+ Will Not Overtake Facebook, Not In 2 Years, Not Ever [Opinion]

Yaara Lancet — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:00:41 GMT

A while ago, Erez published a good piece about why he thinks Google+ will overtake Facebook in less than 2 years. While some of his arguments are solid, and I happen to like what Google is doing with Google+, I find it hard to believe that we’ll see Facebook disappearing in as little as two years. In fact, I think it’s going to take way more than one new social network to get rid of the social phenomenon called Facebook.

Google+ Receives Stream Control, Improved Notifications & More [News]

Matt Smith — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:31:09 GMT

The holidays are here, and that means a lot of people are spending time on social networking sites spreading holiday cheer - and desperately trying to avoid relatives. If Google+ is your network of choice, you’ll likely notice that they’ve added a couple new features.

Google+ iPhone App Gets An Update With Search & Improved Photo Uploading [News]

Dave LeClair — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:31:35 GMT

Google+ for iPhone has received a nice little update. This update helps bring in some features that were previously only available on the computer version of the social network. The major feature included in this update is the ability to search. You can use the search to find people or specific posts. The new search box will appear right at the top of the screen, making it easy to get access to and use. Simply type in what you are looking for, select either posts or people and click "Search."

3 Ways to Integrate Google Plus Into Your Blog

Ryan Dube — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:01:59 GMT

Well, I finally caved in and adopted Google Plus. It wasn't willingly - with most new fads, I like to wait it out to see if, like 90 percent of most new and exciting online phenomena, it fades away into the ether of cyberspace. In the case of Google Plus, I was instantly reminded of so many other failed projects in the past - Google Wave, Google Video Player, Google Notebook....the list goes on and on.

Google+ Adds Free Photo Editing Suite [News]

Matt Smith — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:57:27 GMT

Social networks rely on photos as a means of communication. Where have you been? What have you been doing? Who are you with? Now Google+ users can now look a little better doing whatever with whomever, thanks to a free photo editing suite called Creative Kit. It unexpectedly arrived a few days ago, and brings a range of options available for free.

Use Your Google+ Profile For Your Blogger Blogs [News]

Bakari Chavanu — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:01:56 GMT

Seems like every other week now, Google rolls out new features for enhancing its social networking site, Google+, which it says over 40 million people have joined. This week it announced plans for allowing Google Blogger users to replace their Blogger profile with their Google+ profile, which essentially means tighter integration between both of the popular services and means of communication.

Recommended Users Finds Cool & Interesting People To Add To Google+

Dave LeClair — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:31:32 GMT

Google+ is now available to everyone and the most important thing for a new user is finding cool and interesting people to add to their circles. After all, that is the whole point of Google+. However, finding entertaining people on any social network can be a hassle. Just running a search for the person’s name may not yield the results one is looking for, since there are probably a slew of other people out there with the very same name.

How To Hide Google Plus Message Count Icon From All Google Services

Ann Smarty — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:30:01 GMT

Google has been introducing new and new features for ages and it has started changing actively especially recently. Google is well-known for pushing their new features too hard. And the worst thing about that is that Google never makes it easy to opt out of its new features. The same goes about the actively promoted Google Plus platform.

Google+ Application For The Mac Released [Mac]

Angela Randall — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:30:33 GMT

Have you become a fan of Google+? Do you love your Mac? Are you a fan of native Mac apps? If so, you'll love this newly released Google+ application for Mac. It's what many Mac users have been waiting for. A simple standalone application to keep track of Google+ while users get on with other things. It's the first of many to come.

Google+ Games Rolls Out To Selected Users [News]

Matt Smith — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:31:35 GMT

Given the popularity of Facebook gaming, it was only a matter of time before Google+ added a few games of its own. Now it’s happened. Selected users can play games through a new page added to the interface.

Google+ Is Now Available On The iPad & iPod Touch [News]

Dave LeClair — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:31:35 GMT

Google+ finally works on the iPad and iPod touch in app form. When the app first launched on the Apple App Store, users of these devices were not able to even download the program, let alone use it on the device. Now with the magic of an update, Apple has remedied the situation and allowed iPad and iPod Touch users full access to the program.

Merge Google+, Facebook & Twitter With The Help Of G++ [Chrome & Firefox]

Jeffry Thurana — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:31:42 GMT

While most people are busy comparing Google+ with Facebook, and trying to figure out which one they should choose and use, there are those who have built tools to combine all of these social networks together and have the best of all worlds. One of these tools is G++, a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox which will help you put your Facebook and Twitter stream into your Google+ interface.

How To Search For Google Plus User Updates

Ann Smarty — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:31:03 GMT

It's weird that Google has created its own social network without giving users the ability to search for other users' real-time updates. There's an option to search for users, but how about searching for what people are talking about on Google Plus? Now there is a way to do it.

Watch YouTube Videos With Friends On Google+ Hangouts [News]

Matt Smith — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:31:05 GMT

Google+ Hangouts, the group video chat feature that lets friends talk face-to-face online, is adding another trick up its sleeve – live streaming YouTube. This new feature lets up to ten people watch YouTube live streams together.

3 Ways to Get Information Out of Google Plus and Into Other Social Networks

Angela Randall — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:31:28 GMT

Are you drinking the Google Plus kool-aid? Or are you sitting on the fence? Would you be more likely to use it if there were a few more useful tools around for you to use with it? It's true, Google Plus is pretty good, but it's lacking decent interaction to other tools we use on a daily basis. That might be exactly what Google wants, but not necessarily what we users are after.

Google+ App For iPhone Released & Ready For Download [News]

Bakari Chavanu — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:31:22 GMT

If you've already caught the Google+ buzz, and you’re an iPhone user, your free Google+ native client app is ready for download. Google+, launched last month, is a social networking site in which you categorize your online friends, family and contacts into circles, and share photos, videos, notes and URLs with them. There are unique features like "Hangout" for live webcams with selected circle members, and "Sparks"—a sort of RSS feed-based selection of topics of interest. Some of these features are also included in Google+ for the iPhone.

Migrate Your Facebook Friends To Google+ With The Facebook Friend Exporter Extension [Chrome]

Tim Brookes — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:31:04 GMT

By now many of you will know about Google+, its rising popularity and the inevitable knock-on effect for Facebook. Are you worried your Facebook profile is going to suffer as a consequence? You could always try migrating your current list of Facebook cohorts to your new-found greener pastures, which is exactly what the Facebook Friend Exporter for Chrome aims to do.